Provides geneneral education credit.
This course covers the science of the stars and other heavenly bodies. We use our knowledge of physics, chemistry, and geology to understand planets, stars, galaxies,and the Universe itself. Planets and stars and other celestial objects in turn serve as laboratories for conditions beyond human-built experiments. Studying these components of the greater Universe increases our understanding of the physical sciences. Early studies of planetary motion lead to an understanding of gravity and forces (some of this physics will be in this course). Modern studies of planets concern geology and weather (not in this course). Studies of stars, the formation of galaxies and the universe depend on the properties of basic matter and forces (this will be discussed in this course). The details of the course are contained in the syllabus below.
I am recommending but not requiring Discovering the Essential Universe by Comins editions 4 or 5. I also recommend The Cosmic Perspective Fundamentals by Bennett, Donahue, Scheider and Voit. We will discuss in the first lecture. You have the option of NOT purchasing the textbook.
The NIU Observatory is managed by Daniel Stange (e-mail z1719539@students.niu.edu).
Asteroid at Earth's Trojan point
Hotel Mauna Kea (parody) 1:07-1:40 3:30
Arecibo telescope from movie Contact
VLA array from movie Contact 6:30
Whales? NO!! The Earth itself sings through the Van Allen Belts!
Movie 2014 - Neutrinos from the Sun
NASA video - more on solar flares
Total Lunar Eclipse On Wednesday Will Be a Rare 'Selenelion' 10/08/2014
Total Lunar Eclipse Time Lapse Picture from Fermilab 10/08/2014
HALLOWEEN SUN!!! NASA's Solar Dynamic Observatory pic 10/08/2014
Video - Nebula and Star birth
Video - Sun becoming a Red Giant
Just because I saw this today....Extreme Ultraviolet Image of a Significant Solar Flare
Video - supernova response vs time
Video - Type Ia supernova explosion simulation
10 min Video just do 3-6 min - Ia supernova
Video - supernova --> remnant nebula (Crab nebula)
Video - black hole interacting with star
Video - Neutron Star as Pulsar - skip sound
Video - black hole interacting with star
Video - Colliding Neutron Stars - in next video - skip
Video - black hole, neutron stars, white dwarfs interacting -
exit music - skip
Cool star could host habitable planet
Check this out...Spectacular new image from the Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array - planet formation!
Neil DeGrasse Tyson gets no respect from Sheldon!
Holy Crap!! We've just landed a space probe on a comet!!
asteriod passing by Earth 11/8/2011
Video - Andromeda Galaxy
Hubble Pinpoints Most Ancient, Distant Galaxy Yet Observed
M31(Andromeda) - M33(smaller spiral)
Galaxy Interactions video
video - Why is the sky dark at night?
Decoupling of Radiation and Matter
video - What is the Universe expanding into?
Class 7b - Test 1 -
10/8/2014
Class 11b - Test 2 -11/5/2014
------------- NOT YET UPDATED -------------
Class NO CLASS HAPPY THANKSGIVING -
11/26/2014
Class 14b - Test 3 -
12/3/2014
Final -
Wednesday 12/10/2014 time: 6:00
