Iowa Physics Competition The Physics Competition is a series of 5 competitive events for high school (Grades 9-12) students. The 2017 State Physics Competition will be held on with registration beginning at 8:30 am, events starting at 9:30 am, and the competition ending about noon. The bullets below will be links to the information provided when they become available. The events for the 2016 competition include the following: Catapult, Mouse trap car, Bridge building, Soda straw arm, and Challenge problem Students will use a variety of everyday, inexpensive materials such as mousetraps, compact discs, rubber bands, toothpicks, straws, etc. to build their devices to accomplish specific tasks (catapult, mouse trap car, toothpick bridge, and soda straw arm); and use existing physics laboratory equipment to determine the mass and uncertainty of an unknown object (challenge problem). The bridge tester is the testing device that will be used for the toothpick bridge at the state competition. Click on link for a photograph of the device. The state competition is hosted by the UNI Physics Department and coordinated by Dr. Larry Escalada (Lawrence.Escalada@uni.edu). Please feel free to contact Larry if you have any questions about the competition. Schools must qualify in their AEA regional competition in order to compete in the State Physics Competition. See the State Competition section of the Rules for details on the school team and event team regional winners who are eligible to compete in the State Competition. If there is no regional competition in your AEA, contact your AEA science consultant to let him/her know that you are interested in participating in the State Competition. You may also want to contact a neighboring AEA to determine if it is possible to compete in their regional competition. Coordinators for regional competitions must provide a list of their teams that qualify for the State Competition no later than Friday, April 7th, 2017 to Larry Escalada. AEA science consultants who do not have regional competitions in their AEA should also provide a list of teams who may participate in the State Competition. All teams that compete in the State Competition must complete and submit the above registration form to Larry Escalada by April 7th. Check payments and cash will be accepted on the day of the competition. See Registration form for details. The 2017 UNI/AEA 267 Regional Physics competition is scheduled to take place on with registration beginning at 8:00 am, events starting at 9:00 am, and the competition ending at about noon. The bullets below will be links to the information provided when they become available. All teams that compete in the UNI / AEA 267 Regional Competition must complete and submit the above registration form by Friday, March 24, 2017. Check payments and cash will be accepted on the day of the competition. See registration forms for details.

Astronomy is really titillating and physics very fascinating subject and they counted as one of the most intriguing and adorable subjects to study. Now this disciplines very important in developing new modern technologies. Many universities develop their own way of teaching them to give high quality of knowledge. Here is a slight overview about the top universities in different regions, countries of the world. Top Universities for studying Astronomy and Physics disciplines The greater amount are in United States of America: • University of Princeton • California University • Institute of Technology of California • Stanford • Harvard • Institute of Technology of Massachusetts There are also in UK: • Oxford • Cambridge In Switzerland: • ETH Zurich In Japan: • Tokyo University Canada and USA universities to study astronomy and physics A lot of pleasant universities you may look for in Canada. Their level of education considered to be the highest and there valuable reasons for that because it provides great technical side in education and assignments. In USA most of scientific and astronomic Universities are in the top 20 from all over the world and the best of them are: Yale, California University, University of Chicago and University of Columbia. Middle East and African universities to study astronomy and physics Amazing country Israel have something to offer for everyone who likes studying. University that in the top universities over the world. Technion – Israel Institute of Technology. Turkey also possess universities with high quality classes and professors. Among African countries only South Africa has two universities with high quality of studying. New Zealand and Australian universities to study astronomy and physics New Zealand can offer you 3 best astronomy and physic universities that has unrepeatable education system that will be interesting for you. In general eleven Universities in Australia take the leading places and they differs from another by theirs special and interesting courses. Latin America universities to study astronomy and physics In this region of the world Brazil at the top position and has nine universities that have qualities to be considered as the best universities. There also four another countries that take high place in the ranking. They are: Argentina, Chile, Colombia and Mexico. Asian universities to study astronomy and physics In genera there are seven major countries in this area that may offer you the highest level of education in studying these subjects. Let’s start from Singapore. It has two wonderful universities that are in top 50 in which you spend few years in amazing atmosphere of real science. In nowadays China possess the lion’s share of all top universities. Every year a lot of universities develop themselves to improve and become better. They are using new methods in teaching and education. Fifteen more universities in the top the best are in South Korea. They provides also a practical assignment to improve your knowledge. Another powerful in education country is Japan with fifteen best places to study these disciplines. This y is one of the leaders in introducing new technologies in studying in this sphere of education. Greater part of these universities you may find in the top 200. Eight universities are the best in scientific sphere and you may find Taiwan. Their level of teaching as good as in United Kingdom and they need such wonderful students as you. European universities to study astronomy and physics In this part of our planet collected the best universities to provide you the highest level of knowledge and education. The highest rate in astronomy and physics universities is Germany with thirty-five universities that allows you have different variants to choose. The next also with one of the highest and best education system is UK. There are 32 of them. For a long period of time they are the best. Also warm Spain possess warm educational process and provides good technical base for studying. France and Italy possess universities that for year are in the top and well organized in teaching according to high standards of teaching. Finally, it is necessary to mention Hungary, Portugal, Chez Republic, Russia and Norway that may provide you at least two university in each country that ware worth your attention and yours studying. All mentioned above it is just a brief review of short information to represent the best universities to study such wonderful and amazing disciplines like astronomy and physics in the world. Everyone has its own peculiarities that may be suitable for you. You have just a huge list of variants and I hope we’ve done enough to help you make a right choice with our unique website.

