Inside Physics Carr Hall
Allegheny College Department of Physics

The Astronomy Minor at Allegheny

Astronomy is by nature a very interdisciplinary science, as reflected in the chemistry, geology, mathematics, philosophy, and physics courses that can be counted toward the astronomy minor at Allegheny. The astronomy minor therefore provides students with the opportunity to apply and combine their classroom knowledge from a variety of courses. A minor in astronomy requires a total of at least 22 semester hours. The five core courses (18 semester hours) are:

The minor is completed with one of the following courses or pair of courses:

Below are selected descriptions of courses at Allegheny that are most relevant to astronomy and the astronomy minor. For more information, contact Dr. Jamie Lombardi.



 Selected Course Descriptions

Physics 020: Introductory Astronomy (with lab) - A descriptive study of the solar system, the stars, and the universe on its largest scales. Topics covered include the phases of the Moon, the seasons, the tides, the historical roots of astronomy, the constellations, telescopes, the Sun, star formation and evolution, black holes, compact objects, and the expansion of the universe. The course is designed to give students an appreciation of the beauty and order of the known universe. Use is made of the Wible Planetarium and the Newton Observatory. Because observations are weather dependent, students in the course must plan to complete an observation during appropriate evening or other hours. Students may not receive credit for both Physics 020 and Physics 129. Offered every spring.


Physics 129: Fundamentals of Astronomy (with lab) - A study of the Earth and heavenly bodies, their observed characteristics and motions, and the theories that account for them. The course is designed to give the students an understanding of the tools and fundamental physical concepts of astronomy. Topics covered include celestial timekeeping, gravity, orbits, light, the birth and evolution of stars, basic relativity theory, black holes and other compact objects, dark matter, dark energy, and the big bang theory. Use is made of both the Wible Planetarium and the Newton Observatory. Many of the labs are computer-based exercises. Intended for students comfortable with pre-calculus. Students may not receive credit for both Physics 020 and Physics 129. Offered every fall.


Physics 320: Astrophysics - A quantitative study of topics including celestial mechanics as described by Kepler's and Newton's laws, radiation in astronomy, telescopes, stellar spectra, star formation, the structure and evolution of stars, relativity, black holes, and big bang cosmology. Prerequisites: Physics 101 or 110; and one of Physics 102, 120, or 129; or permission of instructor. Offered alternate years beginning in the 2007-08 academic year.


Physics 420-429: Current topics in Astrophysics - An examination of selected current topics of interest in astrophysics, such as dark matter, dark energy, black hole formation, star cluster dynamics, stellar collisions, the mass of neutrinos, planetary formation, and gravity wave sources. Students contribute to the class through discussion and brief presentations. Group discussion is based on readings from journal articles and monographs. Prerequisites: Physics 101 or 110; and Physics 020, 129 or 320; or permission of instructor. Credit: Two semester hours. Offered alternate years beginning in the 2008-09 academic year.


Geology 110: Physical Geology - The study of Earth properties and the dynamics of geologic systems to provide a basic understanding of the resources, environments, and evolution of our planet. The course considers Earth materials, interior structure of the planet, Earth surface processes, landform development, environmental geology, and physical evolution of the Earth. Specific topics include minerals and rocks, plate tectonics, ocean basins, continents, river and groundwater systems, glaciers, volcanism and earthquakes. Laboratory or field work, one period.


Philosophy 230: Science in Its Cultural Setting - A study of the structure and justification of scientific theory and of the activities of scientists engaged in theory development. A theoretical component of the course concerns the logical processes of theory acceptance and rejection. That component is fleshed out in historical study of theory development in one or two notable episodes in the history of science, such as the Copernican revolution in astronomy or the development of Darwinian theory in biology. Prerequisites: One course in philosophy or one course in natural science, or permission of instructor.