ASTR 215 Cosmology (Not offered 1998-99)

The overall structure of the Universe is the subject of much current research, and involves many interesting parts of astronomy. We discuss the expansion of the Universe and what that tells us about the first fraction of a second after the Big Bang. We analyze the formation of the elements in the Universe and how we study those elements. We discuss disparities that exist in different ways of measuring the age of the Universe, with the main measurements indicating, impossibly, that the Universe is younger than its constituents. We discuss current measurements of Hubble's constant, the measure of the Universe's expansion, and how observations with the Hubble Space Telescope and with the new generation of large Earth-based telescopes may resolve the uncertainties within a few years. We investigate how detailed measurements of the Cosmic Background Radiation may be revealing the seeds out of which galaxies formed. We consider studies of cold dark matter and hot dark matter (such as neutrinos), and how most of the Universe can be of a form not yet discovered. Finally, we discuss evidence for large-scale structure in the Universe. Lecture and discussion, three hours a week plus opportunity to observe with our telescopes and explore astronomical data available on the World Wide Web.
Evaluation will be based on problem sets, an hour test, a term paper and a final exam. Open to sophomores, juniors and seniors. Prerequisites: Astronomy 111 or Astronomy 101 and either 102 or 104 with permission of the instructor, and Physics 142 or permission of the instructor.