Lecture Slides & Recordings

DateSlidesAudioReadingEvents
Aug 27 Introduction audio Ryden Ch. 1, Harrison Ch. 4
Aug 29 Hubble Expansion audio Ryden Ch. 2, Harrison Ch. 3
Sep 3 Distance Metrics audio Ryden Ch. 3
Sep 5 FLRW Models audio Ryden Ch. 4 Problem Set 1 due
Sep 10 Expansion History Cases audio Ryden Ch. 5 | Notes
Sep 12 Distance-Redshift Relations audio Ryden Ch. 6
Sep 17 Observational Tests audio Sanders | Sandage
Sep 19 Review audio Chapters 1 - 6 Problem Set 2 due
Sep 24 Exam I First Exam
Prof. McGaugh in Texas
Sep 26 Counting Galaxies audio MBS audio truncated: dead battery
Oct 1 Distance Scale I audio Jacoby et al.
Oct 3 Distance Scale II audio Stellar pulsation
Oct 8 Distance Scale III audio BTFR H0
Oct 10 Age Constraints audio Age Notes Problem Set 3 due
Oct 15 Timeline of the Early Universe audio
Oct 17 Radiation Domination audio Ryden Ch. 5
Oct 22 Fall Break No class
Oct 24 Review audio
Oct 29 Exam II Second Exam
Oct 31 Big Bang Nucleosynthesis audio Ryden Ch. 9
Nov 5 BBN - Observations audio Ryden Ch. 9 Vote!
Nov 7 Structure Formation audio Ryden Ch. 11
Nov 12 Power Spectra audio Ryden Ch. 8, 11 Problem Set 4 due
Nov 14 The Gravitating Mass Density Ryden Ch. 7 audio recording fail
Nov 19 Cold Dark Matter Ryden Ch. 7, 11 Project topic choices due
Nov 21 Dark Ages & Cosmic Dawn
audio Ryden Ch. 12
Pritchard & Loeb
Nov 26 Inflation audio Ryden Ch. 10
Problem Set 5 due
Nov 28 Thanksgiving No class
Dec 3 Project presentations Student Talks
Dec 5 Project presentations Summary slides Student Talks
Dec 9 Reading Day Chapters 1 - 12
Dec 10 Final Exam 8AM - 11AM Final Exam


Links to notes will go live after the corresponding lecture.

Notes from Fall 2022 | Fall 2020


The readings give the portion of Ryden's textbook that covers approximately the same material. Other readings are suggested for topics not covered in the main text. See the useful readings page for a list of other books and papers.