9/2/03Prof. Lynn Cominsky1 Professor Lynn Cominsky Department of Physics and Astronomy Office:...

9/2/03 Prof. Lynn Cominsky 1

Professor Lynn CominskyProfessor Lynn Cominsky

Department of Physics and AstronomyDepartment of Physics and Astronomy

Office: Darwin 329A and NASA E/POOffice: Darwin 329A and NASA E/PO

(707) 664-2655(707) 664-2655

Best way to reach me: Best way to reach me: [email protected]@charmian.sonoma.edu

Astronomy 305/Frontiers in Astronomy 305/Frontiers in AstronomyAstronomy


Book:Book: On the Cosmic Horizon On the Cosmic Horizon by by Jeffrey Bennett (Jeffrey Bennett (Ten Great Ten Great Mysteries for Third Millenium Mysteries for Third Millenium Astronomy)Astronomy)

Course Organization:Course Organization: 10 Mysteries + three more that I have 10 Mysteries + three more that I have

addedadded And an introduction, and a reviewAnd an introduction, and a review Interactive lectures – lots of Interactive lectures – lots of

activities!activities!



GradesGrades 15% - attendance as evidenced by 15% - attendance as evidenced by

classroom worksheets (1% per week)classroom worksheets (1% per week) 20% - long, research style paper. 20% - long, research style paper. TopicTopic

due 11/11/03, paper due 12/9/03due 11/11/03, paper due 12/9/03 15% for in-class small group presentation15% for in-class small group presentation 15% x 2 for “book reports” on your 15% x 2 for “book reports” on your

choice of books from class list, choice of books from class list, due due 9/30/03 and 10/28/039/30/03 and 10/28/03

20% for short answer final exam, 20% for short answer final exam, 12/16/0312/16/03



Black Holes and Time Warps by Kip Thorne Black Holes and Time Warps by Kip Thorne Black Holes and the Universe by Igor Black Holes and the Universe by Igor

NovikovNovikov Accelerating Universe by Mario LivioAccelerating Universe by Mario Livio Runaway Universe by Donald Goldsmith Runaway Universe by Donald Goldsmith Einstein’s Unfinished Symphony by Marcia Einstein’s Unfinished Symphony by Marcia

Bartusiak Bartusiak The Hole in the Universe by K. C. ColeThe Hole in the Universe by K. C. Cole The Extravagant Universe by Robert The Extravagant Universe by Robert

KirshnerKirshner

Astronomy 305/ Astronomy 305/ Book ListBook List


Flash! The Hunt for the Biggest Explosions in Flash! The Hunt for the Biggest Explosions in the Universe by Govert Schilling the Universe by Govert Schilling

How the Universe Got Its Spots by Janna How the Universe Got Its Spots by Janna LevinLevin

Wrinkles in Time by George SmootWrinkles in Time by George Smoot Unveiling the Edge of Time by John Gribbin Unveiling the Edge of Time by John Gribbin Before the Beginning by Martin ReesBefore the Beginning by Martin Rees The Inflationary Universe by Alan GuthThe Inflationary Universe by Alan Guth Strange Matters by Tom SiegfriedStrange Matters by Tom Siegfried Cosmic Bullets byCosmic Bullets by Roger Clay and Bruce Roger Clay and Bruce

Dawson Dawson

Astronomy 305/Astronomy 305/Book List Book List (continued)(continued)


Present a succinct, yet thorough overview of Present a succinct, yet thorough overview of the book that encompasses the key elements of the book that encompasses the key elements of the book’s content. The goal here is to convince the book’s content. The goal here is to convince me that you have read the entire book.me that you have read the entire book.

Connect the book’s main topic to the material Connect the book’s main topic to the material presented during one or more of the classroom presented during one or more of the classroom sessions (or chapters of the Jeff Bennett book). sessions (or chapters of the Jeff Bennett book). Your goal here is to convince me that you have Your goal here is to convince me that you have learned something about at least one of the learned something about at least one of the subjects we are discussing in class.subjects we are discussing in class.

Book report must be well written, and free of Book report must be well written, and free of grammatical and spelling errors. grammatical and spelling errors.

Astronomy 305/Book Report Astronomy 305/Book Report gradinggrading


Book report must Book report must nonot contain any t contain any plagiarized material – use quotes and plagiarized material – use quotes and refer to page numbers!!refer to page numbers!!

