SP 446 Section 5001 - Spring 2026
Course Policy and Syllabus
Reading Assignments
- Reading assignments are from Carroll and Ostlie, An Introduction to Modern Astrophysics, 2nd ed., unless otherwise noted.
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Lecture Notes
Problem Sets
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Homework solutions must be submitted by the beginning of the class period on the due date (normally Wednesdays).
Late homework will not be accepted.Week of 5 January 2026:
Reading Assignments:
6 January - Course Introduction; Chapter 24, Section 1
7 January - Chapter 24, Section 2
9 January - Chapter 24, Section 3Homework Due Wednesday, January 14:
24.17, 24.19, 24.21, 24.23, 24.25, 24.26, 24.35
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Week of 12 January 2026:
Reading Assignments:
12 January - Chapter 24, Section 4 & Chapter 25, Section 1
14 January - Chapter 25, Sections 2-3
16 January - Chapter 25, Section 4Homework Due Wednesday, January 21:
25.4, 25.17, 25.24
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Week of 19 January 2026:
Reading Assignments:
19 January - Martin Luther King Jr. Day: No Classes
21 January - Chapter 26, Sections 1-2
23 January - Journal Club #1: Professor Morgan-
Week of 26 January 2026:
Reading Assignments:
26 January - Chapter 27, Section 1
28 January - Chapter 27, Section 1
30 January - Chapter 27, Section 2Homework Due Wednesday, February 4
25.20, 26.4, 26.11, 26.16, 27.1, 27.4, 27.6, 27.9
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Week of 2 February 2026:
Reading Assignments:
2 February - Chapter 27, Section 3
4 February - Chapter 28, Section 1
6 February - Journal Club #2: Luke Lininger and Kevin SarwanHomework Due Friday, February 13
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28.1, 28.3, 28.4
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Week of 9 February 2026:
Reading Assignments:
9 February - Chapter 28, Section 1
11 February - Chapter 28, Section 2
13 February - Chapter 18, Section 2Homework Due Friday, February 20
28.5, 28.8, 28.9
Week of 16 February 2026:
Reading Assignments:
16 February - Presidents Day: No Classes
18 February - Chapter 28, Section 2
20 February - Journal Club: Chloe HeldermanHomework Due Friday, February 27
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28.14, 28.15, 28.16, 28.18
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Week of 23 February 2026:
Reading Assignments:
23 February - Snow Day
25 February - Chapter 28, Section 3
27 February - Chapter 29, Section 2-
Homework Due Wednesday, March 4
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No homework next week: complete 8-week project
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Week of 2 March 2026:
Reading Assignments:
2 March - Chapter 29, Section 1
4 March - Chapter 29, Section 2
6 March - Journal Club: Olivia Achenbach
Homework Due Friday, March 20
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29.1, 29.18, 29.22, 29.25, 29.29, 29.30
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Week of 16 March 2026:
Reading Assignments:
16 March - Chapter 29, Section 2
18 March - Chapter 29, Section 3
20 March - Chapter 29, Section 3
Homework Due Wednesday, April 1
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29.57, 29.58
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Week of 23 March 2026:
Reading Assignments:
23 March - Chapter 29, Section 4
25 March - Chapter 30, Section 1
27 March - Journal Club: Soren Reko and Aiden Kasten
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Week of 30 March 2026:
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Reading Assignments:
30 March - Chapter 30, Section 2
1 April - Chapter 30, Section 2
3 April - Chapter 30, Section 3
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Week of 6 April 2026:
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Reading Assignments:
6 April - Chapter 30, Section 2
8 April - Chapter 30, Section 3
10 April - Journal Club: Lucy Porter & Dasiy Zamora
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Homework Due Wednesday, April 15
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30.1, 30.2, 30.3
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Week of 13 April 2026:
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Reading Assignments:
13 April - Chapter 30, Section 3
15 April - Chapter 30, Section 3
17 April - Current Topics in Cosmology-
Week of 20 April 2026:
Reading Assignments:
20 April - The Hubble Tension
22 April - New Developments in Gravitational Waves
24 April - The Dark Energy Survey
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