Astronomy 111/112, New Frontiers in Astrophysics, is an undergraduate seminar devoted to recent developments and methodology in astronomy and astrophysics. Specific topics to be discussed include: cosmology, radio studies of interstellar molecules, the Sun and other active stars, radio and infrared observations of star-forming regions, high energy astrophysics, radio galaxies and quasars and recent results from orbiting observatories including the Hubble Space Telescope and the Solar and Heliospheric Observatory. This course is intended for students who have completed or are taking Astronomy 21, 22, 101 or 102. Course requirements include weekly reading assignments and discussion (1 - 1.5 hours) during the Fall semester, followed by a substantial paper or research project in the Spring. Because this course extends over the entire year, students will receive credit for two full courses.

Topics will include:

• New Results From the Hubble Space Telescope
• The Search for Planets Beyond Our Solar System
• End Points of Stellar Evolution - Pulsars, Neutron Stars and Black Holes
• IR and Radio Observations of Interstellar Clouds and Star Formation
• Recent Advances in Solar Research: Ground-Based Observations
• Recent Advances in Solar Research: Satellite Observations
• High Energy Astrophysics - X-ray Astronomy
• High Energy Astrophysics - Gamma Ray Astronomy
• Extragalactic Radio Astronomy, Radio Galaxies and Quasars
• Cosmology and the Large-Scale Structure of the Universe
• Observations of the Cosmic Microwave Background Radiation
• Future Astronomical Initiatives Using Ground-based Tesescopes and Satellites Search for Planets Beyond Our Solar System

  Professor: Robert F. Willson (636-6607)

  Office: Robinson 355, Dept of Physics and Astronomy

  Arnold 607 - Dept. of Anatomy and Cellular Biology
  Tufts School of Medicine

  Class-related Web Pages

  Search for Planets Beyond Our Solar System
  San Francisco State's Search for Extra-solar Planets Web Page
  Binary Star Simulator - from Cornell University Department of Astronomy
  NASA's Space Interferometry Mission to Detect Planets Around Nearby Stars
  IR and Radio Observations of Interstellar Clouds and Star Formation
  NRAO Molecular Astrophysics Page
  The NRAO Atacama Large Millimeter Array Project- click on the link to Star Formation
  Links to Infrared Observatories
  VLBA Scientists Study Birth of Sun-like Stars
  Astronomers Discover Protostar ARound Young, Massive Star
  Possible Analog for Early Solar System Disk Found
  Elongated Radio-emitting Region at Center of Milky Way
  Solar Physics Links
  The Solar and Heliospheric Observatory (SOHO) Page
  The Transition Region and Coronal Explorer (TRACE) Homepage
  SPace Environment Lab Daily Solar Images in Various Wavelengths
  SOHO Records a Series of Mass Ejections
  X-ray and Gamma-ray Astronomy Links
  The Gamma Ray Large Area Space Telescope GLAST
  The International Gamma Ray Astrophysics Laboratory (INTEGRAL)
  The ROSAT X-ray Observatory
  The Chandra X-ray Observatory Home Page
  The COMPTON Gamma Ray Observatory Home Page
  The Rossi X-ray Timing Explorer project
  Blast From the Past: High-redshift Burst is the Latest Piece in 30-year Trail of Discovery
  Optical Observations of a Powerful Gamma-ray Burst
  Fading Embers Hold Clues to Puzzle of Gamma-ray Bursts
  Observations of Active Galaxies
  National Radio Astronomy Observatory - Press Releases of Recent Developments
  Cosmology Links
  The Cosmic Background Explorer Home Page
  Cosmic Microwave Background Web Sites