Book reports are expected to be Book reports are expected to be approximately 5 pages. Your grade will approximately 5 pages. Your grade will be lowered if your report is either too be lowered if your report is either too short or too long. Use 12 point type, short or too long. Use 12 point type, double spaced, and standard margins double spaced, and standard margins from Word or other program.from Word or other program.

Make sure to put your name on the Make sure to put your name on the report. No fancy covers please.report. No fancy covers please.

Astronomy 305/Book Report Astronomy 305/Book Report gradinggrading


Other information of interest:Other information of interest:

Class web page: Class web page: http://glast.sonoma.edu/~lynnc/courses/a305/http://glast.sonoma.edu/~lynnc/courses/a305/

Prof. J. Tenn’s A305 course information Prof. J. Tenn’s A305 course information http://www.phys-astro.sonoma.edu/people/faculty/tenn/A350/http://www.phys-astro.sonoma.edu/people/faculty/tenn/A350/

Prof. G. Spear’s A305 course Prof. G. Spear’s A305 course information information

http://www.phys-astro.sonoma.edu/people/faculty/spear/courses/A305.hhttp://www.phys-astro.sonoma.edu/people/faculty/spear/courses/A305.htmltml

My group’s home page: My group’s home page: http://epo.sonoma.eduhttp://epo.sonoma.edu

Imagine the Universe! Imagine the Universe! http://imagine.gsfc.nasa.govhttp://imagine.gsfc.nasa.gov


Astronomy 305/Course OutlineAstronomy 305/Course Outline

## DateDate BooBookk

TopicTopic DueDue

11 9/2/039/2/03 Intro/EM Spectrum Intro/EM Spectrum

22 9/9/039/9/03 Black HolesBlack Holes

33 9/16/039/16/03 Cosmic RaysCosmic Rays

44 9/23/029/23/02 Stars and PlanetsStars and Planets

55 9/30/039/30/03 10 10 Life in Solar Life in Solar SystemSystem

BR#BR#11

66 10/7/0310/7/03 66 Earth-like PlanetsEarth-like Planets

77 10/14/0310/14/03 11 Are We Alone?Are We Alone?


Astronomy 305/Course OutlineAstronomy 305/Course Outline

88 10/21/0310/21/03 55 Gamma-ray BurstsGamma-ray Bursts

99 10/28/0310/28/03 77 Galaxy EvolutionGalaxy Evolution BR#BR#22

1100

11/4/0311/4/03 99 Solar NeutrinosSolar Neutrinos

1111

11/11/0311/11/03 88 Universe ShapeUniverse Shape TopicTopic

1122

11/18/0311/18/03 44 InflationInflation

1133

11/25/0311/25/03 33 Universe FateUniverse Fate

1144

12/2/0312/2/03 22 Universe ContentsUniverse Contents

1155

12/9/0312/9/03 ReviewReview PapePaperr


Early View of the Early View of the UniverseUniverse

What do you

know about

the Universe

?


Introductory ActivitiesIntroductory Activities Project group selectionProject group selection Assessment QuizAssessment Quiz

Do this as individualsDo this as individuals Cosmic SurveyCosmic Survey

Do this in small groupsDo this in small groups You are given pictures of different You are given pictures of different

astronomical objectsastronomical objects Put them in order of sizePut them in order of size Put them in order of distancePut them in order of distance Put them in order of agePut them in order of age


Powers of TenPowers of Ten

Scientific NotationScientific Notation 1010n n means 10 x 10 x 10 x 10 … [n times]means 10 x 10 x 10 x 10 … [n times] 1010-n -n means 1/(10 x 10 x 10 ….) [n times]means 1/(10 x 10 x 10 ….) [n times]

1010n n > 1 > 1 it is a 1 followed by n zeroes it is a 1 followed by n zeroes (10(1022 = 100) = 100)

1010-n -n < 1 < 1 it is decimal point, (n-1) it is decimal point, (n-1) zeroes, then 1 (10zeroes, then 1 (10-2-2 = 0.01) = 0.01)

There are 10There are 1010 10 –– 101011 11 stars in our galaxy, stars in our galaxy, and a similar number of galaxies in the and a similar number of galaxies in the UniverseUniverse


