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Listed in: Physics and Astronomy, as ASTR-35
Min Yun (Section 01)
How do astronomers determine the nature and extent of the universe? Following the theme of the “cosmic distance ladder,†we explore how our understanding of astrophysics allows us to evaluate the size of the observable universe. We begin with direct determinations of distances in the solar system and to nearby stars. We then move on to spectroscopic distances of more distant stars, star counts and the structure of our Galaxy, Cepheid variables and the distances of other galaxies, the Hubble Law and large-scale structure in the universe, quasars and the Lyman-alpha forest. Requisite: Astronomy 29 and Physics 24. Fall semester. Professor Wilson.