This course provides an introduction to modern cosmology - the scientific study of the universe's structure, composition, origin, and evolution. Students will explore the large-scale properties of the cosmos, the evidence supporting current cosmological theories, and the open questions driving future research. Topics include the expanding universe, cosmological models, dark matter and dark energy, the Big Bang and thermal history, the cosmic microwave background, nucleosynthesis, early-universe particle physics, inflation, and the formation of cosmic structures.

Satisfies Junior Year Writing Requirement. The goal of this course is to teach the writing techniques and styles that are appropriate for the types of careers that might be pursued by an astronomy major. The course will be composed of both a set of short writing assignments and longer assignments, and some of these assignments will be orally presented to the class. All students will critique the talks, and some written assignments will be exchanged between students for peer editing and feedback. Some papers will require analysis of astrophysical data.

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This hands-on course introduces telescopes, light detection methods, and basic astrophotography, offering students experience with 8-inch and smaller instruments on campus. Clear nights are devoted to observing and imaging solar system and galactic objects, while cloudy sessions shift to lectures and coding using Python and Astropy. Students learn everything from amateur astronomy essentials to planning observations and analyzing real data, with an emphasis on developing the practical skills of a professional astronomer.