Location:
Tuition:
Attend In Person OR Online
Astronomy has seen tremendous progress in the past century. Large telescopes on the ground and in space now give us views of the universe across the electromagnetic spectrum. Powerful computers can handle exponentially increasing volumes of data and allow simulations of remote objects and extreme astrophysics. We know how stars work, how many galaxies there are, and how to find exoplanets. Yet there is much we don’t know and areas where our physical understanding is weak. This course is a report from the frontiers of astronomy and physics research on five aspects of the universe where profound questions remain unanswered, with content updated since first offered in 2019.
Please Note: This course is an updated version of the same course offered by Professor Impey in Fall 2019.
Hybrid Course Format
- All classes will be delivered in-person and online via live video streaming. Students will enroll in their preferred format during registration.
- In-Person classes will be held in the Rubel Room at the University of Arizona's Poetry Center (1508 E Helen St, Tucson, AZ 85721). Enrollment for in-person classes is limited and available on a first-come, first-served basis. All student enrolled to attend in person also have complete online access and may choose to attend one or all class sessions remotely if desired.
- Online students may attend all classes via live video streaming and will be able to participate in all course Q&A sessions with the professor in real time. A high-speed internet connection and a device capable of running Zoom are required to connect. Online access will be password protected and only available to enrolled students.
- Class Recordings - All HSP classes regardless of format are recorded and available for every enrolled student to watch for the duration of the course and one month after the last class session. This option is offered to aid students who may be unable to attend the live class times but desire to enroll and participate asynchronously. We hope this option also aids students who are traveling or have an important appointment that conflicts with a class session to stay connected and engaged with the course material.
Registration Will Open Online:
Monday, NOVEMBER 21, 2022, at 8 AM (AZ Time)
Required Reading:
- No textbook is required. All readings will be distributed to students electronically.
Recommended Reading:
- Astrobiology: Short Introduction, by David Catling, 2014, Oxford, 160 pages
- Black Hole Blues, by Janna Levin, 2017, Anchor, 256 pages
- Envisioning Exoplanets, by Carroll/Quintana, 2020, Smithsonian, 224 pages
- The Big Picture, by Sean Carroll, 2017, Dutton, 480 pages
- The Grand Design, by Hawking/Mlodinow, 2012, Bantam, 208 pages
- Einstein’s Monsters, by Chris Impey, 2018, Norton, 304 pages
- How It Began, by Chris Impey, 2012, Norton, 448 pages
- How It Ends, Chris Impey, 2010, Norton, 352 pages
- The God Particle, by Leon Lederman, 2013, Prometheus, 325 pages
- The Planet Factory, by Elizabeth Tasker, 2017, Bloomsbury, 336 pages