There's something amazing about outer space. As an astrophysics major, you'll study the stars, galaxies, planets, and the dust in the sky - one of the most mysterious and alluring scientific fields. Majoring in astrophysics is challenging and you'll need a strong foundation in physics and math, but once you get started the excitement will never end. High school students can prepare for a major in astrophysics by taking all the math, physics, and sciences classes available to them in high school. This will make your freshman year of college easier and prepare you for your undergraduate degree. But it's not all calculations - as research is a part of this major, astrophysics majors should also have a background in writing to ensure their reports are well written. Your college studies will be divided into three areas: classroom lecture, field work, and lab work. Many of the topics you will encounter at the beginning will be familiar to you because you studied them in high school. As you progress, you'll tackle more advanced topics such as quantum mechanics, thermodynamics, and the interstellar medium. You will also spend time in the lab doing experiments and computational work. Many students say their favorite part of their degree is the research opportunities that allow them to study the origin of a star or the universe. Many schools offer research programs to give students as opportunity to perform research before graduation. Students who pursue a master's or doctorate degree will have the opportunity to specialize in area of specific interest to them. With a bachelor's or master's degree, you could find work in the private sector, government, or for a laboratory, but if you wish to teach, you'll most likely need to pursue a doctorate degree.

Matters of the heart can be puzzling and mysterious - so too with unusual astronomical objects called heartbeat stars. Heartbeat stars, discovered in large numbers by NASA's Kepler space telescope, are binary stars (systems of two stars orbiting each other) that got their name because if you were to map out their brightness over time, the result would look like an electrocardiogram, a graph of the electrical activity of the heart. Scientists are interested in them because they are binary systems in elongated elliptical orbits. This makes them natural laboratories for studying the gravitational effects of stars on each other. In a heartbeat star system, the distance between the two stars varies drastically as they orbit each other. Heartbeat stars can get as close as a few stellar radii to each other, and as far as 10 times that distance during the course of one orbit. At the point of their closest encounter, the stars' mutual gravitational pull causes them to become slightly ellipsoidal in shape, which is one of the reasons their light is so variable. This is the same type of "tidal force" that causes ocean tides on Earth. By studying heartbeat stars, astronomers can gain a better understanding of how this phenomenon works for different kinds of stars. Tidal forces also cause heartbeat stars to vibrate or "ring" - in other words, the diameters of the stars rapidly fluctuate as they orbit each other. This effect is most noticeable at the point of closest approach. "You can think about the stars as bells, and once every orbital revolution, when the stars reach their closest approach, it's as if they hit each other with a hammer, " said Avi Shporer, NASA Sagan postdoctoral fellow at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Pasadena, California, and lead author of a recent study on heartbeat stars. "One or both stars vibrate throughout their orbits, and when they get nearer to each other, it's as though they are ringing very loudly." Kepler, now in its K2 Mission, discovered large numbers of heartbeat stars just in the last several years. A 2011 study discussed a star called KOI-54 that shows an increase in brightness every 41.8 days. In 2012, a subsequent study characterized 17 additional objects in the Kepler data and dubbed them "heartbeat stars." To characterize these unique systems, further data and research were required. News Media Contact Elizabeth Landau Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Pasadena, Calif. 818-354-6425

