General Education
034.014 Astronomy (3-3-0)
This course is intended for students to have a first look at the Universe. They will learn by themselves the basic principles for measuring properties of various cosmic objects through laboratory works. They will be also encouraged to study basic observational facts through references and internet sites. In class, professor will theoretically interpret the observations to reveal fundamental principles behind them. The chapters include Kepler and Newton, tidal interaction, atmosphere and internal structure of planets, basic properties of stars, interstellar matter and star formation, stellar structure and evolution, Milky Way galaxy, external galaxies, large-scale structure and evolution of the Universe.
034.015 Astronomy Lab. (1-0-2)
Students may use planetarium, optical observatories and radio telescope in the campus to understand apparent motions of the solar system objects and to have first hand experience of doing observations. They will be encouraged to utilize various internet programs to learn the essence of data reduction procedures. Some may perform numerical simulations to generate theoretical data of their own interest. Students will spend a night at one of the national observing facilities and may witness how astronomers obtain data with large telescopes. In the following listed are the astronomical phenomena and data reduction methods that will be learned through lab activities.: apparent motion of solar system objects; eclipse observations of planets, Moon, or Sun; naked eye observations of the milky way galaxy; ; physical properties of stars; observations of sun spot and solar flare; galactic rotation and mass; expansion of young supernova remnant; classification of stellar spectra and Herzsprung-Russell diagram; expansion of the Universe and Hubble＇s relation. Special topics for the term project may include the Goldilock＇s problem, discovery of exo-planetary systems, supernova, nectron star, black hole, accretion disk, and cosmic microwave background.
046.006 Man and the Universe (3-3-0)
This course is offered to non-science majors. Explored in this course is the universe and its relationship to man from the viewpoint of ancient people to that of modern astronomers on space satellite. Relevance of astronomy in natural sciences, engineering, humanism, and art are emphasized.
046.007 Extraterrestrial planets and life (3-3-0)
This course aims at understanding whether the chemical and biological evolutions on the Earth could be a universal phenomenon in the Galaxy. From astronomical point of view we will examine the evolution of cosmic matter up to heavy elements, which are essential ingredients for forming biological creatures. We then examine how modern techniques have enabled us to search exo-planets in the Galaxy. Particular emphasis will be paid on limitations of the current techniques and also the promises of the future searches. The formation of terrestrial planets is to be distinguished from that of the Jovian ones. Orbits of the exo-planets so far detected will be analyzed in the sense whether they could be examples of solar terrestrial planets. We will then briefly follow the evolutionary path the Earth went through over last 4.6 billion years. The chapters include: evolution of cosmic matter through nucleosynthesis; formation of stars from dark molecular clouds; dynamic evolution of self-gravitating, rotating disk; formation of terrestrial planets in the proto-solar nebula; formation of Jovian planets in the proto-solar nebula; discovery of exo-planets and exo-planetary systems; Goldilock＇s problem of the atmospheric evolution; chemical evolution in the Earth; biological evolution in the Earth; birth and growth of civilization; parameterization of human ignorance by Drake＇s equation; Gaia, and Ohn-SaengMyung; interstellar communication; terraformation of Mars; heavens and hells.
046.009 Evolution of the Universe (3-3-0)
This course introduces the cosmos to students by surveying observational facts about the nature of the universe starting from the earth, the solar system, stars, nebulae, galaxies, to large-scale structure of the universe in time and space. The Big Bang theory is brought to attention to describe the origin and evolution of matter, radiation and how the universe evolved from a state of simplicity into its present complex state. The observed facts are put into a broader context of our search for an understanding of the universe and our place in it.
