Spring 2027

Observational Cosmology

Observational Cosmology covers the extragalactic distance scale, galaxy groups and clusters, and an introduction to general relativity, cosmological models, the microwave background, and galaxy formation.

offering recorded3 credits
Recorded instructors · Spring 2027 Michael Maseda

Summary

1 / 3

Recent recorded grades — Spring 2019: 3.50 GPA, 84.6% A/AB (n=13 letter grades); Spring 2023: 3.46 GPA, 75.0% A/AB (n=12 letter grades); Spring 2025: 3.71 GPA, 82.4% A/AB (n=17 letter grades).

What you’ll be able to do

  • Explain modern cosmological concepts, including dark matter and dark energy, and present evidence supporting the standard Lambda-CDM cosmology.

  • Describe the physical and mathematical assumptions in basic cosmological models.

  • Use knowledge of these concepts to make testable, observable predictions about the Universe.

Source: UW Guide

Grade history

↗
average GPA
letter grades
A
AB
B
BC
C
D
F

All recorded terms · compare terms & instructors

Prerequisites

Course map

Graduate/professional standing

  • Graduate/professional standing
ASTRON 735

This is a best-effort interpretation; check the catalog requirements above.

Prerequisite text tree
  • Graduate/professional standing

Professors

Spring 2027

Recent recorded grades — Spring 2025: 3.71 GPA, 82.4% A/AB (n=17 letter grades).

Historical instructors & teaching patterns

MICHAEL MASEDA is recorded teaching in Spring 2025. Recorded history may be incomplete and does not establish a future schedule.

Recorded history may be incomplete and does not establish a future schedule.

Calendar & sections

Spring 2027

Schedule loads here as you scroll.

SectionModeEnrolled / capacityWaitlist
LEC 001Classroom Instruction0 / 200

Times are Central. Select a meeting for details; export includes recorded dates for the selected sections. Enrollment reflects scan time.

Meeting source records
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Student experience

the class

Recent recorded grades — Spring 2019: 3.50 GPA, 84.6% A/AB (n=13 letter grades); Spring 2023: 3.46 GPA, 75.0% A/AB (n=12 letter grades); Spring 2025: 3.71 GPA, 82.4% A/AB (n=17 letter grades).

difficulty & workload

No workload feedback recorded.

Topics

  • Extragalactic distance scale, groups and clusters of galaxies, and distribution of galaxies and radio sources.
  • General relativity, cosmological models, microwave background, early universe, and galaxy formation.
  • Modern cosmological concepts including dark matter, dark energy, and the Lambda-CDM model.

Skills

  • Explain modern cosmological concepts and present evidence for Lambda-CDM cosmology.
  • Describe physical and mathematical assumptions in basic cosmological models.
  • Make testable, observable predictions about the Universe using cosmological concepts.

Grades

Latest available · Spring 2025— not enough history to project Spring 2027.

average GPA
A / AB grades
letter grades
Instructor

Grade distribution · % of letter grades

A
AB
B
BC
C
D
F

Grades over time

Through Spring 2025

More grade details Grade mix, volume & source data

Not enough comparable courses for Spring 2027 in UW–Madison.

Sources & history

UW–Madison

Catalog & offerings

Descriptions, prerequisites, and recorded course offerings.

Catalog observation history

Observations at scan time; dates do not imply when a catalog change took effect.

Download part 1
Selected offering source records
ASTRON 735 · Spring 2027

Observational Cosmology

Recorded 2026-10-14
Raw records 
[
  {
    "run_id": "20261014T203208-0851c9a1",
    "semester": "1274",
    "observed_at": "2026-10-14 17:50:09.728220+00:00",
    "offering_id": "1274:188:001576",
    "course_id": "ASTRON 735",
    "course_uid": "course_e2cb3ad6e849610477032bbc",
    "term_id": "1274",
    "source_course_id": "001576",
    "source_subject_id": "188",
    "title": "Observational Cosmology",
    "credits_min": 3,
    "credits_max": 3,
    "typically_offered": "Occasionally"
  }
]
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Student reviews

Original comments behind the course and instructor summaries.

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Madgrades

Grade history

Recorded grade distributions by term, section, and instructor.

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Dataset & model

Recorded 2026-10-14

View the dataset on Hugging Face
Model outputs & technical records
Qwen/Qwen3.8-27B
LLM outputs across runs
Download part 1
Full model traces

Recorded model configuration, reasoning, and tool conversations.

Download part 1
Model & dataset provenance 
{
  "model": "Qwen/Qwen3.8-27B",
  "model_revision": "1d4bf0f2ff6012fd82039f2fa52739d0dd7c60c0",
  "task_version": "17",
  "output_id": "99b1b7ac53fe0f19ca4c4b4b92f803088e16a870e8df0fe17b5020c6fd48fb48",
  "requirements_status": "valid",
  "dataset_revision": "fc1811fa52e581ea57a35c0cf3343f8740a8ffbf",
  "observed_at": "2026-10-14 17:50:09.728220+00:00"
}