Stars, Galaxies, and Cosmology

Astro 150: Fall 2020

Prof. Steve Kawaler


In Astro 150, an introductory course in modern astronomy for non-scientists, we begin by understanding the motions, distances, sizes, and spectra of stars. We explore how they are born, and the changes they go through as they run out of fuel and die. This brings us to supernovae, neutron stars, and black holes. We then step outwards and explore the structure and evolution of our own Milky Way Galaxy, and the billions and billions of other galaxies, clusters of galaxies, and bizarre active galaxies and quasars. We investigate current theories of cosmology, the origin and structure of the Universe, and the Big Bang, and finish with a brief discussion of the possiblities of intelligent life in the Universe beyond Earth.

A poem...


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"Everyday" things from class...


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