Astronomy 352 - Astrophysics III
Astrophysics III
Spring
2026
01
4.00
Katie Lester
MW 11:30AM-12:45PM
Mount Holyoke College
129859
klester@mtholyoke.edu
This advanced course will cover physical processes in the gaseous interstellar medium, including photoionization in HII regions and planetary nebulae, shocks in supernova remnants and stellar jets, and energy balance in molecular clouds. Dynamics of stellar systems, star clusters, and the viral theorem will also be discussed, along with galaxy rotation and the presence of dark matter in the universe, as well as spiral density waves. The course concludes with quasars and active galactic nuclei, synchrotron radiation, accretion disks, and supermassive black holes.
Prereq: ASTR-335 or two Physics courses at the 200 or 300 level.