Faculty of Arts & Science 2011-2012 Calendar

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Astronomy and Astrophysics

Faculty

 Astronomy studies the exploration of the universe beyond the earth and attempts to understand the physical processes that describe its contents. Essentially all civilizations have developed astronomy to some degree, with records extending back to the Babylonians.  The modern development of astronomy began with Galileo turning a telescope to the sky and the heliocentric model of the solar system. Astronomy and astrophysics have undergone a revolution in the past fifty years as telescopes ranging from the radio to the gamma ray have discovered the relict radiation from the Big Bang, planets around other stars and the time at which the first stars were just beginning to form. Astronomy as a discipline is a distinctive integration of many of the sciences. At the introductory level it is used to provide a non-technical overview of the scientific approach to questions and our current understanding. At the more advanced level a quantitative physical understanding of astrophysical systems is developed. A graduate in astronomy has a wide grounding in modern physical science which is important for a wide range of roles in society.

Several courses are offered to suit persons of diverse backgrounds and depths of interest. Two beginning courses (AST101H1, AST201H1) require no special knowledge of mathematics or other sciences and are best suited to students taking non-science programs. These courses develop an understanding of the universe in a qualitative way and in terms of natural laws familiar to us on Earth. Audiovisual demonstrations are used extensively. AST121H1is an introductory astronomy course for science students. The course AST210H1 is intended for students in other areas of the sciences. AST251H1 is best suited to life science students. The remaining courses are designed for physical sciences and astronomy program students. The first physics and math based astronomy courses normally start in the second year. In some of these courses, the objective is to provide for practical involvement by the student. This is achieved by the use of the remotely-controlled telescopes at the St. George and Scarborough Campus observatories by day as well as by night.

The Department works closely with two related academic units, the Canadian Institute for Theoretical Astrophysics (CITA) and the Dunlap Institute for Astronomy and Astrophysics (DI). With a national mandate, CITA fosters research in theoretical aspects of the discipline, including the exploitation of high performance computers in house and in SciNet. Complementary to this, a focus of DI is on the design and development of astronomical instrumentation. Undergraduate students will find diverse research opportunities through the Department and these two cognate units.

Undergraduate Enquiries: ungrad.sec@astro.utoronto.ca (416-946-5243)

Web site: http://www.astro.utoronto.ca

Astronomy and Astrophysics Programs

Enrolment in the Astronomy and Astrophysics programs requires completion of four courses; no minimum GPA is required.

Enrolment in this program requires the completion of 4.0 courses.

(8 full courses or their equivalent, including at least two courses at the 300+-level)

First Year:
MAT135Y1/MAT137Y1/MAT157Y1; PHY131H1, PHY132H1 or PHY151H1, PHY152H1

Second Year:
1. AST221H1, AST222H1; MAT235Y1/MAT237Y1
2. PHY252H1 and one of PHY224H1, PHY250H1, PHY254H1, PHY256H1

Third Year:
1. AST320H1, AST325H1/AST326Y1
2. One course from: CSC336H1, CSC350H1, CSC351H1, CSC418H1, CSC456H1; ECE385H1; PHY350H1, PHY353H1, PHY354H1, PHY356H1, PHY357H1, PHY358H1, PHY395H1, PHY407H1/PHY408H1
3. One additional course or half course in:  AST424H1 or APM/AST/CSC/MAT/PHY/STA, to make up the total of 8 full-course equivalents.

Enrolment in this program requires the completion of 4.0 courses.

(4 full courses or their equivalent)

1. AST221H1, AST222H1, AST320H1, AST325H1/AST326Y1
2. PHY131H1, PHY132H1 or PHY151H1, PHY152H1
3. PHY252H1 and one of PHY224H1, PHY250H1, PHY254H1, PHY256H1
Please note:
PHY131H1, PHY132H1 and PHY151H1, PHY152H1 require MAT135Y1/MAT137Y1/MAT151Y1 and PHY252H1 requires MAT235Y1/MAT237Y1/MAT257Y1.

Enrolment in this program requires the completion of 4.0 courses.

