Astronomy

Faculty of the Department of Astronomy

Ramesh Narayan, Professor of Astronomy (Chair)
Alexander Dalgarno, Phillips Professor of Astronomy
Thomas M. Dame, Lecturer on Astronomy
Daniel G. Fabricant, Lecturer on Astronomy
Giovanni G. Fazio, Lecturer on Astronomy
Margaret J. Geller, Lecturer on Astronomy
Alyssa A. Goodman, Professor of Astronomy (on leave 2001-2002)
Jonathan E. Grindlay, Paine Professor of Practical Astronomy
Lee W. Hartmann, Lecturer on Astronomy
Lars Hernquist, Professor of Astronomy
Paul T. P. Ho, Lecturer on Astronomy
Matthew Holman, Lecturer on Astronomy
John P. Huchra, Professor of Astronomy
Scott J. Kenyon, Lecturer on Astronomy
Robert P. Kirshner, Clowes Professor of Science
John L. Kohl, Lecturer on Astronomy
David W. Latham, Senior Lecturer on Astronomy
Myron Lecar, Lecturer on Astronomy
Abraham Loeb, Professor of Astronomy
James M. Moran, Donald H. Menzel Professor of Astrophysics
Philip C. Myers, Lecturer on Astronomy
Robert W. Noyes, Professor of Astronomy (on leave fall term)
William H. Parkinson, Lecturer on Astronomy
William H. Press, Professor of Astronomy and of Physics, Fellow of Pforzheimer House (on leave fall term)
George B. Rybicki, Professor of the Practice of Astronomy
Dimitar D. Sasselov, Thomas D. Cabot Associate Professor of Astronomy (Head Tutor)
Irwin I. Shapiro, Timken University Professor
Simon J. Steel, Lecturer on Astronomy
Robert P. Stefanik, Lecturer on Astronomy
Patrick Thaddeus, Robert Wheeler Willson Professor of Applied Astronomy and Professor of Applied Physics
Edward Tong, Lecturer on Astronomy
Ronald L. Walsworth, Lecturer on Astronomy
Martin J. White, Assistant Professor of Astronomy
David James Wilner, Lecturer on Astronomy

Astronomy 1, 2, 14, and Science A-35, A-36 provide a variety of approaches toward introducing the substance of astronomy and astrophysics to interested students. They are aimed at nonconcentrators with curiosity about the contents of the universe and its underlying organization. None of these courses presumes a knowledge of algebra more extensive than that used in a high school physics course. Astronomy 97hf (the Introductory Tutorial) is open to sophomores and freshmen who have some high-school physics background and are considering the concentration or a combined concentration. Astronomy 98hf and 99, Junior and Senior Tutorials, are intended for concentrators in Astronomy and Astrophysics, but are open in special cases to concentrators in other physical sciences. They provide an opportunity for close contact with the faculty and often result in significant research experience. Astronomy 45, 135, 145, 150, 191, 192, and 193 are intended primarily for concentrators in the physical sciences. Each of these courses uses the tools of mathematics and physics to reach an understanding of astronomical phenomena. Since the prerequisites for these courses include substantial preparation in physics and mathematics, students with an interest in taking them or intending to concentrate in Astronomy and Astrophysics should make an effort to take Physics 15a,b,c and Mathematics 21a,b (or Mathematics 22a,b) at the earliest opportunity.

Primarily for Undergraduates

Astronomy 1. The Astronomical Universe
Catalog Number: 4287
Simon J. Steel and Martin J. White
Half course (spring term). M., W., F., at 11. EXAM GROUP: 4
A general introductory course for nonscience concentrators. Topics include observational astronomy, the nature of the Sun and stars, the evolution of the universe from a hot big bang, its composition (including a discussion of what is currently understood about dark matter) and structure, the nature of space and time and current theories of quasars and black holes. The course is primarily descriptive. Where possible, basic principles of physics are explained and then applied to astronomical phenomena, but no mathematics beyond elementary algebra is used.

