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| Astronomy | |
| ASTR 1210 | Introduction to the Sky and Solar System (3.00) |
| Offered Spring 2012 | A study of the night sky primarily for non-science majors. Provides a brief history of astronomy through Newton. Topics include the properties of the sun, earth, moon, planets, asteroids, meteors and comets; origin and evolution of the solar system; life in the universe; and recent results from space missions and ground-based telescopes. |
| ASTR 1220 | Introduction to Stars, Galaxies, and the Universe (3.00) |
| Offered Spring 2012 | A study of stars, star formation, and evolution primarily for non-science majors. Topics include light, atoms, and modern observing technologies; origin of the chemical elements; supernovae, pulsars, neutron stars, and black holes; structure and evolution of our galaxy; nature of other galaxies; active galaxies and quasars; expanding universe, cosmology, the big bang, and the early universe. |
| ASTR 1230 | Introduction to Astronomical Observation (3.00) |
| Offered Spring 2012 | Primarily for non-science majors. An independent laboratory class, generally meeting at night, in which students work individually or in small groups on observational projects that focus on the study of constellations, planets, stars, nebulae, and galaxies. Binoculars, 6- through 10-inch telescopes, and imaging equipment are used extensively at the department's student observatory. Some projects use computers to simulate observations taken with much larger telescopes. Prerequisite/corequisite: ASTR 1210 or 1240, or instructor permission. Note: All astronomy courses may be used to satisfy the College natural sciences area requirements. Both ASTR 1210 and 1240 cover complementary subject matter at an introductory level. Each |
| ASTR 1240 | Introduction to Stellar Evolution (3.00) |
| The course provides an introduction to stars, star formation, and evolution primarily for non-science majors. Topics include light, atoms, origin of the chemical elements, supernovae, pulsars, neutron stars and black holes. | |
| ASTR 1270 | Unsolved Mysteries in the Universe (3.00) |
| Offered Spring 2012 | An exploration of the unsolved mysteries in the universe and the limits of our knowledge for non-science majors. The class emphasizes the nature of scientific endeavor, and explores the boundaries between science, philosophy, and metaphysics. A number of thought provoking topics are discussed including the beginning and end of the universe, black holes, extraterrestrial life, the nature of time, dark matter and dark energy. |
| ASTR 1500 | Seminar (1.00) |
| Primarily for first and second year students, taught on a voluntary basis by a faculty member. Topics vary. | |
| ASTR 1510 | Seminar (1.00) |
| Primarily for first and second year students, taught on a voluntary basis by a faculty member. Topics vary. | |
| ASTR 1559 | New Course in Astronomy (1.00 - 4.00) |
| New course in the subject of astronomy. | |
| ASTR 1740 | Introduction to Astronomical Reseach (1.00) |
| Offered Spring 2012 | Intended for first and second year students considering Astronomy/Astronomy-Physics as a major as well as newly declared majors. Participants meet with a different Astronomy faculty member each week to discuss ongoing reseach in order to acquaint students with both the subject matter and required physical, mathematical, and computational background of contemporary astronomy research. Potential long term undergraduate research projects will be emphasized. |
| ASTR 2110 | Introduction to Astrophysics I (3.00) |
| Primarily for science majors. A thorough discussion of the basic concepts and methods of solar system, stellar, galactic, and extragalactic astronomy and astrophysics with an emphasis on physical principles. Prerequisite/corequisite: MATH 1210 or 1310, PHYS 1610 or 2310, or instructor permission; ASTR 2110 and 2120 form a sequence and should be taken in that order. | |
| ASTR 2120 | Introduction to Astrophysics II (3.00) |
| Offered Spring 2012 | Primarily for science majors. A thorough discussion of the basic concepts and methods of solar system, stellar, galactic, and extragalactic astronomy and astrophysics with an emphasis on physical principles. Prerequisite/corequisite: ASTR 2110, MATH 1210 or 1310, PHYS 1610 or 2310, or instructor permission; ASTR 2110 and 2120 form a sequence and should be taken in that order. |
