Physics 103: General Astronomy

Spring lecture notes


All notes in Microsoft Powerpoint format.

Readings from "Stars, Galaxies & Cosmology" by Bennett are denoted by "B" and the chapter number.

Readings from "Universe down to Earth" by Tyson denoted by "Ty" and the chapter number.

Various articles by Carl Sagan will be provided and are denoted by "Sg" and the article number.


Class Date Reading Due Lecture Notes last updated
Jan 13, 2004 Intro Jan 13, 2004
Jan 15 Ty2, Sg1 The Scientific Method Jan 13, 2004
Jan 20 Ty12, Sg2 Kepler's Laws Jan 18, 2004
Jan 22 Ty7, Ty8, B6.1-6.3 Light and Temperature Jan 18, 2004
Jan 27 B6.4-6.5 Spectral Lines Jan 24, 2004
Jan 29 B15 The Sun Jan 29, 2004
Feb 3 various articles Exoplanets Jan 24, 2004
Feb 10 B16.1-16.5, Ty9 Stars Feb 7, 2004
Feb 12 B16.6, B17.1-17.2, Ty10 Star Formation Feb 7, 2004
Feb 17 B17.3-17.5, B18.1-18.3 Stellar Evolution Feb 16, 2004
Feb 19 B18.3-18.5 Black Holes and Neutron Stars Feb 16, 2004
Feb 24 none Black Holes and General Relativity Feb 20, 2004
March 9 B19 The Milky Way March 8, 2004
March 11 B20.1-20.3 Galaxies March 8, 2004
March 16 B22.1-22.4 Dark Matter Pi Day, 2004
March 18 B20.4,B22.5-22.6 The Big Bang Pi Day, 2004
March 23 B23 The Big Bang Evidence Equinox, 2004
April 6 B24.3-24.4 SETI April 4, 2004
April 8 Bennett S2 Interstellar Travel April 4, 2004