Major, Minor
Degree: Bachelor of Arts
Astronomy
Searching for extrasolar planets, observing how galaxies form and evolve, modeling nuclear reactions, contemplating the origin of the Universe — Union College astronomy is all of this and more.
There is no better place to pursue astronomy than Union College. Here, your physics and astronomy classes will be small and personal, with labs taught by full-time faculty rather than by graduate students, and instruction that is truly characterized by individual attention. The Department of Physics and Astronomy offers a bachelor of science degree in physics and a bachelor of arts in astronomy, as well as minors in physics, astrophysics and astronomy.
Research facilities
Our state-of-the-art equipment is comparable to what might be found at larger institutions. We have a 20-inch optical telescope equipped with CCD cameras and a spectrograph and a 7.5-foot radio telescope – both used by students. Four of our faculty members pursue astrophysics research, with specialties in galaxy evolution, active galactic nuclei, star formation and stellar nucleosynthesis.
Special learning opportunities
Astronomy students enjoy the opportunity to work with professors on cutting edge research funded by Department of Energy and National Science Foundation research grants.
Some of the best education a young scientist can obtain occurs outside the classroom. The Department of Physics and Astronomy provides a variety of extracurricular opportunities with this in mind. Independent research with a faculty colleague is required for the degree in physics or astronomy, and many of our majors go well beyond the minimum requirements, spending summers at Union or at observatories or national laboratories doing research. The results of these student research projects have been presented at national and international conferences, and in student-coauthored articles for scientific journals.
Featured Courses
The Solar System (AST 050)
An introductory discussion of contents, formation and evolution of the Solar System with a special emphasis on the application of physics and the measurement of fundamental properties.
Observational Astronomy (AST 230)
The course work will involve primarily nighttime observations with a 20-inch telescope and computer analysis of the data. Techniques covered include CCD observations, sky subtraction, spectroscopy, and photometry.
Galaxies (AST 210)
A survey of the physical properties, dynamics, and distribution of galaxies. Topics include the content, formation, and evolution of the Milky Way and other galaxies.
What can a Union degree do for you?
Here is what some alumni have been up to:
- Astronomy educator, Astronomical Society of the Pacific
- Graduate student, University of Wisconsin-Madison
- Creative technologist, Primacy
- Ph.D. student in astronomy, Yale University
- Fulbright researcher, Germany
- Ph.D. student in astrobiology, Penn State
College observatory:
Located atop Olin Center, the observatory houses a 20-inch optical telescope equipped with CCD cameras and a spectrograph, as well as a 7.5-foot radio telescope. Both are used in a number of physics and astronomy courses and for research projects in observational and radio astronomy.