Courses taught at the IfA
ASTR 777: Star and Planet Formation
This is a two-credit seminar series on the observations and theory of the formation of stars and their accompanying planetary systems. In addition to traditional lectures, there will be assigned reading and problem sets to recreate key figures or results from recent papers.
(taught 2020, 2022, 2024, 2026)
ASTR 622: The Interstellar Medium
The Interstellar Medium (ISM) is the gas and dust between the stars. Stars form from it, their winds and supernova enrich and replenish it. Temperatures in the ISM range from the very hot, ~106 K, to the very cold, ~10 K. Densities span an even wider dynamic range, from less than 10-3 to greater than 106particles per cubic centimeter. Even the highest densities, however, are far more rarefied than the best vacuums currently attainable on Earth and thus the ISM allows us to explore physical processes in unique environments. This course will discuss observations and theories of a wide range of ISM environments from pervasive diffuse, ionized gas to dense, molecular clouds and star forming regions. In the last part of the course, we will transition from interstellar to circumstellar material (i.e. disks) as this is an active area of research at the IfA.
(taught 2004, 2006, 2008, 2009, 2012, 2014, 2016, 2023, 2026)
ASTR 734: Order of Magnitude Astronomy
Estimation is an essential skill for astronomy and life in general.
This course will introduce students to the utility of order of magnitude
calculations and practicing the ability to "think on your feet".
I will give short overviews of basic physical concepts but the majority
of the class time will be spent interactively, with students tackling
pre-assigned problems at the whiteboard.
If time permits, I will challenge the class by extending the problem
or asking a new, unseen question.
(taught Spring 2015, 2025)
ASTR 735: Radio Astronomy
This is a two-credit seminar series on radio astronomy for graduate students
and senior undergraduate majors to learn about the science and methodology
of observations across the radio band, spanning 5 orders of magnitude in
wavelength from about 0.3mm to 30m.
Lectures will cover fundamentals on radiation processes, antennae and
telescopes, and the wide variety of science that is carried out at
radio wavelengths.
The classes will be a mix of lectures and practical work using software
defined radio receivers leading to the construction of a basic radio telescope
to detect the 21cm HI line.
(taught 2021)
ASTR 633: Astrophysical Techniques
This is the one core course that is required of all graduate students
in the Astronomy program. It introduces fundamental conccepts that you
will find yourself using throughout your PhD research.
By the end of this class, you should know how the optics and detectors
on telescopes (especially those on Maunakea) work, how to acquire
data, and how to analyze it.
(taught 2017, 2018, 2019)
ASTR 735: Submillimeter Astronomy in the ALMA era
This series of seminars will introduce students to radio astronomy
and inteferometry. The course will be split roughly evenly between
lectures
on the techniques and applications of observing at submillimeter
wavelengths and practical work using real data.
For the latter, we will use
ALMA science verification datasets
and work through the associated tutorials on data reduction and analysis.
Students will need a laptop computer running (Mac OS) unix or linux.
The goal is for students to learn the skills of submillimeter astronomy
and interferometry so as to be able to propose for SMA, ALMA, or JVLA
observations in their chosen science area.
(taught Spring 2003, Spring 2013)
Geo 669: Formation of Solar Systems
How did the Earth and other planets form? How common are
planets around other stars, and what are their properties?
These questions are at the forefront of the earth and space
sciences and are the modern manifestations of questions
about our origin and uniqueness that are probably as old as
human consciousness itself. Observations and measurements
have almost always preceded theory in this field of
inquiry, and hence this course is structured according to
the three windows through which almost everything has been
learned in this field: (1) astronomical observations of the
process of star and planet formation; (2) measurements of
early events recorded in Solar System materials, and
detection and (3) characterization of planets around other
stars.
(co-taught with Sasha Krot and Eric Gaidos, Spring
2006)
ASTR 110: Survey of Astronomy
This is a non-mathematical, introductory class for
undergraduate non-science majors. I give a broad overview
of astronomy from planets to quasars. Click on the link
above for the course web page.
(taught Spring 2005, Fall 2010)
ASTR 734: Order of Magnitude Astronomy
Estimation is an essential skill for astronomy and life in general. This course will introduce students to the utility of order of magnitude calculations and practicing the ability to "think on your feet". I will give short overviews of basic physical concepts but the majority of the class time will be spent interactively, with students tackling pre-assigned problems at the whiteboard. If time permits, I will challenge the class by extending the problem or asking a new, unseen question.
(taught Spring 2015, 2025)
ASTR 735: Radio Astronomy
This is a two-credit seminar series on radio astronomy for graduate students and senior undergraduate majors to learn about the science and methodology of observations across the radio band, spanning 5 orders of magnitude in wavelength from about 0.3mm to 30m. Lectures will cover fundamentals on radiation processes, antennae and telescopes, and the wide variety of science that is carried out at radio wavelengths. The classes will be a mix of lectures and practical work using software defined radio receivers leading to the construction of a basic radio telescope to detect the 21cm HI line.
(taught 2021)
ASTR 633: Astrophysical Techniques
This is the one core course that is required of all graduate students in the Astronomy program. It introduces fundamental conccepts that you will find yourself using throughout your PhD research. By the end of this class, you should know how the optics and detectors on telescopes (especially those on Maunakea) work, how to acquire data, and how to analyze it.
(taught 2017, 2018, 2019)
ASTR 735: Submillimeter Astronomy in the ALMA era
This series of seminars will introduce students to radio astronomy and inteferometry. The course will be split roughly evenly between lectures on the techniques and applications of observing at submillimeter wavelengths and practical work using real data. For the latter, we will use ALMA science verification datasets and work through the associated tutorials on data reduction and analysis. Students will need a laptop computer running (Mac OS) unix or linux. The goal is for students to learn the skills of submillimeter astronomy and interferometry so as to be able to propose for SMA, ALMA, or JVLA observations in their chosen science area.
(taught Spring 2003, Spring 2013)
Geo 669: Formation of Solar Systems
How did the Earth and other planets form? How common are planets around other stars, and what are their properties? These questions are at the forefront of the earth and space sciences and are the modern manifestations of questions about our origin and uniqueness that are probably as old as human consciousness itself. Observations and measurements have almost always preceded theory in this field of inquiry, and hence this course is structured according to the three windows through which almost everything has been learned in this field: (1) astronomical observations of the process of star and planet formation; (2) measurements of early events recorded in Solar System materials, and detection and (3) characterization of planets around other stars.
(co-taught with Sasha Krot and Eric Gaidos, Spring 2006)
ASTR 110: Survey of Astronomy
This is a non-mathematical, introductory class for undergraduate non-science majors. I give a broad overview of astronomy from planets to quasars. Click on the link above for the course web page.
(taught Spring 2005, Fall 2010)