ASTR100 - Fall 2000

Introduction to Astronomy

Prof: Stacy McGaugh
- Lecture Time: TuTh 9:30-10:45 AM
- Lecture Room: PHYS 1412
Teaching Assistants: See TA Information
- Discussion Room: CSS 2400
- Discussion Times: See Section Information
Textbook: The Universe Revealed, by Impey & Hartmann

Class Information

FINAL GRADES: University interpretation of Federal privacy law effectively forbids the posting of final grades by the professor. You may obtain grade information directly from the University, either through MARS (301-403-0500) or Testudo.

Course Description
Lecture Schedule
Assignments Check here for up to date information on Homeworks and Exams.
Homework Solutions:
Open House Schedule and related information for the University Observatory's Open House.
There are other ASTR courses you can take after this one: ASTR Courses for Non-Majors.

Material to Help You Out

GENERAL

Computer Programs for use in ASTR100.
- Practice scientific notation and working with equations. Learn about astronomical distances and giant impacts!
- Watch the planets move around the Sun on their actual orbits! Follow this link to the Inner Solar System and Outer Solar System animations.
- Check out the orbits of all 67 moons orbiting the planets in our Solar System!
- JavaLab for the curious. Collide or cannibalize your own galaxies, explore the expansion history of the cosmos, and more!
Supplementary Information for UMD Introductory Astronomy. This site includes useful practice multiple choice questions which the computer will grade for you.
Astronomy Picture of the Day This site is updated daily and has a nice archive of pretty astronomy images.
Artificial Satellites
- Predictions for artificial satellites, including
- Satellite forecasts specific to College Park.

SOLAR SYSTEM

Welcome to the Planets Information about planets and spaceprobes from JPL.
A Tour of the Solar System This page contains information about the planets, satellites, asteroids, comets, and Solar System related topics.
NEAR mission to asteroid Eros.
Links to links of various amusing and interesting Java applets illustrating planetary orbits, angular momentum conservation, etc.
Comet Information This page contains information about recently discovered comets.
Comet Crash pictures and movies.
Spacewatch This page contains information about this program which searches for near Earth objects.
Extra Solar Planets Astronomers have discovered planets around other stars. The list lengthens all the time!

STARS & OUR GALAXY

Light and the Electromagnetic Spectrum Good information about light.
The Stellar Spectral Sequence. The colors and spectra of stars.
Structure and Evolution of Stars What happens when a star runs out of fuel?
Novae and Supernovae The most violent events in the Universe!
Binary Stars This page contains general information on binary stars.
Pulsars Hear them tick!
Black Hole Candidates This page contains information on Cygnus X-1, LMC X-3, and other black hole candidates.
Videos of compact objects, including the expected appearance of things in the vicinity of black holes.

OTHER GALAXIES

Galaxy appearance and classification.
Merging Galaxies - Josh Barnes' pedagogical sequence: initial conditions | merger | snapshot of merger in progress.
The Really Cool Merger Simulation which appeared in the IMAX film Cosmic Voyage (courtesy of Chris Mihos). Warning: may require excessive download time
Relativity Everything that you want to know about General Relativity, curved spacetime, and gravitational radiation!
Cosmology How did the Universe begin? How will it end?
Large Scale Structure Clusters & Superclusters of Galaxies. What do they look like?
Dark Matter: What is dark matter? What is it made of?
Some alternatives to dark matter.

SETI The search for extraterrestrial intelligence.
SETI@home Download the screen saver that lets your PC join in the search for extraterrestrial life.