Explore big astronomical topics like alien existence, the fate of the universe, and AI impacts, reflecting on humanity's place in the cosmos.
Offering recorded · Spring 2027 · Sources
No recorded grade history
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All recorded grades average GPA
A / AB grades
letter grades
How grades break down
Grades over time
Red: department · Gray: UW–Madison
About these statistics
GPA and percentages are weighted by recorded letter grades. UW comparisons use the same terms. Cross-listed courses count once within this department and once across UW; department totals should not be added together. Grade counts are not unique students. Offering counts reflect captured records, not a complete historical schedule.
Spring 2027
Recorded this termcourses with offerings
instructors recorded
Grades have not been recorded for this term. Historical results remain in the overview above.
Across course levels
Recorded this termNo released grades for this term.
Recorded offerings over time
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21 courses
An introduction to the evolving universe covering the big bang, stellar lifecycles, black holes, galaxies, and modern cosmology including dark matter and energy.
Offering recorded · Spring 2027 · Sources
Past student reviews · Thomas Beatty
Weekly homework and math exercises were present but not considered busy work; exams were not math-heavy, though some math was involved in section assignments.
historical GPA · grades
Fall 2022–Spring 2026Explores the modern view of the solar system, exoplanets, celestial motions, planetary formation, and the origin of life through quantitative and qualitative analysis.
Offering recorded · Spring 2027 · Sources
Past student reviews · Alex Lazarian
Weekly homework assignments took only five to ten minutes, and attendance at lectures was not mandatory, though lectures covered all exam material.
historical GPA · grades
Fall 2022–Spring 2026ASTRON 150
Topics in Astronomy
2 creditsIntensive study of selected topics in modern astronomy, including planetary missions, star formation, stellar end states, and cosmic evolution.
Offering recorded · Spring 2027 · Sources
historical GPA · grades
Spring 2025–Fall 2025 · limited sampleASTRON 170
The Dark Side of the Universe: the Great Cosmic Mysteries From Black Holes to Dark Energy
3 creditsExplores black holes, dark matter, and dark energy, covering spacetime warping, plasma beams, cosmic acceleration, and fundamental laws governing the universe's fate.
Offering recorded · Spring 2027 · Sources
Past student reviews · Christy Tremonti
The format included two asynchronous lectures per week with two quizzes each, followed by a small group discussion.
historical GPA · grades
Fall 2023–Spring 2026ASTRON 199
Directed Study
1–3 creditsDirected Study is an introductory mentored independent study course in Astronomy, arranged individually with faculty.
Offering recorded · Spring 2027 · Sources
No recorded grade history
ASTRON 200
The Physical Universe
3 creditsThe Physical Universe applies physical principles to understand astronomical phenomena like the solar system, stars, nebulae, galaxies, and cosmology, emphasizing origins and evolution with required nighttime telescope observation.
Offering recorded · Spring 2027 · Sources
Past student reviews · Elena D''Onghia
A past student reported minimal homework that served as a mock exam before tests, noting that attendance requirements were initially about 70% but later became irrelevant.
historical GPA · grades
Spring 2023–Spring 2026Introduction to Astronomy Research covers basic tools for astronomical research, focusing on Python programming and associated packages for astrophysical applications.
Offering recorded · Spring 2027 · Sources
historical GPA · grades
Spring 2026–Spring 2026 · limited sampleASTRON 330
Galaxies
3 creditsCovers Milky Way structure, Local Group galaxies, observational techniques, composition, motions, active nuclei, and galaxy formation.
Offering recorded · Spring 2027 · Sources
Past student reviews · Christy Tremonti
Students managed group homework assignments with instructor support, though the class could feel random at times due to the volume of new concepts introduced.
historical GPA · grades
Spring 2023–Spring 2026ASTRON 340
Solar System Astrophysics
3 creditsCovers solar system objects, solar atmospheric phenomena, planetary atmospheres, recent missions, comets, and the solar system's origin.
Offering recorded · Spring 2027 · Sources
historical GPA · grades
Spring 2024–Spring 2025 · limited sampleASTRON 681
Senior Honors Thesis
3 creditsIndividual study for seniors completing theses for honors in the major, arranged with a faculty member.
Offering recorded · Spring 2027 · Sources
No recorded grade history
ASTRON 682
Senior Honors Thesis
3 creditsIndividual study for seniors completing theses for honors in the major as arranged with a faculty member; continuation ofASTRON 681.
Offering recorded · Spring 2027 · Sources
No recorded grade history
ASTRON 691
Senior Thesis
2–3 creditsSenior Thesis: Individual study for seniors completing theses as arranged with a faculty member.
Offering recorded · Spring 2027 · Sources
No recorded grade history
ASTRON 692
Senior Thesis
2–3 creditsSenior Thesis is an individual study for seniors completing theses arranged with a faculty member, serving as a continuation of ASTRON 691.
Offering recorded · Spring 2027 · Sources
No recorded grade history
ASTRON 699
Directed Study
1–6 creditsDirected study projects for juniors and seniors as arranged with a faculty member.
Offering recorded · Spring 2027 · Sources
No recorded grade history
ASTRON 702
Basic Astrophysics II
3 creditsBasic Astrophysics II introduces physical concepts for analyzing astrophysical dynamics, covering particle and fluid dynamics, gravitational dynamics, and magneto-hydrodynamics.
Offering recorded · Spring 2027 · Sources
historical GPA · grades
Spring 2023–Spring 2024 · limited sampleCovers physical principles of stellar interiors including equilibrium, energy transport, nucleosynthesis, and evolution of main sequence, red giant, and degenerate stars, plus advanced topics like supernovae and binary evolution.
Offering recorded · Spring 2027 · Sources
historical GPA · grades
Spring 2023–Spring 2025 · limited sampleASTRON 735
Observational Cosmology
3 creditsObservational 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 recorded · Spring 2027 · Sources
historical GPA · grades
Spring 2023–Spring 2025 · limited sampleASTRON 990
Research and Thesis
1–12 creditsAdvanced level mentored reading and research for graduate students in the Astronomy PhD program, focused on thesis work.
Offering recorded · Spring 2027 · Sources
No recorded grade history
Examines the origin and evolution of life using astronomy, biology, and geology, covering the search for extraterrestrial life and life's history in the solar system.
Offering recorded · Spring 2027 · Sources
Past student reviews · Eric Roden
The course was described as having too much material for a 2-credit load, requiring students to memorize lecture slides for exams. One student noted the workload felt more appropriate for a 3-credit class.
historical GPA · grades
Spring 2023–Spring 2026ASTRON/PHYSICS 910
Seminar in Astrophysics
0–1 creditsSeminar in astrophysics covering current topics in the field.
Offering recorded · Spring 2027 · Sources
historical GPA · grades
Fall 2022–Spring 2026