ASTR220
Collisions in Space
Prof. Derek Richardson
Office: CSS1249
Phone: 301-405-8786
Email: dcr@astro.umd.edu
Office hours: After class or
by appointment
The Antennae (HST)
The Antennae
(composite)
Course topics
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Collisions in the Solar system
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Collisions in a general sense: gravitational
interaction in the Universe
Life and death of stars
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Formation of the solar system
Collisions affecting the Earth in more recent times –
science, and Hollywood
Interacting (“colliding” stars)
Neutron stars, black holes and warped space-time
The biggest explosions… “gamma-ray bursts”
Cosmic collisions
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Colliding galaxies
Giant black holes and quasars
Time-warps and wormholes
Course texts
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Night Comes to the Cretaceous
Powell, c. 1998, Harcourt-Brace
The story of the search for traces of the
impact that wiped out the dinosaurs
Course Information
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This course is for non-science majors
who have strong interests in astronomy
This is a 200-level class; it is not a
replacement for ASTR100 or ASTR101
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Assume some background in (or willingness
to learn) basic astronomy
Simple math: algebra and statistical
reasoning
Satisfies CORE distributive studies
requirement for a non-laboratory
physical sciences course
Course work and grading
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In-class participation is very important
There will be homeworks, in-class
quizzes, a book review, in-class
activities, one midterm exam, and a
(cumulative) final exam
These, as well as grading breakpoints
are summarized in the syllabus
This course will NOT use the +/scheme
Grading (cont.)
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Midterm exam
Final exam
Homework
In-class activities
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25%
35%
25%
15%
NOTE: if you want an ‘A’, you can’t just rely
on the exams
Grade boundaries
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You will be guaranteed at least the
following letter grade corresponding to
your score percentage:
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90% and above
80-89%
68-79%
55-67%
Below 55%
A
B
C
D
F
Any curving will only increase your
letter grade.
Examinations
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Midterm and final exam will have
similar formats
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Section of multiple choice questions
Section of questions needing short written
answers or short calculations.
Midterm exam will be in class on the
23rd October 2003 (tentative).
As per the current University schedule,
the final exam will be 8.00-10.00am on
15th December 2003 in this room.
Absences, academic
dishonesty
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I strictly follow the University policy
Absences – all must be documented
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If scheduled (e.g. sports), bring paperwork
within the first 10 days of classes
Illness: if possible, contact me before
missed class or assignment; arrange for
make-up (if necessary) within one week
Academic dishonesty
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Zero-tolerance policy: all cases go to Honor
Council
Plagiarism is most common problem in a
class like this one
The Barringer Crater (AZ)
… also known as Meteor crater
Satellite image…
The Moon
The Tycho Crater