| ASTR 2559 | New Course in Astronomy (1.00 - 4.00) |
| New Course in the subject of Astronomy. | |
| ASTR 3130 | Observational Astronomy (4.00) |
| Primarily for science majors. A lecture and laboratory course that deals with basic observational techniques in astronomy. The laboratory section generally meets at night. Students use observational facilities at the McCormick and Fan Mountain Observatories. Additional work outside posted laboratory hours may be required to take advantage of clear skies. Prerequisite: ASTR 2110,2120 or ASTR 1210,1220, or instructor permission. | |
| ASTR 3140 | Introduction to Observational Radio Astronomy (3.00) |
| An introduction to the tools, techniques, and science of radio astronomy. Discussion includes fundamentals of measuring radio signals, radiometers, antennas, and interferometers, supplemented by illustrative labs; radio emission mechanisms and simple radiative transfer; radio emission from the Sun and planets, stars, galactic and extragalactic sources, and the cosmic microwave background. Prerequisite: ASTR 2110, 2120. | |
| ASTR 3340 | Teaching Astronomy (3.00) |
| A seminar-style class offered primarily for non-majors planning to teach science or looking to improve their ablility to communicate science effectively. In addition to astronomy content, students will learn effective teaching strategies and gain practical experience by developing and implementing their own concept-based astronomy lessons. Prerequisite: ASTR 1210, 1240; instructor permission | |
| ASTR 3410 | Archaeo-Astronomy (3.00) |
| Open to non-science students. Discussion of prescientific astronomy, including Mayan, Babylonian, and ancient Chinese astronomy, and the significance of relics such as Stonehenge. Discusses the usefulness of ancient records in the study of current astrophysical problems such as supernova outbursts. Uses current literature from several disciplines, including astronomy, archaeology, and anthropology. Prerequisite/corequisite: A 1000- or 2000-level ASTR course, or instructor permission. | |
| ASTR 3420 | Life Beyond the Earth (3.00) |
| Offered Spring 2012 | Open to non-science students. Studies the possibility of intelligent extraterrestrial life; methods and desirability of interstellar communication; prospects for humanity's colonization of space; interaction of space colonies; and the search for other civilizations. Prerequisite/corequisite: A 1000- or 2000-level ASTR course or instructor permission. |
| ASTR 3460 | Development of Modern Astronomy (3.00) |
| A reading course dealing with the history of astronomy. Prerequisite: Instructor permission. | |
| ASTR 3470 | Science and Controversy in Astronomy (3.00) |
| Open to non-science students. Investigates controversial topics in science and pseudo-science from the astronomer's perspective. Analyzes methods of science and the nature of scientific evidence, and their implications for unresolved astrophysical problems. Topics include extraterrestrial life, UFO's, Velikovsky, von Daniken, and astrology. Prerequisite/corequisite: ASTR 1210 or 1240, or instructor permission. | |
| ASTR 3480 | Introduction to Cosmology (3.00) |
| Offered Spring 2012 | Open to first-year students; primarily for non-science students. A descriptive introduction to the study of the ultimate structure and evolution of the universe. Covers the history of the universe, cosmological speculation, and the nature of the galaxies. Provides a qualitative introduction to relativity theory and the nature of space-time, black holes, models of the universe (big bang, steady-state, etc.) and methods of testing them. |
| ASTR 3559 | New Course in Astronomy (1.00 - 4.00) |
| New course in the subject of astronomy. | |
| ASTR 3880 | Planetary Astronomy (3.00) |
| Offered Spring 2012 | Studies the origin and evolution of the bodies in the solar system, emphasizing the geology of the planets and satellites of the inner solar system and the satellites of the gaseous planets. Topics will include the interpretation of remote sensing data, the chemistry and dynamics of planetary atmospheres and their interactions with the planetary surfaces, and the role of impacts. Prerequisite: Introductory course in geosciences or astronomy. |
| ASTR 3881 | Planetary Astronomy Laboratory (1.00) |
| Offered Spring 2012 | Optional one hour laboratory for students in ASTR 3880 that provides practical experience in accessing and analyzing data related to the origin and geology of solar system planetary bodies, including the Moon, Mars, and outer planet satellites. |
