15 courses with the subject ASTR, each shown exactly as we captured it from the college's catalog, with every element we hold. Where the wording looks broken, that is our reading of the catalog, not the college's text.
A study of the solar system as seen from earth and space: planets, satellites, comets, meteors, and the interplanetary medium; astronautics and space exploration; life on other planets; planets around other stars; planetary system cosmogony. Open to all classes. Course Format: CLS
This course is designed to acquaint the student with our present understanding of the universe. The course discusses the formation, structure, and evolution of gas clouds, stars, and galaxies, and then places them in the larger content of clusters and superclusters of galaxies. The Big Bang, GUTS, inflation, the early stages of the universe’s expansion, and its ultimate fate are explored. Edward Buie II. Open to all classes. Course Format: CLS
An introduction to the possibility of life beyond Earth is presented from an astronomical point of view. The course reviews stellar and planetary formation and evolution, star properties and planetary atmospheres necessary for a habitable world, possibilities for other life in our Solar system, detection of extrasolar planets, the SETI project, and the Drake equation.
The physical theory of stellar interiors, atmospheres, and energy sources. Stellar evolution. Spectral sequence and its origin. Supernovae, white dwarfs, neutron stars, and black holes. Edward Buie II.
Atmospheres, surface features, and interiors of the planets. Interaction of the sun with the other members of the solar system. Planetary formation and evolution. Life on other planets. Space exploration. Colette Salyk.
This course introduces the student to a variety of techniques used in the detection and analysis of electromagnetic radiation from astronomical sources. All areas of the electromagnetic spectrum are discussed, with special emphasis on solid-state arrays as used in optical and infrared astronomy. Topics include measurement uncertainty, signal-to-noise estimates, the use of astronomical databases, telescope design and operation, detector design and operation, practical photometry and spectroscopy and data reduction. Students are required to perform a number of nighttime observations at the college observatory. Colette Salyk.
0.5 to 1 unit(s) Execution and analysis of an off-campus field study in astronomy. The course requirements are to be arranged with an individual instructor. The department.
0.5 to 1 unit(s) Intermediate-level execution of an independent observational, theoretical, or library study in astronomy. The course requirements are to be arranged with an individual instructor. The department.
Investigation and critical analysis of a topic in observational or theoretical astronomy. Observational research may include building or experimenting with a non-trivial hardware or software system. A written thesis and oral presentation of results to the department are required for the course. A student electing this course must first gain the support of at least one member of the Astronomy department faculty, who will determine the format of final deliverables for the course. The Senior Thesis is a 1-unit course with 1/2 unit graded provisionally in the Fall and 1/2 unit graded in the Spring. The final grade, awarded in the Spring, shall replace the provisional grade in the Fall. Yearlong course, ASTR 300- 301 . One 2-hour period and individual conferences with the instructor. Course Format: INT
Continuation of 300. The Senior Thesis is a 1-unit course with 1/2 unit graded provisionally in the Fall and 1/2 unit graded in the Spring. The final grade, awarded in the Spring, shall replace the provisional grade in the Fall. The department.
Students may elect a 1-unit thesis only in exceptional circumstances. Usually, students will adopt 300-301. The department.
A study of the observations and theory related to interstellar matter, including masers, protostars, dust, atomic, molecular and ionized gas clouds. Radiative transfer, collapse and expansion processes, shocks and spiral density waves are discussed. Edward Buie II.
Observations and theories of the formation and evolution of galaxies. Properties of star-forming regions; contents, structure, and kinematics of the Milky Way and spiral, elliptical, and irregular galaxies. Active galaxies, interacting galaxies, clusters, and high redshift galaxies. Edward Buie II.
A study of current research on extrasolar planets and planet formation, and connections between the two. Course involves close reading and presentation of field-specific articles. Research topics include observational techniques such as adaptive optics imaging, interferometry and spectroscopy, as well as theoretical investigations of the physics of protoplanetary disk evolution and planet formation. Colette Salyk.
0.5 to 1 unit(s) High-level execution of an experimental, theoretical, or library study in Astronomy. An oral presentation of results to the department is required for the course. Additional course requirements are to be arranged with an individual instructor. The department.
Source: Vassar College's catalog, linked per course · table learning_unit · CourseShelf publish 61
