1. Astr 3020 Cosmology MW 3:35 – 5:00pm meeting in SSC E-109 Dr. Spencer L. Buckner buckners@apsu.edu buckners@apsu.edu Website: www.apsu.edu/astronomy www.apsu.edu/astronomy Office: SSC B-326 Hours: M – F 12:30 – 2:30pm or by appointment

2. Textbooks Foundations of Modern Cosmology, 2 nd Edition by Hawley & Holcomb Five Ages of the Universe by Adams & Laughlin

3. Grading Observations…5%A…≥90 Project…15%B…80 – 89 Participation…10%C…70 – 79 Exams…70%D…60 – 69 F…<60

4. Observations You must attend 80% of the Observing Nights: First Quarter Nights Dark Sky Nights All 1 st Quarter Nights begin on campus at 7:30pm. All Dark Sky Nights begin at the APSU Observatory at 8:30pm. At the observing nights you will be expected to help set-up and take down the equipment. We will meet 45 minutes prior to the scheduled start time. Monday January 26 Wednesday February 25 Thursday March 26 Wednesday February 11 Tuesday February 17 Monday March 16 Thursday March 19 Monday April 13 Thursday April 16

5. Exams 4 regular exams worth 17.5% each 20 to 25 multiple choice questions and 3 to 5 essay questions Tentative dates: Exam 1…Wednesday February 4 Exam 2…Wednesday March 4 Exam 3…Wednesday April 8 Exam4…Monday May 4 @ 3:35pm

6. Project Research project on a subject of current cosmological interest. Topic to be chosen by the Friday before Spring Break. In addition to a paper of “significant length” you must do a 10 to 15 minute oral presentation to the class. Presentations will be done either during the last class meeting or the final exam period. The project may be a book summary/review of a popular cosmology book like A Brief History of Time

7. Cosmology has its origins in creation myths

8. Scientific Cosmology before the modern era

9. Cosmology today is an observational science

10. In this class we will examine the history and fate of the Universe

11. We will start with The Five Ages of the Universe For next time read The Primordial Era and The Stelliferous Era

12. The cosmological decade is the cosmological decade Current best estimate for the age of the universe is 13.8 billion years or Thus, we are in the 10 th cosmological decade is the age of the universe

13. Tell me about yourself 1.My name is … and my major is… 2.I am/am not doing an astronomy minor. 3.Other astronomy courses I have had… 4.I am taking cosmology because… 5.In cosmology I hope to learn about… 6.The one thing I would like Dr. Buckner to know about me is…