ASTR 421 Stellar Observations and Theory: Calendar Winter 2008

Listing of Topics, Reading, and Corresponding Assignments

Week
Day
Topic
Reading
HW
 
Theory: Introduction to Modeling Stellar Atmospheres
01
8-Jan Review of Fundamentals (A210)
C&O 3, 5, 8
 
10-Jan Reading Guide Ch. 9
02
15-Jan Stellar Atmospheres (A210) C&O 9.1 - 9.3 Programming in IDL #1, #2 (due 22-Jan)
17-Jan C&O 9.4 - 9.5 (See course home page for links to IDL assignment)
03
22-Jan Programming Techniques (B 356) Handout Step 1 & 2 completed
24-Jan Modeling Atmospheres (B 356)   Step 2 & 3 completed
04
29-Jan Basic opacity equations (B 356) Handout Step 4 completed
31-Jan   Step 5 completed
05
5-Feb Modeling Opacity (B 356) Handout Combine all parts/plot
7-Feb   Model Atmos. Report (due 14-Feb)
 
Theory: Introduction to Modeling Stellar Interiors
06
12-Feb Stellar Interiors Basic Equations (A210) C&O 10 + Handouts Reading Guide Ch. 10
14-Feb Stellar Interiors (B 356)   BZAMS
07
19-Feb Interiors discussion (A210) References  
21-Feb Stellar Interiors (B 356)   BZAMS Project (due 28-Feb)
08
26-Feb Stellar Pulsation (A210) C&O 14 Reading Guide Ch. 14
28-Feb Pulsation (B356)   Pulsation Code Project (due 6-Mar)
Observations: Star Formation, Stellar Evolution, Stellar Populations (A210 for rest of quarter)
09
4-Mar Star Formation C&O 12 Reading Guide Ch. 12
6-Mar MS evolution C&O 13 Reading Guide Ch. 13
10
11-Mar Post-MS Evolution Balick - Planetary Nebulae  
13-Mar Application to stellar populations C & O 13.3 + Handouts  
11
Take-Home Final Exam Due Friday, March 21
Reading Guides: These are handouts to direct your emphasis in the reading assignments. More will be distributed as we work through the references emphasizing observational confirmations of the theories. They are not graded, but your in-class participation in the discussions will be noted.