A Tour of the Universe

(AST 12)

This course will provide an overview of our understanding of the universe, from the nearby to the very distant. Topics include: the “life” cycle of stars like our Sun; cosmology, including the latest new information about the origin and history of the universe; the formation and early history of Earth; planets around other stars, and NASA’s current and future planethunting space observatories; and finally, the search for life on other worlds. The only prerequisite is a healthy curiosity. Lectures will be presented at the level of a first-year college survey course for non-science majors.

Lawrence Caroff, Consultant to NASA

Larry Caroff conducted research at NASA in astrophysics and infrared astronomy, managed the agency’s program in infrared astronomy, and helped start the NASA Astrobiology Institute. In addition to teaching, he is currently a consultant to NASA.

Dana Backman, Outreach Director, NASA SOFIA

Dana Backman is the Outreach Director for NASA’s SOFIA, the Stratospheric Observatory for Infrared Astronomy. Backman has taught physics and astronomy for more than eighteen years and is co-author of three introductory astronomy textbooks.