Astronomy 2. Celestial Navigation
Catalog Number: 2179 Enrollment: Limited to 30. Limited to 30.
Philip M. Sadler and assistants
Half course (spring term). Tu., 11:30–1:00, 7–10 p.m. EXAM GROUP: 13, 14
The dance of the Sun, Moon, planets, and stars across the sky allows the navigator to find his or her position anywhere on Earth. Celestial and terrestrial measurements are reduced with a watch and nautical charts and tables to create accurate and safe navigation for boats and airplanes. Students learn to use a sextant and compass, and build an instrument for measuring angles and a celestial sphere. Through personal observations and the use of a planetarium, students become familiar with a variety of celestial motions. Coastwise navigation, piloting, currents, tides, and electronic aids to navigation are also studied. Historical artifacts (instruments, maps, books, captains’ logs) are used to explore the development of the field.
Note: Minimum lecturing; predominantly practical laboratory activities with individual attention from teaching staff. Mathematics beyond geometry and trigonometry not required. Some familiarity with sailing and/or astronomy is helpful.

Astronomy 14. The Universe and Everything
Catalog Number: 1383
Margaret J. Geller
Half course (fall term). M., W., F., at 10. EXAM GROUP: 3
A selection of topics on the forefront of astrophysical research. Lectures and problem sets emphasize the application of fundamental physical laws to understand complex systems in the universe. We learn about the impact of modern technology on our ability to obtain answers to some age-old questions (as well as new ones!) about the universe. Topics include gravity according to Newton and Einstein, the formation, evolution, and demise (explosive and otherwise) of stars, black holes, the nature of galaxies and quasars, the use of galaxies to map the universe, and the evolution of the universe itself.
Note: Mathematics beyond algebra and trigonometry is not required. A grasp of elementary physics concepts is helpful but not assumed. Satisfies Science A requirement.

Astronomy 45. Introduction to Astrophysics
Catalog Number: 5375
Alexander Dalgarno
Half course (spring term). M., W., F., at 10. EXAM GROUP: 3
An introduction to the concepts and methods of astrophysics, including a discussion of astronomical measurements and stellar magnitudes, and a systematic account of the astrophysical nature of radiation, planetary motion, tidal interactions, binary stars, galactic dynamics and cosmology.
Prerequisite: Physics 15a,b (Physics 15b may be taken concurrently).

*Astronomy 91r. Supervised Reading and Research
Catalog Number: 1545
Ramesh Narayan and members of the Department
Half course (fall term; repeated spring term). Hours to be arranged.
Supervised reading and research in subjects not normally included in the regular course offerings of the department.
Note: Students must arrange for course supervision with an individual member of the department. The course may not be counted for the concentration requirements except by special permission and may not be taken more than twice.

*Astronomy 97hf. Introductory Tutorial
Catalog Number: 6604
Martin J. White and members of the Department
Half course (throughout the year). F., 2–4. EXAM GROUP: Fall: 7, 8
Introduction to methods of problem solving in astrophysics. Contact with Department of Astronomy faculty and their research programs. Students meet in small groups with a faculty member for two weeks to work through a problem as an introduction to astronomical questions and research methods. Through the year, each student meets with approximately 10 members of the department.
Note: Open to sophomore concentrators and others (including freshmen with a high school physics background) considering the concentration or a combined concentration.
Prerequisite: Physics 15a,b or equivalent (can be taken concurrently).

*Astronomy 98hf. Tutorial — Junior Year
Catalog Number: 3121
John P. Huchra and members of the Department
Half course (throughout the year). Spring: F., at 2.
Note: Normally a required course for junior concentrators in Astronomy. Open in special cases to concentrators in other physical sciences. Weekly lectures, assigned reading, and discussion meetings during the fall term, individually supervised program of reading and research leading to a paper and lecture on a chosen topic during the spring term.

