ASTRONOMY 421 (CRN=14274) Concepts of Astrophysics I
Astronomy 421 (Fall 2025) is intended for advanced (senior level)
undergraduates, and is also counted as an elective for graduate
students. This course covers the structure and evolution of
stars, starting off
with some basic physics including mechanics, radiation, atomic
structure and relativity. We will then concentrate on stars
for most of the remainder of the semester, examining their
atmospheres, their interiors, stellar evolution, and stellar
remnants (including black holes). In Astronomy 422 we will examine the properties of
the interstellar medium, galaxies, large scale structure, and cosmology.
A major emphasis
of the course will be to instruct you on how to think (and write)
like a scientist. We will have an exercise in peer review and
a final project. As part of a final project you will give a mini-lecture
to the class on a topic of your choice. There will be no final exam.
| Instructor: |
Prof. Greg Taylor, PAIS room 3236, email gbtaylor@unm.edu |
| TA:TBD |
TBD |
|
| Time and place: |
Tu/Th 9:30 AM-10:45 AM
PAIS 1160 |
| Syllabus and course web page: |
http://leo.phys.unm.edu/~gbtaylor/astr421/index.html |
| Lectures in PDF format: |
http://leo.phys.unm.edu/~gbtaylor/astr421/lectures |
| Textbook: |
An Introduction to Modern Astrophysics, B.W. Carroll &
D.A. Ostlie, 2nd Edition. |
| Prerequisites: |
Physics 330 or 491, 492 or their equivalent. |
| Exams and Grades: |
Your final grade will be determined through three sectional
exams (each 20% of the grade), eight sets of
homework (15%), class participation
using worksheets (10%) and an in-class teaching exercise. (15%). There will be no final exam.
|
Some useful links:
Science Daily's website for astronomy
news
Greg Taylor's home page
Search engines for
articles: ADS
database,
Astro-ph
Code for statstar.f in fortran from Carrol & Ostlie
Code for
statstar.py in python2 courtesy Prof. D. Schiminovich
Code for
statstar.py in python3 courtesy Tousif Reza
Accommodations: UNM is committed to providing courses that are inclusive and accessible for all participants. As your instructor, it is my objective to facilitate an accessible classroom setting, in which students have full access and opportunity. If you are experiencing physical or academic barriers, or concerns related to mental health, physical health and/or COVID-19, please consult with me after class, via email/phone or during office/check-in hours (I am not legally permitted to inquire about the need for accommodations). We can meet your needs in collaboration with the Accessibility Resource Center (https://arc.unm.edu/) at arcsrvs@unm.edu or by phone (505) 277-3506.
This is a three credit-hour course. Class meets for two 75-minute sessions of direct instruction for fifteen weeks during the Fall 2025 semester. Please plan for a minimum of six hours of out-of-class work (or homework, study, assignment completion, and class preparation) each week.
Our classroom and our university should always be spaces of mutual respect, kindness, and support, without fear of discrimination, harassment, or violence. Should you ever need assistance or have concerns about incidents that violate this principle, please access the resources available to you on campus. Please note that, because UNM faculty, TAs, and GAs are considered "responsible employees" by the Department of Education, any disclosure of gender discrimination (including sexual harassment, sexual misconduct, and sexual violence) made to a faculty member, TA, or GA must be reported by that faculty member, TA, or GA to the university's Title IX coordinator. For more information on the campus policy regarding sexual misconduct, please see: https://policy.unm.edu/university-policies/2000/2740.html.
Lecture schedule - updated 5/12/25
| Date |
Topic |
Chapter |
| Tu Aug 19 |
Course Introduction, Mechanics I |
1,2 |
| Th Aug 21 |
Mechanics II |
2, 19.2 |
| Tu Aug 26 |
Radiation and Matter I |
3 |
| Th Aug 28 |
Radiation and Matter II
Homework 1 due |
5 |
| Tu Sep 2 |
Special Relativity I
Teaching topics due |
4 |
| Th Sep 4 |
Special Relativity II
Homework 2 due |
4, 17.2 |
| Tu Sep 9 |
Binary Stars
|
7 |
| Th Sep 11 |
Spectral Lines
Homework 3 due
|
3, 8 |
| Tu Sep 16 |
Review |
2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8 |
| Th Sep 18 |
Exam 1 |
2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8 |
| Tu Sep 23 |
Telescopes |
6 |
| Th Sep 25 |
Stellar Atmospheres I
|
9 |
| Tu Sep 30 |
Stellar Atmospheres II
|
9 |
| Th Oct 2 |
Stellar Atmospheres IIIHomework 4 due
| 9 |
| Tu Oct 7 |
Stellar Interiors I
Teaching topic outline due
| 10 |
| Th Oct 9 |
Fall Break |
|
| Tu Oct 14 |
Stellar Interiors II |
10 |
| Th Oct 16 |
Stellar Evolution I
Homework 5 due | 13 |
| Tu Oct 21 |
Review
|
6, 8, 9, 10 |
| Th Oct 23 |
Exam 2 |
6, 8, 9, 10 |
| Tu Oct 28 |
Stellar Evolution II
|
13 |
| Th Oct 30 |
Stellar Evolution III
|
13, 15 |
| Tu Nov 4 |
Stellar Remnants: White Dwarfs
Homework 6 due |
16 |
| Th Nov 6 |
Stellar Remnants: Black Holes
Draft slides for teaching topic due/b> |
17 |
| Tu Nov 11 |
Stellar Explosions: GRBs and Magnetars
Homework 7 due |
17 |
| Th Nov 13 |
Finish GRBs and Magnetars and Review |
16 |
| Tu Nov 18 |
Exam 3 |
10, 13, 15, 16, 17 |
| Th Nov 20 |
Peer Review Exercise
Homework 8 written reports due on Nov 28 at noon
|
|
| Tu Nov 25 |
Stellar Remnants: Neutron Stars
|
|
| Th Nov 27 |
Thanksgiving |
|
| Tu Dec 2 |
Topic presentations: 1-7
|
| Th Dec 4 |
Topic presentations: 8-14 |
|
| Tu Dec 9 |
Written papers Due by 12:00pm MDT |
|