Astronomy And Astrophysics (ASTRO)

ASTRO 001 (GN) ASTRONOMICAL UNIVERSE ( 3) The development of modern understanding of the astronomical universe from planets and stars to galaxies and cosmology. Student who have passed ASTRO 010 may not take this course.

ASTRO 001H (GN) ASTRONOMICAL UNIVERSE ( 3) The development of modern understanding of the astronomical universe from planets and stars to galaxies and cosmology.

ASTRO 005 (GN) THE SKY AND PLANETS ( 3) The development of our modern understanding of the visible sky and planetary systems. Prerequisite: Students who have passed ASTRO 001 or ASTRO 010 may not take this course.

ASTRO 006 (GN) STARS, GALAXIES, AND THE UNIVERSE ( 3) The development of our modern understanding of stars, galaxies, and the astronomical universe. Prerequisite: Students who have passed ASTRO 001 and ASTRO 010 may not take this course.

ASTRO 010 (GN) ELEMENTARY ASTRONOMY ( 2) Introductory survey of modern astronomy from planets and stars to galaxies and the universe. Students who have passed ASTRO 001 may not take this course. Students may not receive General Education credit for ASTRO 010 unless they also take ASTRO 011.

ASTRO 011 (GN) ELEMENTARY ASTRONOMY LABORATORY ( 1) Selected experiments and explorations to illustrate major astronomical principles and techniques. Telescopes observations of planets, stars and nebulae. Prerequisite: or concurrent: ASTRO 001 or ASTRO 010

ASTRO 020S FIRST-YEAR ASTRONOMY SEMINAR ( 2) Introduction to the study of modern astronomy through discussions, activities, and writing.

ASTRO 097 SPECIAL TOPICS ( 1 - 9)

ASTRO 120 (GN) THE BIG BANG UNIVERSE ( 3) Exploration of cosmology, birth, and ultimate fate of the universe; origin of galaxies, quasars, and dark matter. For non-science majors. Prerequisite: ASTRO 001 or ASTRO 010

ASTRO 130 (GN) BLACK HOLES IN THE UNIVERSE ( 3) The predicted properties of black holes and the astronomical evidence for their existence are investigated in the context of modern ideas about space, time, and gravity. Prerequisite: ASTRO 001 or ASTRO 010

ASTRO 140 (GN) LIFE IN THE UNIVERSE ( 3) The problem of the existence of life beyond Earth is investigated, drawing from recent research in astronomy and other fields. For non-science majors. Prerequisite: ASTRO 001 or ASTRO 010

ASTRO 199 (IL) FOREIGN STUDIES ( 1 -12)

ASTRO 291 (GN) ASTRONOMICAL METHODS AND THE SOLAR SYSTEM ( 3) Physical processes and observational techniques in astronomical systems, characteristics of the sun, planets, and moons. Prerequisite: PHYS 211

ASTRO 292 (GN) ASTRONOMY OF THE DISTANT UNIVERSE ( 3) Observed properties and astrophysical understanding of stars, stellar evolution, galaxies, the large-scale universe, and cosmology. Prerequisite: ASTRO 291

ASTRO 296 INDEPENDENT STUDIES ( 1 -18)

ASTRO 297 SPECIAL TOPICS ( 1 - 9)

ASTRO 320 (GN) OBSERVATIONAL ASTRONOMY LABORATORY ( 2) Basic observational astronomy techniques introduced through observational exercises, lab experiments, and lectures on relevant statistical techniques. Prerequisite: or concurrent: ASTRO 291

ASTRO 399 (IL) FOREIGN STUDIES ( 1 -12)

ASTRO 400H HONORS SEMINAR ( 1 credits per semester) Presentations of various branches and modes of modern astrophysical research, based on lectures, visits to telescopes and facilities, and discussions. Prerequisite: ASTRO 292

