Byrne Seminar: Radio Astronomy: Jersey Roots, Global Reach
Spring 2017

Instructor Prof. Andrew Baker Serin W309 Phone: 848-445-8887 Email: ajbaker[at]physics.rutgers.edu Office hours: Tuesday 5:00-6:20pm Venue Wednesday (1:40-3:00pm) in Serin 401

Textbook
The only required textbook is The Invisible Universe: The Story of Radio Astronomy (third edition) by Gerrit Verschuur, copies of which should be available in the bookstore. Note that the third edition has more chapters than previous editions of this book; please be sure to get the correct version!

Overview
Here's the official course catalog listing:
"Just like Rutgers, the field of radio astronomy- the investigation of the universe and its contents through observations of radio waves- has "Jersey Roots, Global Reach." This seminar will introduce students to the history and practice of radio astronomy with a special emphasis on discoveries made right here in New Jersey, which include the construction of the first radio telescope and the discovery of the cosmic microwave background (i.e., the afterglow of the Big Bang). Students will also learn about scientific and technical advances made by modern radio astronomers, including those on the faculty at Rutgers, and will have the opportunity to work with real data from a radio telescope."

Schedule
The first class (January 25) will feature an introduction to the field of radio astronomy, and the last class (April 19) will focus on the results of the observing project. All classes in between will feature discussions of 2-3 chapters from the textbook. At the beginning of the semester, one student will be assigned to lead the discussion of each chapter.

CLASS	DATE	TEXT	LEAD
1	Jan 25
2	Feb 1	Chapter 1	MC
		Chapter 2	AG
3	Feb 15	Chapter 3	TN
		Chapter 4	PL
4	Feb 22	Chapter 5	DL
		Chapter 6	PL
5	Mar 1	Chapter 7	MC
6	Mar 8	Chapter 8	TN
		Chapter 9	SPa
		Chapter 10	SPo
7	Mar 22	Chapter 11	SPo
		Chapter 12	DL
		Chapter 13	DT
8	Apr 5	Chapter 14	GBY
		Chapter 15	DT
9	Apr 12	Chapter 16	AG
		Chapter 17	SPa
		Chapter 18	GBY
10	Apr 19

Grading
Your course grade will be based on a combination of three elements:

• active participation in all class discussions (40%)
• leadership of your assigned discussion(s) (40%)
• contribution to the observing project (20%)

• summarizing the most important points of the reading
• articulating questions about the reading (e.g., what does a particular technical term mean? why does the author make such a big deal about some seemingly minor point?)
• suggesting open-ended questions for class discussion that are inspired by the reading (e.g., what was the most important factor in a particular discovery? does scientific progress follow the scientific method, or is it more a series of accidents?)

Other items

• Absences
  If you need to miss a class, you should report your absence at this website.
• Students with disabilities
  If you have a disability, let me know early in the semester so that we can make the necessary arrangements for you to have a successful learning experience. Please consult this web page for more details.
• Student wellness services
  The School of Arts and Sciences and the Rutgers University Student Assembly have requested that all course syllabi include the following information on resources to support student wellness:
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