PHYS 172 - Stellar and Galactic Astronomy and Cosmology

Spring (3) Sher (College 200, NQR)

Star classifications, stellar evolution and stellar remnants, distance scales in the universe, galactic structure and evolution, galactic superclusters. The past history of the universe and the experimental evidence for the big bang. The beginning and the end of the universe. Included will be discussions of the historical ramifications of the discoveries of the early 20th century and the philosophical implications of study of the beginning of the universe (or universes). (This course is anchored in the NQR domain, and also considers aspects of the ALV and CSI domains.)