*Astronomy 99. Tutorial — Senior Year
Catalog Number: 5413
John P. Huchra and members of the Department.
Full course. Spring: F., at 2.
Note: For honors candidates in Astronomy. Individually supervised reading and research leading to the honors thesis.
Prerequisite: Astronomy 98hf.

Cross-listed Courses

Science A-35. Matter in the Universe
Science A-36. Observing the Sun and the Stars

For Undergraduates and Graduates

*Astronomy 135. Planetary System Astronomy
Catalog Number: 4850
Robert W. Noyes and Matthew Holman
Half course (spring term). M., W., F., at 11. EXAM GROUP: 4
Uses our solar system as an example to understand the origin and evolution of planetary systems in general. Emphasis on how physical patterns inherent in our solar system provide clues to the conditions and mechanisms that give rise to the formation of planets orbiting the Sun or similar stars, and govern their evolution. Topics include the formation and evolution of the Sun; origin, structure, and evolution of solar system planets; planetary satellites; small bodies of the solar system (comets, asteroids, and meteorites); and solar magnetic activity and its influence on the Earth and planets. Also included will be discussion of planets orbiting other stars, what they tell us about how planetary systems (including our own) form and evolve, and the possibilities of habitable environments in other planetary systems.
Prerequisite: Physics 15a, b, c, or Physics 11a, b and permission of the instructor.

Astronomy 145. Topics in Astrophysics
Catalog Number: 0212
Abraham Loeb
Half course (fall term). M., W., 9:30–11. EXAM GROUP: 3
Discussion of a wide range of astrophysical systems, their physical processes, and observed characteristics. Topics include the Big Bang, the microwave background, the formation of structure in the universe, galaxy formation and evolution, star formation, energy generation in stars, white dwarfs, neutron stars, and black holes.
Prerequisite: Physics 143a (may be taken concurrently).

Astronomy 150 (formerly Astronomy 205). Radiative Processes in Astrophysics
Catalog Number: 8993
Patrick Thaddeus
Half course (spring term). M., W., 1–2:30.
Survey of radiative processes of astrophysical importance from radio waves to gamma rays. Thermal and non-thermal processes, including bremsstrahlung, synchrotron radiation, and Compton scattering. Radiation in plasmas. Atomic and molecular structure and spectra. Introduction to fluid dynamics and shocks.
Prerequisite: Physics 143a (may be taken concurrently).

Astronomy 191. Astrophysics Laboratory
Catalog Number: 3615 Enrollment: Limited to 16.
Jonathan E. Grindlay and Patrick Thaddeus
Half course (spring term). Hours to be arranged.
Laboratory and observational projects in astrophysics. Carried out in collaboration with researches at the Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics, mainly with in-house or nearby facilities. Students choose two projects from a larger group that may include: measurement of the temperature of the cosmic microwave background radiation; laboratory spectroscopy of jet-cooled, gas phase molecules; observations of dense, star-forming interstellar clouds with the Haystack Observatory; various projects with the Very Large Array: measurement of the rotation of the Galaxy with the CFA millimeter-wave telescope; development of superconducting submillimeter detectors; spectroscopic observations of binary stars at Oak Ridge Observatory; photometry and spectroscopy of star clusters with the Knowles telescope at the Science Center; principles of soft x-ray detectors and imaging, construction, and evaluation of hard x-ray imaging detectors and telescope systems.
Note: Intended primarily for concentrators in Astronomy and Astrophysics or combined concentrators with Physics. Students with Physics as their primary concentration, but with a serious interest in astrophysics, may take this to satisfy their laboratory requirement (in lieu of Physics 191) upon petition to the Head Tutor in Physics.
Prerequisite: Physics 15c or equivalent.

