Course list for 2025-2026
Herewith the tentative course list for 2025-2026.
FALL 2025 | INSTRUCTOR | DAY | TIME |
AY 1: Big Questions in Astronomy | Edo Berger | T, Th | 10:30-11:45 |
AY 2: Navigation | Phil Sadler | T, Th | 12:00-1:15 |
AY 17: Galactic & Extragalactic | Chris Stubbs | M,W, F | 1:30 - 2:45 |
AY 98: Junior Tutorial | Morgan Macleod | W | 6:0-8:45 |
AY 99: Senior Thesis in Astrophysics | TBD | T, Th | 3:00-4:15 |
AY 120: Stellar Physics | Charles Alcock | M,W,F | 12:00-1:15 |
AY 130: Cosmology | Xingang Chen | MW | 1:30-2:45 |
AY 140: Intro Gen Relatvity | Xingang Chen | MW | 3-4:15 |
AY 200: Radiative Processes | Avi Loeb | MW | 10:30-11:45 |
AY202A: Extragalactic Astronomy & Cosmology | Charlie Conroy | T,Th | 10:30-11:45 |
AY 209: Exoplanets | John Johnson | T, Th | 1:30-2:45 |
AY 214 Observational Astronomy | Daniel Eisenstein | Tuesdays | 3:00-5:00pm |
AY 215 Relativistic Astro* (see below) | Michael Johnson | MW | 9:00-10:15 |
AY 311: Scientific Writing** (see below) | Lisa Kewley | August 25-29 | |
SPRING 2026 | INSTRUCTOR | ||
AY 1: Big Questions in Astronomy | Morgan Macleod | T, Th | 10:30-11:45 |
AY 5: Astrosociology | Gerhard Sonnert | T, Th | 12:00-1:15 |
AY 16: Stellar and Planetary Astronomy | John Johnson | M, W | 1:30-2:45 |
AY 98: Junior Tutorial | Morgan Macleod | W | 6:00-8:45 |
AY 99: Senior Thesis in Astrophysics | TBD | Tuesdays | 6:00 |
AY 100: Methods of Observational Astronomy | Ashley Villar | M, W | 3:00-4:15 |
AY 115/215: Astrochemistry | Karin Oberg | M, W | 10:30-11:45 |
AY 191: Astrophysics Laboratory | John Kovac | M, W | 3:00-4:15 |
AY 218 Radio Astronomy | Liam Connor | M, W | 12:45-2:45 |
AY202B: Extragalactic Astronomy & Cosmology | Lars Hernquist | M, W | 9:00-10:15 |
AY210: Origins of Planetary Systems | Sean Andrews | T, Th | 9:00-10:15 |
AY305: Topics in Origins of Life | Dimitar Sasselov | T, Th | 2:00-3:15 |
---------------------
*NEW COURSE (still awaiting FAS approval).
Astro 215 Relativistic Astrophysics: Black Holes, Neutron Stars, and High-Energy Phenomena
This course explores the most extreme environments in the universe, where the interplay between gravity, matter, and radiation drive a rich variety of observed astrophysical phenomena including active galactic nuclei, pulsars, gamma-ray bursts, and fast radio bursts. This course will introduce the essential elements of astrophysics in curved spacetime, including the formation of compact objects, gravitational radiation, and emission mechanisms in relativistic plasmas. It will include a survey of observational methods, analytical techniques, and computational approaches in modern relativistic astrophysics.
Prerequisites: Undergraduate electromagnetism (e.g., Physics 153), quantum mechanics (Physics 143a). Prior exposure to general relativity (e.g., Astron 140) is useful but not required. Radiative processes (Astron 200) is a recommended co-requisite.
This new course will count as one of the five electives for Astronomy grad students.
-----------------------------------------------
Astro 311: Scientific Writing Writing intensive week to be held Aug 25-29, 2024, at the Harvard Observatory (60 Garden Street). Science papers to be reviewed over the course of fall 2025 term.