Sizes and MagnitudesSizes and Magnitudes

There are 10There are 1010 10 –– 101011 11 stars in our stars in our galaxy, and a similar number of galaxy, and a similar number of galaxies in the Universegalaxies in the Universe

Each star weighs ~10Each star weighs ~103030 kg and kg and contains more than 10contains more than 105757 atoms atoms

The radius of a typical star is ~10The radius of a typical star is ~1088 m m Each atom weighs ~10Each atom weighs ~10-27-27 kg and has kg and has

a radius of about 10a radius of about 10-10-10 m m 1 light year is 9.5 x 101 light year is 9.5 x 101515 m m


Powers of Ten VideoPowers of Ten Video

Produced by Charles and Ray Produced by Charles and Ray EamesEames

Describes the journey into Outer Describes the journey into Outer Space and then into Inner SpaceSpace and then into Inner Space

Each step is a factor of ten in Each step is a factor of ten in distancedistance


c = 3 x 108 m/sE = energy

= wavelength = frequencyh = Planck’s constant = 4 x 10-15 eV sec

It’s not just a good idea, it’s the law!

Let There Be Light!

E = h c / = c /



Seeing the LightSeeing the Light

VLA COBE IRAS EUVE Chandra GLAST

HST/Keck


What emits EM radiation? • Everything does! • Often called thermal or

blackbody radiation• the hotter the object, the

shorter the wavelength of the peak

• the hotter the object, the more intense the radiation


What’s a good blackbody?What’s a good blackbody?

• Stars • The Universe!


• Cool objects (0 to a few 10s Kelvin)• Synchrotron radiation: electrons spiralling around magnetic fields• Bremsstrahlung: collisionally accelerated electrons

• Cold molecular clouds• Planets• pulsars• Radio galaxies• Intergalactic matter

RadioRadio


• a bit warmer objects (10s to 100K)• microwave generator

• warm molecular clouds• Planets• water masers• Galaxies• The Universe!

MicrowaveMicrowave


• warm objects (100s to about 2000 K)

• Nebulae• Planets• “Normal” stars• Enshrouded protostars• Galaxies

InfraredInfrared

Video from SIRTF


• hot objects (2000 to about 10000 Kelvin)• “Hot” speaker for next week!

• Nebulae• Planets• “Normal” stars, sun-like and hotter• Galaxies

VisibleVisible


• hotter objects (10,000 to about 100,000 Kelvin)

• Nebulae• Planets with magnetic fields (aurorae)• O-F stars• Pulsars• Galaxies

UltravioletUltraviolet


• very hot objects (100,000 to a few 106 Kelvin)• Synchrotron radiation• Inverse Compton scattering • Bremsstrahlung

• Planets• O star winds• solar corona• White dwarfs• Pulsars• Black holes• Galaxy clusters• Dark matter, indirectly

X-raysX-rays


• Extremely energetic objects• Radioactive decay (Co56, Ti44)• Fusion• Cosmic ray/gas interaction• matter/antimatter annihilation• magnetic fields

• supernovae • Diffuse Galactic emission• Active galaxies•(some) Pulsars• black holes• Gamma Ray Bursts

Gamma RaysGamma Rays


• Extremely energetic objects• Radioactive decay (Co56, Ti44)• Fusion• Cosmic ray/gas interaction• matter/antimatter annihilation• magnetic fields

• supernovae • Diffuse Galactic emission• Active galaxies•(some) Pulsars• black holes• Gamma Ray Bursts

Gamma RaysGamma Rays


Other uses for Gamma Other uses for Gamma RaysRays

New Hulk movie uses LBNL’s Gamma-sphere

But it really detects gamma-rays, rather than emitting them.


Different Views from the Different Views from the InsideInside


Invisible Universe GEMS ActivityInvisible Universe GEMS Activity Different stations have different types of Different stations have different types of

light sources and detectorslight sources and detectors All stations have same set of materialsAll stations have same set of materials Try each of the 5 stationsTry each of the 5 stations For each material: Predict whether or not For each material: Predict whether or not

it will block the light, then test your it will block the light, then test your predictionprediction

Write your predictions and results down Write your predictions and results down on the worksheets that are providedon the worksheets that are provided

Hand in worksheets before leaving classHand in worksheets before leaving class

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