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Astrophysical Sciences   

  • Black Holes

  • REGISTRATION FOR THIS CLASS IS CLOSED. This class is already in session.
  • Black holes are amazing: so much mass is contained in such a small region of space that nothing, not even light, can escape. In this class, we will learn to understand what black holes are, and (equally importantly) what they are not (sorry, science fiction!). We will grapple with the seeming simplicity of black holes and their weirdness. We will also study how black holes are discovered and how they give rise to some of the most astonishing phenomena in the Universe. We will cover concepts at the forefront of modern astronomy and physics and highlight the power of quantitative thinking (algebra only) and the scientific method.

     

  • Fee: $250.00

  • Instructor: Eliot Quataert

  • Capacity Remaining: -9

  • Semester Dates: 1/27/2026 - 4/23/2026 

  • Times: 1:20 PM - 2:40 PM

  • Sessions: 24

  • Days: Tu Th

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  • Cosmology

  • REGISTRATION FOR THIS CLASS IS CLOSED. This class is already in session.
  • Topics include the properties and nature of galaxies, quasars, clusters, superclusters, the large-scale structure of the universe, dark matter, dark energy, the formation and evolution of galaxies and other structures, microwave background radiation, and the evolution of the universe from the Big Bang to today. Two 90-minute lectures. Prerequisites: MAT 201, 202; PHY 207, 208. Designed for science and engineering majors.

     

  • Fee: $250.00

  • Instructor: Neta Bahcall

  • Capacity Remaining: -5

  • Semester Dates: 1/26/2026 - 4/22/2026 

  • Times: 1:20 PM - 2:40 PM

  • Sessions: 24

  • Days: M W

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  • The Universe

  • REGISTRATION FOR THIS CLASS IS CLOSED. This class is already in session.
  • This specially designed course targets the frontier of modern astrophysics. Subjects include the planets of our solar system; the birth, life, and death of stars; the search for extrasolar planets and extraterrestrial life; the zoo of galaxies from dwarfs to giants, from starbursts to quasars; dark matter and the large-scale structure of the universe; Einstein's special and general theory of relativity, black holes, neutron stars, and big bang cosmology. This course is designed for the non-science major and has no prerequisites past high school algebra and geometry. High school physics would be useful.

     

  • Fee: $250.00

  • Instructor: Alexandra Amon

  • Capacity Remaining: -5

  • Semester Dates: 1/27/2026 - 4/16/2026 

  • Times: 2:55 PM - 4:15 PM

  • Sessions: 24

  • Days: Tu Th

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  • Topics in Modern Astronomy

  • REGISTRATION FOR THIS CLASS IS CLOSED. This class is already in session.
  • The solar system and planets around other stars; the structure and evolution of stars; supernovae, neutron stars, and black holes; gravitational waves; the formation and structure of galaxies; cosmology, dark matter, dark energy, and the history of the entire universe. Prerequisites: PHY 103 or 105 and MAT 103 or 104 or equivalent. Compared to AST 203, this course employs more mathematics and physics. Intended for quantitatively-oriented students.

     

  • Fee: $250.00

  • Instructor: Joshua Winn

  • Capacity Remaining: -2

  • Semester Dates: 1/26/2026 - 4/22/2026 

  • Times: 2:55 PM - 4:15 PM

  • Sessions: 24

  • Days: M W

  • Building: [Sign in to view]

  • Room: [Sign in to view]

 

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