Quasars and Cosmology

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Quasars and Cosmology
Quasars Cosmology
ASTR-1510-01 ASTR-1510-02
Department of Physics, Applied Physics
Astronomy, RPI
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Week 1Introduction Overview
Quasars Cosmology

• August 31, 2009
• 300 PM
• Darrin 330

Department of Physics, Applied Physics
Astronomy, RPI
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ASTR-1510-01, 1-credit version
Quasars Cosmology

• Meets Monday only at 300.
• Graded pass/no credit
• Must attend 11 of 14 lectures (incl. today).
• Reading recommended, not required.
• No quizzes or homework.
• Wont count for 24-credit Core Science
  requirement.
• Will count for total credits required for degree.

Department of Physics, Applied Physics
Astronomy, RPI
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ASTR-1510-02, 2-credit version
Quasars Cosmology

• Meets Monday and Thursday at 3 PM
• Monday is lecture and Thursday is activity.
• Graded according to grading policy on handout
• Combined with Tour of the Solar System, counts as
  a 4-credit science elective for non-science
  majors.

Department of Physics, Applied Physics
Astronomy, RPI
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What is Cosmology?
Quasars Cosmology

• Why is our Universe the way it is and not some
  other way?
• Cosmology a science that studies
• composition of Universe
• structure of Universe
• map of Universe
• spacetime geometry (more on this later)
• evolution (change) of Universe
• the laws of physics
• whether other universes exist

Department of Physics, Applied Physics
Astronomy, RPI
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The Night Sky
Quasars Cosmology

• 6000 Stars visible on a clear dark night.
• Large grouping of stars referred to as a
  constellation.
• There are 88 western constellations.
• Ecliptic Planets Comets Asteroids.

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Astronomy, RPI
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Orion
Quasars Cosmology
Image Ken Harker, Charlottesville Astronomical
Society
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Ecliptic Plane on Sky
Quasars Cosmology
Saturn
Mars
Mercury
Image NASA Clementine Mission
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Our Solar System
Quasars Cosmology
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Astronomy, RPI
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The 9 8 Planets
Quasars Cosmology
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Astronomy, RPI
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Our Solar System
Quasars Cosmology
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Asteroid -- Ida
Quasars Cosmology
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Astronomy, RPI
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Asteroid -- Eros
Quasars Cosmology
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Astronomy, RPI
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Comets
Quasars Cosmology
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Astronomy, RPI
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Deep Sky Objects
Quasars Cosmology

• Nebulae Fuzzy Things.
• Clusters Open Globular.

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Astronomy, RPI
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Quasars Cosmology
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Astronomy, RPI
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Quasars Cosmology
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Astronomy, RPI
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Quasars Cosmology
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Astronomy, RPI
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Quasars Cosmology
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Astronomy, RPI
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Quasars Cosmology
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Astronomy, RPI
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Quasars Cosmology
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Astronomy, RPI
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All that we have seen til now belongs to our
Galaxy The Milky WayCOSMOLOGY IS NOT ABOUT
THIS!
Quasars Cosmology
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Astronomy, RPI
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Our Neighbors
Quasars Cosmology
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Astronomy, RPI
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The Local Group
Quasars Cosmology
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Astronomy, RPI
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Quasars Cosmology
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Astronomy, RPI
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Quasars Cosmology
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Astronomy, RPI
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Hubble Deep Sky Image
Quasars Cosmology
Image NASA/HST
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Ok !!! Thats it for this time.
Quasars Cosmology

• This week 2-credit section meets here on
  Thursday.
• Next week.
• No meetings (Mon or Thurs) --- Labor Day

• Week of 9/14
• Milky Way Galaxy
• Please read Jones Lambourne, Chapter 1

Department of Physics, Applied Physics
Astronomy, RPI