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University of Washington
Astronomy Department


Astronomy 211 / Winter 2013
The Universe and Change

A liberal-arts, introductory cosmology course specifically for non-science majors

This class has been transferred to the Canvas Learning Management System. You will need to be registered as a student before you can see the content. The syllabus and contact information is provided below.

Instructor
Dr. Ana M. Larson, Senior Lecturer
UWNet ID: anamunn
Office Hours: after class or by app't
Room C335, Physics and Astronomy Bldg.
Class Times : M - F 9:30 - 10:20 am, PAA A210

Syllabus for Winter 2013

Required Text and Reading:
  • Background (if you have not taken Astr101;
  • Boynton's Cosmic Perspective - Ch. 1 - 7
  • Einstein's Universe: Gravity at Work and Play, A. Zee (Oxford University Press, 1989, 2001)
  • Class Lecture Notes (linked from calendar)
Omega
Aristotle, Aristarchus, et. al.
Motion in a circle concentric with the Earth does not allow the Moon to change sizes. The fact that it DOES change sizes was problematic for Aristotle, Aristarchus, and others. USNO Moon phases See for yourself! Read about the phases of the Moon and watch the Lunation Movie linked at the bottom of that page.
Pythagoras, retrograde motion
Pythagoras and Music of the Spheres
Heliocentric model Java demonstration showing retrograde motion of Mars
Planetary motion models
Ancient Planetary Model Animations [Displaying seems to be quite browser dependent.]
Models of Planetary Motion from Antiquity to the Renaissance
Aughra's model of the universe from Dark Crystal
Statue Hid Hipparchus Star Catalog Physics Today
Copernicus
de Revolutionibus scanned in its entirety and on-line
Copernican Model, A Sun-Centered Solar System
Nicholas Copernicus
Copernican Myths Physics Today
Comprehensive Course from Thales to Einstein
Galileo, Brahe, Kepler
The Galileo Project
Tycho Brahe, Danish astronomer
Links to all things Kepler (Wikipedia)
YouTube selection from Sagan's Cosmos Brahe, Kepler, and Kepler's Laws
Newton
Isaac Newton Resources
Newton's Mountain-top Cannon
The Apollo 15 Feather-Hammer Drop "Galileo was correct!"
Einstein's Greatest Blunder