Astronomy A120 Lecture Notes


Time and location: Monday-Friday 8.30am - 10.30am in Bob Wright A104.

Office hours during exam week: Mon 1.30-3pm in Elliott 105, Tues 1.30-2.30pm Elliott 208, Weds 1.30-3pm Elliott 208. Revision class at 9.30am (i.e. 1 hour later than usual, just for one hour) on Weds. Aug 19.

Course syllabus available (this summer course is identical to that run during the year, so don't worry about references to spring and fall!). Textbook is "Foundations of Astronomy" by Seeds (10th edition is the most recent, older versions work just fine). Copies on sale at the UVic bookstore and on reserve at the library.

Note that the summer course only has 6 assignments and 6 quizes, instead of the usual 10. I take marks from all the assignments and the best 5 quizes.

Labs start July 13, contact Russ Robb (robb at uvic.ca) with lab queries.


These lecture notes are password protected. Passwords are given out in class the week before the lecture (see the dates below).

Chapter 1: The scale of the universe .

Chapter 2: The sky .

Chapter 3: The moon.

Chapter 4: The history of astronomy.

Chapter 5: Newton and gravity .

Chapter 6: The nature of light .

Chapter 7: Atoms and starlight .

Chapter 8: The sun .

Chapter 9: The family of stars .

Chapter 10: The ISM .

Chapter 11: Star formation .

Chapter 12: Stellar evolution .

Chapter 13: Stellar death .

Chapter 14: Black holes and neutron stars .

Chapter 15: The Milky Way.

Chapter 16: Galaxies.

Chapter 17: Active galaxies.

Chapter 18: Cosmology .

Introduction to the Solar System .


Astronomy A120 Assignments

Assignment 1 on the sky and the moon, due 4pm July 13.

Assignment 2 on the history of astronomy, Newton and light, due 4pm July 20.

Assignment 3 on atoms, the sun and the family of stars, due 4pm July 27.

Assignment 4 on the ISM, star formation and stellar evolution, due 4pm August 4.

Assignment 5 on star death, black holes and neutron stars, due 4pm August 10.

Assignment 6 on the Milky Way, galaxies and AGN, due 4pm August 17.

In-class Quizes

Quiz 1: July 9 on the sky

Quiz 2: July 16 on the moon, history of astronomy and Newton

Quiz 3: July 23 on light, atoms and the sun

Quiz 4: July 30 on the family of stars, ISM and star formation

Quiz 5: Aug 6 on stellar evolution, star death and black holes/neutron stars

Quiz 6: Aug 13 on the Milky Way and galaxies


Extras (such as equation sheets, practice questions etc.)

Math cheat sheet

Practice questions on stars

Everything you ever wanted to know about Stars

All the equations you need for the exam

In class practice multiple choice questions: Answers here

Scale of the cosmos

The sky

The moon

History

Newton and gravity

Light and telescopes

Atoms and starlight

The Sun

The family of stars

ISM

Star formation

Stellar evolution

Star death

Black Holes

Milky Way

Galaxies

Cosmology


Exam will be in class: 8.30am August 20
Let me know well in advance if you can't make it!!!


Sara Ellison (sarae at uvic.ca)
Office hours: Monday, Wednesday 1.30-3pm in Elliott 208.