ASTR 330 The Nature of the Universe (Not offered 1998-99)

A journey through space and time from the first millionth of a second to the ultimate fate of the universe billions of years in the future. Topics include conditions during the first three minutes, creation of the elements, stellar and giant black holes, the Big Bang and its remnant radiation, relativity, galaxies and quasars, the large scale structure of the universe, and current ideas about the future of the universe and the end of time. Lecture and discussion: three hours a week. Evaluation will be based on hour tests, a final exam, and a term paper. No prerequisites. Courses in the 330-sequence are meant as general-education courses for students of all majors. Not open to first-year students and sophomores. Non-major course. Closed to Astronomy, Astrophysics, and Physics majors.