Astronomy 14 – Astrophysics: Solar System and Cosmology
Archive of Announcements
Week 14
posted 4/30
Last two classes plus an exam on Tuesday night!
Week 13
posted 4/21
We have a lab on Tuesday night (info soon, to be posted in the assignments section) and exam in class on Thursday (see the old assignments page for the information about the exam). Update: exam postponed to next Tuesday.
Week 12
posted 4/15
No lab this week but please keep working on your image data.
We have another research colloquium this Friday, April 20, but this week at lunchtime: 12:30 pm in SC 199. The subject is, again, plasma physics. Please attend the talk if you can. There is relevance to both the early universe and the Solar System. Plasma is everywhere! Pizza will be available in 199 for those attending the talk. You can read about the talk on our colloquium schedule page.
Week 11
posted 4/7
Two groups still need to take their data for the last lab (lab #4). Ms. Klassen and I will be in touch with you when the weather is good enough to do some lab observing. Update: Tuesday is a possibility. Those who already have their data should be working on it. Update: We'll be available to help you with your lab, including AIJ help, on Thursday after class in SC 124. Also, we'll be doing a Hubble Law lab using real data, but indoors and on the computer, on Tuesday night this week. Update: No we won't! No lab meeting this Tuesday night. We'll be doing the Hubble lab in two weeks.
We have a research colloquium this Friday, April 13, at 4:30 pm in SC 199. The subject is plasma physics. Please attend the talk if you can. There is relevance to both the early universe and the Solar System. Plasma is everywhere! Snacks will be provided at 4:15. You can read about the talk on our colloquium schedule page.
Week 10
posted 4/1
Cosmology this week! Galaxies, the expansion of the universe, and large-scale structure to begin.
Ms. Klassen and I will be in touch with you when the weather is good enough to do some lab observing.
Short exoplanet homework assignment due on Monday evening; office hours Monday afternoon.
Week 9
posted 3/26
We are finishing up the Solar System (via exoplanets) this week and starting our second unit, on cosmology.
Stay tuned for information about our next lab... Note: regular office hours this week and a new homework assignment will be posted in the middle of the week.
Week 8
posted 3/18
I've changed my office hours for just this week: Monday's usual office hours are cancelled and I've extended Thursday's until 6:00 pm.
posted 3/12
Enjoy your spring break. We will not be having a lab meeting the week after break (but will be having one the following week).
Week 7
posted 3/3
We have a lab on Tuesday night (exoplanets!) and also class as usual on Tuesday. But no class on Thursday. A new homework assignment will be out soon and it will be due after break. Note also changes to office hours posted on the right side of the front page.
Week 6
posted 2/22
We will have our first midterm at 8 pm on Tuesday night, February 27, in SC 161. See the Assignments section for information about the exam.
Week 5
posted 2/22
We will have our first midterm at 8 pm on Tuesday night, February 27, in SC 161. See the Assignments section for information about the exam.
posted 2/16
There will not be a lab meeting this coming Tuesday, but there will be some work to do outside of lab for our next lab project.
Week 4
posted 2/10
No lab, no talks/colloquia this week. But more gravity and orbits!
Week 3
posted 2/3
There is a lab meeting this week (information will be posted by Monday morning; there will be a little preparation, but only a little).
Week 2
posted 1/27
There is no lab meeting this week (but there will be a week from Tuesday night, and information about that lab will be given out toward the end of this week).
There is a short homework assignment, posted below. It is due at the beginning of class on Tuesday. Before you start it, rereading the class guidelines would be a good idea. I have office hours on Monday afternoon. And please get in touch if you'd like to meet outside of those hours and absolutely email me with questions about the homework as you're doing it.
Week 1
posted 1/24
Office hours today (see schedule on the right side of this page).
posted 1/23
Our first class meeting and lab are happening today!
posted 1/18
This class is an introduction to astrophysics for students who already know at least a modest amount of physics and calculus. It is focused on two interesting and important topics in astrophysics, going relatively deeply into each one (see the syllabus linked on the right side of this page). Astro 14 can be taken as the first class of the major sequence in astronomy or astrophysics (by first-year students who might also be taking Physics 13/15, though also by sophomores). It can be taken either before or after Astro 16, only one of which is required for the major, though taking both can be a fine idea. Astro 14 should also be accessible to students who've taken Astro 1 and want to take more astronomy, as long as they have some math and physics experience.
Our first class meeting will be on Tuesday afternoon, January 23. Students should get a copy of the textbook beforehand and read the syllabus and class information posted on the right side of this page...as well as look at the three images above and read the descriptions linked from each one.
Students should expect both a reading assignment and a short homework assignment before the first class – posted here a few days ahead of time.
We will likely have our first lab meeting of the semester on Tuesday night, January 23, at 8 pm, meeting in SC 187. Stay tuned for information about that, too.
Return to the main class page.
This page is maintained by David Cohen
dcohen1 -at- swarthmore.edu
Last modified: May 7, 2018