| ASTR 4440 | The Nature of Discovery in Astronomy (3.00) |
| Studies selected topics concerning the people, ideas, and principles that motivate the advance of twentieth-century astronomy. Prerequisite: Instructor permission. | |
| ASTR 4559 | New Course in Astronomy (1.00 - 4.00) |
| New course in the subject of astronomy. | |
| ASTR 4810 | Astrophysics (3.00) |
| Basic concepts in mechanics, statistical physics, atomic and nuclear structure, and radiative transfer are developed and applied to selected fundamental problems in the areas of stellar structure, stellar atmospheres, the interstellar medium, and extragalactic astrophysics. Prerequisite: ASTR 2110, 2120; PHYS 2620, or instructor permission. | |
| ASTR 4993 | Tutorial (3.00) |
| Offered Spring 2012 | Studies a topic of special interest to the student under individual supervision by a faculty member. May be repeated once for credit. Prerequisite: Instructor permission. |
| ASTR 4998 | Senior Thesis (3.00) |
| Offered Spring 2012 | May be repeated once for credit. Prerequisite: Instructor permission. |
| ASTR 5010 | Astrophysical Processes (3.00) |
| An introduction to the basic physics of astronomy and astrophysics organized around learning physical principles and applying them to astrophysical objects. Physics covered will be chosen from fluid mechanics, radiative transfer, statistical mechanics, classical and quantum radiation processes, and quantum mechanics of atomic and molecular structure. This graduate course will involve more complex and difficult assignments than ASTR 4810. Prerequisite: Instructor Permission. | |
| ASTR 5110 | Astronomical Techniques (3.00) |
| Surveys modern techniques of radiation measurement, data analysis, and image processing, and their application to astrophysical problems, especially the physical properties of stars and galaxies. Relevant laboratory experiments and observations with the department's telescopes are included. Students are expected to develop a familiarity with programming and other basic computer skills if they do not already possess them. Prerequisite: ASTR 2110-2120; PHYS 3420, 3430 or instructor permission. | |
| ASTR 5340 | Introductory Radio Astronomy (3.00) |
| Studies the fundamentals of measuring power and power spectra, antennas, interferometers, and radiometers. Topics include thermal radiation, synchrotron radiation, and line frequency radiation; and radio emission from the planets, sun, flare stars, pulsars, supernovae, interstellar gas, galaxies, and quasi-stellar sources. | |
| ASTR 5350 | Introduction to Radio Astronomy Instrumentation (3.00) |
| An introduction to the instrumentation of radio astronomy. Discussion includes fundamentals of measuring radio signals, noise theory, basic radiometry, antennas, low noise electronics, coherent receivers, signal processing for continuum and spectral line studies, and arrays. Lecture material is supplemented by illustrative labs. Prerequisite: ASTR 5340 or Instructor permission. | |
| ASTR 5420 | Interstellar Medium (3.00) |
| Studies the physics of the interstellar gas and grains, the distribution and dynamics of gas, and cosmic radiation and interstellar magnetic fields. Prerequisite: Instructor permission. | |
| ASTR 5430 | Stellar Astrophysics (3.00) |
| Studies observed properties and physics of stars including radiative transfer; stellar thermodynamics; convection; formation of spectra in atmospheres; equations of stellar structure; nuclear reactions; stellar evolution; and nucleosynthesis. Includes applicable numerical techniques. Prerequisite: Instructor permission. | |
| ASTR 5440 | Stellar Astrophysics (3.00) |
| Offered Spring 2012 | Studies observed properties and physics of stars including radiative transfer; stellar thermodynamics; convection; formation of spectra in atmospheres; equations of stellar structure; nuclear reactions; stellar evolution; and nucleosynthesis. Includes applicable numerical techniques. Prerequisite: Instructor permission. |
| ASTR 5450 | High Energy Astrophysics (3.00) |
| Introduces the physics of basic radiation mechanisms and particle acceleration processes that are important in high energy phenomena and space science. Discusses applications to pulsars, active galactic nuclei, radio galaxies, quasars, and supernovae. Prerequisite: Instructor permission. | |
| ASTR 5460 | Binary Stars (3.00) |