[Astronomy 192. Astronomical Measurements]
Catalog Number: 4741
----------
Half course (fall term). Hours to be arranged.
The measurement of radiation from astronomical sources at all wavelengths and frequencies. The physics of detectors for cosmic rays, x-rays, optical, infrared, radio, and gravitational radiation. Signal-to-noise and noise sources in astronomical detectors including the concept of detective quantum efficiency. Telescopes and basic instrumentation and techniques for absolute flux measurements, imaging spectroscopy, polarimetry, measurement of magnetic fields and interferometry. Astronomical statistics including parameter estimation, hypothesis testing, nonparametric techniques, and statistical biases in real data sets.
Note: Expected to be given in 2001–02.
Prerequisite: Physics 15a,b,c and Applied Mathematics 105 (or equivalents).

Astronomy 193. Noise and Data Analysis to Astrophysics
Catalog Number: 4495
James M. Moran
Half course (fall term). Tu., Th., 2–3:30. EXAM GROUP: 16, 17
How to design experiments and get the most information from noisy, incomplete, flawed, and biased data sets. Basics of probability theory; Bernouli trials; Bayes theorem; random variables; distributions; functions of random variables; moments and characteristic functions; Fourier transform analysis; Stochastic processes; estimation of power spectra. Digital data processing: sampling theorem, filtering; fast Fourier tranform; spectrum of quantized data sets. Weighted least mean squares analysis and nonlinear parameter estimation. Noise processes in periodic phenomena. Image processing and restoration techinques.
Prerequisite: Mathematics 21b or equivalent.

Cross-listed Courses

Applied Mathematics 111. Introduction to Scientific Computing
Physics 191r. Advanced Laboratory

Primarily for Graduates

These courses are primarily aimed at graduate students in astronomy, although properly prepared undergraduates and graduate students from other fields are welcome. The required core courses are Astronomy 150, 192, 206, 207, and 208, while a wide range of advanced courses is available for further work. Courses may be available as reading courses at times other than those shown, by arrangement with the instructor. Students with a special interest in relativity should note Physics 210 and 211.
*Astronomy 204. Galactic and Extragalactic Dynamics
Catalog Number: 6396
George B. Rybicki
Half course (spring term). M., W., 10:30–12. EXAM GROUP: 3, 4
Dynamics of stellar systems. Properties of orbits. The collisionless Boltzmann equation and Jeans theorem. Models for star clusters, galaxies, and clusters of galaxies. The evolution of globular clusters. Dynamical friction, tides, mergers, and cannibalism. Density wave theory of spiral structure. Formation of galaxies. Simulation of galaxy dynamics.
Prerequisite: Physics 151 or equivalent.

Astronomy 206. Stellar Physics
Catalog Number: 2128
Dimitar D. Sasselov
Half course (spring term). Tu., Th., at 10. EXAM GROUP: 12
Stellar physics is studied from two basic precepts: of stars as the elementary (baryonic) building blocks in the Universe and of the evolution of matter (nucleosynthesis). The theory of stellar interiors and atmospheres is developed from general grounds and applied as fit to the variety of stellar objects and their environments. The observational methods (spectroscopy, dynamics, and seismology) are also discussed briefly. The goal is to provide basic tools for further research and an overall picture of the evolution of matter in the Universe.

[Astronomy 207. Cosmology and Extragalactic Astronomy]
Catalog Number: 2446
Lars Hernquist and Martin J. White
Half course (spring term). Hours to be arranged.
The cosmological principle: isotropy and homogeneity, cosmological world models, thermal history of the Big Bang, the microwave background, growth of density fluctuations, formation and evolution of galaxies, active galactic nuclei, large scale structure, structure of galaxies and clusters of galaxies, gravitational lensing, candidates for dark matter, measurements of cosmological parameters.
Note: Expected to be given in 2001–02.

