Astro 4-2 Stars, Galaxies, and the Origin of the Universe

Spring '24 Schedule

Note below the last day of finals - last day to withdraw and receive a "W", and last day to request a P/NP. After this, you receive a grade no matter what: I have no choice.

It is your responsibility to note the unlock times for all exams on Canvas! Take note of quiz times!

By popular demand, all quizzes will be on Canvas. This will also save time for us for lectures during our precious classroom time. We can discuss whether you want the Final exam on Canvas, with expanded unlock time, or just the 3 hrs but live in the classroom. Last semester, the vote was for on Canvas.


Mon Jan 29 :
Introduction, syllabus, bits of Ch 1, Chapter 0 - Principles of Clear Thinking and Scientific Method , On Teaching , Ch 3.5,4: Astrology as example of bogus pseudoscience There is a rare lunar grazing occultation of the planet Mars at 9pm tonight, but only visible from near Pinnacles National Park. If skies are clear, we may end class early so I can get there and video record the event for later playback in class. Then, we'd continue with Chapter 0 on Feb 6. I won't know until the day gets very close! From Santa Cruz, you'll be able to see Mars just barely miss the northern edge of the moon.

Mon Feb 5: Ch 3 - Historical Astronomy (brief), Ch 4 - Kepler, Forces and deriving the Law of Gravity

Sat Feb 10: deadline to drop/add a full term course, and get refund for drops, and deadline to drop w/o getting a "W" on your record

Mon Feb 12:
Ch 4 - Tides, properties of gravity, Ch S1,2 - Einstein and Modern Gravity

Mon Feb 12: Census submittal deadline at 11:59pm

Mon Feb 19- President's Day Holiday; no class

Mon Feb 26:
Ch 5 - Light and Matter

Mon Mar 4:
6-9pm finish up "Light and Matter", likely a brief session Ch 6 - Telescopes and Detectors, Ch 14 - The Sun, Fusion, Structure, Solar Wind.

Mon Mar 11:
Ch 14 - The Sun, Fusion, Structure, Solar Wind.

Mon Mar 18:
Ch 15 - Surveying the Stars, Ch 16 - The Birth of Stars

Mon Mar 25: Spring Break - no class

Mon Apr 1: Ch 17 - Ch 17 - Stellar Evolution of low mass stars and medium mass stars

Mon Apr 8:
Ch 17 - Stellar Evolution of High Mass Stars, Ch 18 - Binary Star Evolution 5
Mon Apr 15:
Ch 19 - Our Milky Way Galaxy, Ch 20 Galaxies in general

Mon Apr 22:
Ch 20,21 - Galaxy types, Galaxy evolution

Mon Apr 29:
Ch 21; Quasars, Ch 22 - Dark Matter; Evidence for Dark Matter

Mon May 6: Chap 24, Dark Matter, Ch 23, Large Scale Structure, Dark Energy

Mon May 13: Ch 23, 24 - Inflation, the Multi-verse, the Anthropic Principle, Life and implications for the Nature of the Universe.

May 20: Finals Week: optional zoom session 6-9pm Monday May 22, just if you have clarification questions on the final exam.

May 27 11:59pm - Deadline for grade submissions by Instructors