| Topics include the determination of orbital elements, the mass-luminosity-radius relation, formation of binary systems, the Roche model, mass loss, mass transfer, circumstellar material, accretion disks, evolution of close interacting binaries, and some special classes of binaries such as cataclysmic variables, RS CVn binaries, Algol-type binaries, and X-ray binaries. Prerequisite: Instructor permission. | |
| ASTR 5480 | Evolution of the Universe (3.00) |
| Studies the origin and evolution of structure in the universe. Topics include the formation and evolution of galaxies, and tests of the theory based on observations of large-scale structure and the properties of galaxies as a function of look-back time. Prerequisite: Instructor permission. | |
| ASTR 5500 | Topical Seminar (3.00) |
| Detailed study of a current topic. Topic to be covered appears in the Course Offering Directory for the semester in which it is given. Prerequisite: Instructor permission. | |
| ASTR 5510 | Topical Seminar (3.00) |
| Detailed study of a current topic. Topic to be covered appears in the Course Offering Directory for the semester in which it is given. Prerequisite: Instructor permission. | |
| ASTR 5559 | New Course in Astronomy (1.00 - 4.00) |
| Offered Spring 2012 | New course in the subject of astronomy. |
| ASTR 5610 | Galactic Structure and Stellar Populations (3.00) |
| Offered Spring 2012 | Explores the structure and evolution of star clusters and galaxies, with emphasis on the kinematics, chemistry, ages, and spectral energy distributions of stellar populations. The course introduces fundamental tools of Galactic astronomy, including methods for assessing the size, shape, age, and dynamics of the Milky Way and other stellar systems, galaxy formation, interstellar gas and dust, dark matter, and the distance scale. Prerequisite: Permission of instructor. |
| ASTR 5630 | Extragalactic Astronomy (3.00) |
| This course provides an overview of extragalactic astronomy. Topics include both qualitative and quantitative discussion of various types of galaxy (ellipticals, spirals, dwarf, starburst); results from theory of stellar dynamics; groups and clusters of galaxies; active galaxies; high-redshift galaxies; galaxy evolution; the intergalactic medium; and dark matter. The course is intended for advanced undergraduate astrophysics majors and first and second year graduate students. Prerequisite: Physics and Math through PHYS 2610, MATH 3250 (or equivalent); ASTR 2110, 2120 (or equivalent). | |
| ASTR 5640 | Extragalactic Astronomy II (3.00) |
| This course provides an overview of extragalactic astronomy. Topics include both a qualitative and quantitative discussion of star formation in galaxies, galaxy interactions and mergers, active galaxies and quasars, cosmology, structure formation in the universe, and galaxy formation and evolution. The course is intended for advanced undergraduate astrophysics majors and first and second year graduate students. Proposed: This course provides an overview of extragalactic astronomy. Topics include both a qualitative and quantitative discussion of star formation in galaxies, galaxy interactions and mergers, active galaxies and quasars, cosmology, structure formation in the universe, and galaxy formation and evolution. The course is intended for advanced undergraduate astrophysics majors and first and second year graduate students. Prerequisite: ASTR 5630 or Instructor Permission | |
| ASTR 5730 | Astronomy: Space Science for Teachers (3.00) |
| Explores selected topics in astronomy and cosmology relevant to K-12 teachers. Includes discussion of key concepts and theories and historical development, recent discoveries, and application of physical principles. Includes consideration of space and time, electromagnetic radiation, the structure and origin of the universe, the development of the solar system, stars and galaxies, and exploration of space. | |
| ASTR 6210 | Introduction to Sky and Solar System Concepts (3.00) |
| Offered Spring 2012 | The subject matter of this course is the same as ASTR 1210. Students are offered special assignments and consultation on introductory astronomy concepts on the sky and solar system related to education. Offered concurrently with undergraduate sections, but restricted to graduate students in the Curry school. Prerequisite: Curry School students; instructor permission. |
| ASTR 6220 | Introduction to Stars, Galaxies, and Universe Concepts (3.00) |