Astronomy 208. The Physics of the Interstellar Medium
Catalog Number: 4842
Alyssa A. Goodman
Half course (fall term). Tu., Th., 11–12:30. EXAM GROUP: 13, 14
The Interstellar Medium [ISM] of our own and other galaxies, as well as the Intergalactic Medium will be discussed, with the greatest emphasis on the Milky Way’s ISM. Various physically distinct regions will be investigated, including cold neutral gas, hot ionized gas, photon-dominated regions, high-velocity clouds, and galactic nuclei. Star-forming clouds and supernova remnants will be addressed in detail, as will the interaction of stellar winds with the ISM. The goal of the course will be an understanding of how to measure, understand, and predict the conditions (i.e., temperature, density, chemical composition, ionization state, magnetic field, velocity distribution) of the gas and dust in interstellar material, and to understand the role of the interstellar material in galaxies and the universe.

[Astronomy 218. Radio Astronomy]
Catalog Number: 2883
----------
Half course (spring term). Hours to be arranged.
Historical development; theory of antennas and interferometers; signal detection and measurement techniques. Thermal, synchrotron and spectral-line emission in the context of radio observations of the sun, planets, pulsars, masers, hydrogen clouds, molecular clouds, ionized regions, active galaxies, quasars, and the cosmic background.
Note: Expected to be given in 2001–02. Astronomy 150 or Physics 153 recommended.

Astronomy 219. High Energy Astrophysics
Catalog Number: 1858
Jonathan E. Grindlay and Ramesh Narayan
Half course (spring term). M., W., 2:30–4:30. EXAM GROUP: 7, 8, 9
Discussion of relativistic and high-energy astrophysical phenomena. Accretion disks and magnetic accretion. Compact stars: white dwarfs, neutron stars, black holes. Binary evolution. Cosmic ray and gamma-ray astronomy, observational techniques and sources, gamma-ray bursts and jets. X-ray astronomy, detectors, telescopes, and analysis techniques. X-ray sources, accreting x-ray binaries: bursts, disk coronae, supernova remnants, galaxy clusters. Active galactic nuclei and super-massive black holes. X-ray and gamma-ray background.

[Astronomy 225. Formation of Stars and Planets]
Catalog Number: 0983
Philip C. Myers and Lee W. Hartmann
Half course (fall term). Hours to be arranged.
Components and structural properties of the interstellar medium, molecular clouds and their cores, young stellar objects in isolation and in clusters, dynamical processes in star formation and circumstellar disk evolution, properties of the primitive solar nebula and solar system development, extrasolar planetary systems.
Note: Expected to be given in 2001–02.

Cross-listed Courses

Applied Mathematics 205. Practical Scientific Computing
Physics 210. General Theory of Relativity

Graduate Courses of Reading and Research

Unless otherwise specified, these courses are given fall term, repeated spring term.
*Astronomy 300. Topics in Modern Astrophysics
Catalog Number: 7915
Ramesh Narayan 2871, Alexander Dalgarno 1157, Thomas M. Dame 2755, Daniel G. Fabricant 3711, Giovanni G. Fazio 1143, George B. Field 3836, Margaret J. Geller 4867, Alyssa A. Goodman 3348 (on leave 2001-2002), Jonathan E. Grindlay 4593, Lee W. Hartmann 7420, Lars Hernquist 4250, Paul T. P. Ho 7532, Matthew Holman 1260, John P. Huchra 6271, Scott J. Kenyon 1648, Robert P. Kirshner 1071, John L. Kohl 4972, David W. Latham 3716, David Layzer 1163, Myron Lecar 1026, Abraham Loeb 3349, James M. Moran 4090, Stephen S. Murray 3707, Philip C. Myers 1033, Robert W. Noyes 1651 (on leave fall term), William H. Parkinson 3065, William H. Press 4693 (on leave fall term), Mark J. Reid 3858, George B. Rybicki 3734, Dimitar D. Sasselov 1020, Irwin I. Shapiro 7660, Simon J. Steel 1842, Robert P. Stefanik 1003, Patrick Thaddeus 1398, Edward Tong 1004, Ronald L. Walsworth 2263, Martin J. White 3293, and David James Wilner 2855
A seminar, reading, or research course may be arranged with any of the faculty listed. Students can also arrange to obtain Astronomy 300 credit for reading or research with scientific staff members of the Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics; consult Astronomy Department office.