Astronomy: Michael Lane

Course Overview:

In this introductory course, we will investigate the universe in an attempt to increase our knowledge of its workings and mysteries. We will progress from a study of our local neighborhood (the solar system) and work our way back in space and time to distant objects such as galaxies, pulsars, black holes, and quasars. We will also delve into cosmology, discussing how the universe was created, its current state, and ultimately how it will all end (if it will at all). Along the way we will answer many of the questions you may already have and possibly some you may have never thought of: Why do we see only one side of the moon? What causes global warming? How long will the sun last? What are these solar storms I’ve heard about? What are black holes and pulsars? What happens when you fall into a black hole? How likely is there to be life somewhere else in the universe? How can we colonize another planet? Is time travel possible? The major goal of this class is to increase your appreciation of the universe around you, allowing you to enjoy the beauty and wonder of it. The emphasis will be on a qualitative understanding and not on math or calculation. There will be regular homework and quizzes in addition to two or three projects. For educational fun, we will have movie parties in class (watching cool documentaries and munching snacks), go stargazing (having first learned how to identify constellations and other celestial objects), and visit an observatory.

Other Class Resources:

Slide Shows

pdf's of the Keynote presentations from class (slides with animations are skipped)

Homework

Problem sets passed out in class

Other Handouts

Activities, lab-ish things, articles, etc.

Astronomy Links

Good sites for you to visit

Student Work

Examples of student work prepared for this course.