| Offered Spring 2012 | The subject matter of this course is the same as ASTR 1220. Students are offered special assignments and consultation on introductory astronomy concepts on the stars, galaxies and universe related to education. Offered concurrently with undergraduate sections but restricted to graduate students in the Curry school. Prerequisite: Curry School students; instructor permission. |
| ASTR 6230 | Introduction to Astronomical Observation Concepts (3.00) |
| Offered Spring 2012 | The subject matter of this course is the same as ASTR 1230. Students are offered special assignments and consultation on introductory concepts in observational astronomy related to education. Offered concurrently with undergraduate sections. Prerequisite: Curry School students; instructor permission. |
| ASTR 6340 | Astronomy Concepts in the Classroom (3.00) |
| A seminar-style class offered for graduate students in the School of Education and in-service teachers seeking credit towards (re) certification. In addition to astronomy content, students will learn effective astronomy lessons. Prerequisite: instructor permission | |
| ASTR 6410 | Archaeo-Astronomy Concepts (3.00) |
| The subject matter of this course is the same as ASTR 3410. Students are offered special reading assignments and consultation on prescientific astronomy concepts related to education. Offered concurrently with undergraduate sections. Prerequisite: Curry School Students; instructor permission. | |
| ASTR 6420 | Life Beyond the Earth Concepts (3.00) |
| Offered Spring 2012 | The subject matter of this course is the same as ASTR 3420. Students are offered special reading assignments and consultation on extraterrestrial life concepts related to education. Offered concurrently with undergraduate sections. Prerequisite: Curry School students; instructor permission. |
| ASTR 6470 | Science and Controversy Concepts (3.00) |
| The subject matter of this course is the same as ASTR 3470. Students are offered special reading assignments and consultation on science and pseudoscience concepts related to education. Offered concurrently with undergraduate sections. Prerequisite: Curry School students; instructor permission. | |
| ASTR 6480 | Introduction to Cosmology Concepts (3.00) |
| Offered Spring 2012 | The subject matter of this course is the same as ASTR 3480. Students are offered special reading assignments and consultation on cosmology concepts related to education. Offered concurrently with undergraduate sections. Prerequisite: Curry School students; instructor permission. |
| ASTR 6559 | New course in Astronomy (1.00 - 4.00) |
| New course in the subject of Astronomy. | |
| ASTR 7559 | New Course in Astronomy (1.00 - 4.00) |
| New Course in the subject of astronomy. | |
| ASTR 8400 | Advanced Seminar (3.00) |
| Subjects of current interest, such as star formation, galaxy evolution, cosmology, etc., are discussed. The topic to be covered appears in the Schedule of Classes each semester. | |
| ASTR 8490 | Advanced Seminar (3.00) |
| Subjects of current interest, such as star formation, galaxy evolution, cosmology, etc., are discussed. The topic to be covered appears in the Schedule of Classes each semester. | |
| ASTR 8500 | Current Astronomical Topics (1.00) |
| Offered Spring 2012 | UVa staff and guest speakers discuss current research problems. |
| ASTR 8559 | New Course in Astronomy. (1.00 - 4.00) |
| New Course in the subject of Astronomy. | |
| ASTR 8998 | Non-Topical Research, Preparation for Research (3.00 - 12.00) |
| Offered Spring 2012 | For master's research, taken before a thesis director has been selected. |
| ASTR 8999 | Non-Topical Research (3.00 - 12.00) |
| Offered Spring 2012 | For master's thesis, taken under the supervision of a thesis director. |
| ASTR 9559 | New Course in Astronomy (1.00 - 4.00) |
| New course in the subject of Astronomy. | |
| ASTR 9995 | Supervised Research (3.00 - 12.00) |
| Offered Spring 2012 | Under supervision, the student undertakes or assists with a current research problem. This course may be repeated for credit. |
| ASTR 9998 | Non-Topical Research, Preparation for Doctoral Research (3.00 - 12.00) |
| Offered Spring 2012 | For doctoral research, taken before a dissertation director has been selected. |
| ASTR 9999 | Non-Topical Research (3.00 - 12.00) |
| Offered Spring 2012 | For doctoral dissertation, taken under the supervision of a dissertation director. |