(14 full courses or their equivalent, including at least one 400-series course)

First Year:
MAT137Y1/MAT157Y1, MAT223H1/MAT240H1; PHY151H1, PHY152H1

Second Year:
AST221H1, AST222H1; MAT237Y1, MAT244H1; PHY250H1, PHY252H1, PHY256H1

Third Year:
1. APM346H1; AST320H1, AST325H1/AST326Y1; PHY224H1, PHY254H1, PHY354H1, PHY356H1
2. One of MAT224H1, MAT327H1, MAT334H1, MAT363H1, STA257H1

Fourth Year:
1. AST425Y1; PHY350H1, PHY353H1
2. One half course from each of groups A and B
3. One additional half course from either group A, group B or group C

Group A:
PHY357H1, PHY358H1, PHY395H1, PHY495H1

Group B:
PHY456H1, PHY459H1, PHY460H1, PHY483H1, PHY484H1

Group C:
PHY324H1, PHY407H1, PHY408H1

Astronomy and Astrophysics Courses

The PMU199Y1 and PMU199H1 seminars are designed to provide the opportunity to work closely with an instructor in a class of no more than twenty-four students. These interactive seminars are intended to stimulate the students’ curiosity and provide an opportunity to get to know a member of the professorial staff in a seminar environment during the first year of study. Details here.

Our place in the Universe. Phenomena we see in the sky. What we know about the Sun, the planets and comets, and the formation of the solar system -- and how we know it. What makes planets suitable for life. Finding out about the nearest stars and their planets. This course is intended for students with no science or engineering background.

The origin of the Universe, the origin of the chemical elements, the origin of stars and galaxies, the origin of life in the Universe. This course is intended for students who are enrolling in science courses.

What we know about the properties and life cycles of stars, of galaxies, and of the Universe itself -- and how we know it. How astronomers develop methods for understanding phenomena that span such vast ranges in distance and time. This course is intended for students with no science or engineering background.

The history of Western astronomy: Copernican Revolution to twentieth century astrophysics. Emphasis is placed on the process of discovery which has led to major advances in knowledge about the Universe. The course ends with an outline of one of the most significant puzzles of our day and an examination of the potential for a new revolution in knowledge in our lifetime. This course is best suited to science students.

Concepts of basic physics applied to a treatment of the solar system and stars. Telescopes and instrumentation are introduced.

Concepts of basic physics applied to a treatment of stellar systems and the structure of the Universe.

Scholarly discussion of the probability that there are planets with life elsewhere in the universe, from the perspective of current ideas concerning the origin and evolution of the universe, the solar system and life Search techniques and possibilities for interstellar travel and space colonies are discussed. This course is best suited to life sciences students.

Credit course for supervised participation in faculty research project. Details here.

The formation, equilibrium and evolution of structure on all astronomical scales from the largest to the smallest: universe, clusters of galaxies, galaxies, clusters of stars, gas clouds and stars.

Observational projects in astrophysics involving work with telescopes and CCD detectors. Principles of photometry. Use of standard software packages for data reduction and analysis. Students will be required to use UNIX/Linux operating systems.

Observational projects in astrophysics involving work with telescopes and CCD detectors. Principles of photometry and spectroscopy. Use of UNIX/Linux-based software packages for data reduction and analysis. This course is an expanded version of AST325H1 designed to give students a wider exposure to practical astronomy.

Course credit for research, lab work, or field studies abroad under the supervision of a faculty member.

An instructor-supervised group project in an off-campus setting. Details here.

An instructor-supervised group project in an off-campus setting. Details here.

A half-year course concentrated on methods and skills applicable to research in physical sciences, for senior undergraduate students of the Specialist and Major Programs in Astronomy and Astrophysics. Students are required to attend the weekly departmental colloquia and G2000 talks. This course is intended to integrate the wide range of skills expected of astronomers in a format that emphasizes communication.

A research project done in consultation with an individual staff member in the Department leading to a detailed written report and oral presentation. This course is intended for students in the final year of the Astronomy and Physics specialist program. Students must enrol with the Undergraduate Secretary of the Department.