ASTRO 410 COMPUTATIONAL ASTROPHYSICS ( 3) Applications of numerical methods and computer programming to astrophysics, including stellar physics and cosmology. Prerequisite: CMPSC 201 or CMPSC 121 ; PHYS 212 , PHYS 213 , and PHYS 214

ASTRO 420W PLANETS AND PLANETARY SYSTEM FORMATION ( 3) Solar system properties, star formation, protoplanetary disks and planet formation, solar system model, extrasolar planets, and astrobiology. Prerequisite: ASTRO 292

ASTRO 440 INTRODUCTION TO ASTROPHYSICS ( 3) Theoretical investigation of physical processes in astronomical objects and systems; modern physical interpretation of astronomical phenomena. Prerequisite: MATH 230 , PHYS 237

ASTRO 451 ASTRONOMICAL TECHNIQUES ( 2) Practical methods of modern observational astronomy, detectors, filters, instrumentation for both ground-based and space observations, and data analysis. Prerequisite: PHYS 212 , PHYS 213 , PHYS 214

ASTRO 451 ASTRONOMICAL TECHNIQUES ( 3) Effective Date: FA2008 Practical methods of modern observational astronomy, detectors, filters, instrumentation for both ground-based and space observations, and data analysis. Prerequisite: PHYS 212 , PHYS 213 , PHYS 214

ASTRO 475W STARS AND GALAXIES ( 3) Astronomical studies concerning the distribution and evolution of stars and gas in our and other galaxies. Prerequisite: ASTRO 292

ASTRO 480 NEBULAE, GALAXIES, AND COSMOLOGY ( 3) Emission-line spectroscopy, structure and evolution of galaxies, physics of galactic nuclei and quasars, observational cosmology. Prerequisite: ASTRO 292 , PHYS 212 , PHYS 213 , PHYS 214

ASTRO 485 INTRODUCTION TO HIGH-ENERGY ASTRONOMY ( 3) The study of black holes, neutron stars, white dwarfs, supernova remnants, and extragalactic objects through x-ray and gamma ray observations. Prerequisite: PHYS 237

ASTRO 496 INDEPENDENT STUDIES ( 1 -18)

ASTRO 497 SPECIAL TOPICS ( 1 - 9)

ASTRO 499 (IL) FOREIGN STUDIES ( 1 -12)

ASTRO 501 FUNDAMENTAL ASTRONOMY ( 3) Fundamental concepts, tools and techniques, and essential results in all branches of modern observational astronomy except planetary.

ASTRO 501 FUNDAMENTAL ASTRONOMY ( 3) Effective Date: FA2008 Concepts, tools and techniques, and essential background in stellar, Galactic, extragalactic astronomy and cosmology.

ASTRO 502 FUNDAMENTAL ASTROPHYSICS ( 3) Fundamental tools and results of modern astrophysical theory. Gravitation; gas dynamics; radiation processes; radiative transfer; atomic structure and transitions.

ASTRO 502 FUNDAMENTAL ASTROPHYSICS ( 3) Effective Date: FA2008 Fundamental tools and results of modern astrophysical theory. Gravitation; gas dynamics; radiation processes; radiative transfer; atomic structure and transitions.

ASTRO 504 GALACTIC AND EXTRAGALACTIC ASTRONOMY ( 3) Physical cosmology and distance scale; dynamics of star clusters and galaxies; photometric and chemical evolution of galaxies and the universe. Prerequisite: ASTRO 501 , ASTRO 502

ASTRO 504 EXTRAGALACTIC ASTRONOMY ( 3) Effective Date: FA2008 Properties and evolution of galaxies including their stellar, interstellar, black hole and Dark Matter components. Prerequisite: ASTRO 501 , ASTRO 502

ASTRO 513 OBSERVATIONAL TECHNIQUES IN ASTRONOMY ( 3) Theoretical and practical aspects of modern multiwavelength observational astrophysics including detector physics, imaging techniques, spectroscopic techniques, and data analysis principles. Prerequisite: ASTRO 501 , ASTRO 502

ASTRO 527 (PHYS) COMPUTATIONAL PHYSICS AND ASTROPHYSICS ( 3) Effective Date: FA2008 Introduction to numerical methods for modeling physical phenomena in condensed matter, atomic and high energy physics, gravitation, cosmology and astrophy.

ASTRO 530 THEORY OF STELLAR ATMOSPHERES ( 3) Theory of photospheric structure, radiative processes, and line-formation in the outer layers of stars, and interpretation of stellar spectra. Prerequisite: ASTRO 510

ASTRO 530 STELLAR ATMOSPHERES ( 3) Effective Date: FA2008 The structure, physics and observational manifestations of atmospheres of stars. Prerequisite: ASTRO 501 , ASTRO 502

ASTRO 534 STELLAR STRUCTURE AND EVOLUTION ( 3) Theory of physical processes, structure, and evolutionary changes of stars; nature of intrinsic variable stars; the Hertzsprung-Russell diagram. Prerequisite: ASTRO 510 or PHYS 561

ASTRO 534 STELLAR STRUCTURE AND EVOLUTION ( 3) Effective Date: FA2008 Physics of stellar interiors, stellar structure, and evolutionary changes of stars from pre-main sequence through final states. Prerequisite: ASTRO 501 , ASTRO 502

ASTRO 542 GASEOUS NEBULAE AND INTERSTELLAR MATTER ( 3) Theory and observations of galactic nebulae and interstellar medium, and problems related to the formation of stars. Prerequisite: ASTRO 510

ASTRO 542 INTERSTELLAR MEDIUM AND STAR FORMATION ( 3) Effective Date: FA2008 Theory and observation of the interstellar medium of our Galaxy and the process of star and planet formation. Prerequisite: ASTRO 501 , ASTRO 502

ASTRO 550 HIGH-ENERGY ASTROPHYSICS ( 3) Theory and observations of x-rays and gamma rays from stars, black holes, neutron stars, supernova remnants, and extragalactic objects. Prerequisite: PHYS 400 ; PHYS 410 or PHYS 454

ASTRO 550 HIGH ENERGY ASTROPHYSICS ( 3) Effective Date: FA2008 Theory and observations of X-rays, gamma-rays and other high energy radiation from Galactic and extragalactic sources. Prerequisite: ASTRO 501 , ASTRO 502

ASTRO 585 TOPICS IN ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS ( 3) Advanced study of issues in planetary, stellar, galactic, extragalactic and theoretical astronomy and astrophysics. Prerequisite: ASTRO 501 , ASTRO 502

ASTRO 589 SEMINAR IN CURRENT ASTRONOMICAL RESEARCH ( 1) Contemporary issues in instrumental, observational and theoretical astronomy and astrophysics. Prerequisite: ASTRO 501 , ASTRO 502

ASTRO 590 COLLOQUIUM ( 1 - 3) Continuing seminars which consist of a series of individual lectures by faculty, students, or outside speakers.

ASTRO 596 INDIVIDUAL STUDIES ( 1 - 9) Creative projects, including nonthesis research, which are supervised on an individual basis and which fall outside the scope of formal courses.

ASTRO 597 SPECIAL TOPICS ( 1 - 9)

ASTRO 801 PLANETS, STARS, GALAXIES, AND THE UNIVERSE ( 3) Overview of the structure, formation, and evolution of planets, stars, galaxies, and the universe.

ASTRO 897 SPECIAL TOPICS ( 1 - 9)

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This electronic Undergraduate Bulletin is a version of the official bulletin of The Pennsylvania State University. It is suggested that users refer to this electronic bulletin when seeking the latest information about the University's academic programs and courses. Printed versions of the Bulletin are also official copies of the programs, courses, and policies in effect at the time of printing. Programmatic expectations for general education are those in effect at the time of admission to degree candidacy, and college and major requirements are those in effect at the time of entry to college and major. These are accurately indicated in each student's degree audit.

Effective Date: Current

Review Date: 06/20/2008

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