I would not recommend Cosmos-Carl Sagan if u want to read some details of the universe in the modern viewpoint and wish to know the surprising and startling facts that the general people are not acquainted to (Haven’t the slightest idea, why people are not told these things, probably government conspiracy). Start with Stephen Hawking-The Universe in a Nutshell. And, there will be no need to read the other books of Stephen Hawking (if you are not a millionaire) Carl Sagan is more inclined with history and the absolutely pitiable status of astrophysics in our community. Although it give’s some beautiful description of evolution and the solar system. And, then Brian Greene, The Elegant Universe and/or The fabrics of the cosmos. (Hoping you will get the interest of String theory right from the beginning). But, you must get some thorough reading of Special Relativity. And don’t be confused with dimensions (because everyone is).

In 1985, The University of Arizona established an interdisciplinary Theoretical Astrophysics Program to foster scientific and academic links amongst the Physics, Astronomy, and Planetary Sciences departments, as well as the Applied Mathematics program and the NOAO. This program administers a colloquium series, a matching grants program, and prizes for student research. Theoretical Astrophysics Program Membership The Program is always pleased to recruit new members who would participate in Program activities. The University of Arizona's faculty, researchers and students interested in joining the Program are invited to submit an application directly to any member of the TAP Steering Committee. The application should consist of a CV and a cover letter explaining how their research and training relate to the Theoretical Astrophysics Program. Involvement in Program activities prior to a formal application for membership is not required, but is strongly encouraged. Potential applicants are also encouraged to discuss their application with Steering Committee members. Applicants can join the Program as "Faculty Affiliate Members", "Research Associate Members" or "Graduate Student Members", as appropriate. Small Matching Grants Program The Theoretical Astrophysics Program invites one-page proposals for small matching grants in support of theoretical astrophysics research at The University of Arizona. TAP Graduate Student Research Prize For more info regarding this award and how to apply, click link below: 2015 Winner: Youngmin JeongAhn TAP Steering Committee (2016 - 2017): Dimitrios Psaltis, Chair Gurtina Besla Andrew Youdin William Hubbard Isamu Matsuyama Ina Sarcevic Shufang Su TAP Colloquium Organizing Committee (2016 - 2017):

CAVES: exploring inner space for outer space Today, an international team of six astronauts from China, Japan, USA, Spain and Russia will descend into the caves of Sardinia, Italy, to explore the depths and train for life in outer space. One of the last unexplored environments on our planet, caves offer parallels to exploring space. ESA’s underground training course “Cooperative Adventure for Valuing and Exercising human behaviour and performance Skills” – CAVES – prepares astronauts over two weeks to work safely and effectively in multicultural teams. After a week of training, the astronauts are now descending into the caves to set up basecamp 800 m underground. The similarities between caving and spaceflight are highlighted throughout the course. Speleologists and astronauts adopt the ‘buddy system’, and both astronaut trainers and CAVES instructors repeat the same mantras of “slow is fast, ” “check your gear, and then trust it, ” and “always be aware of where you are and where your buddy is.” In every expedition, the astronauts work with seasoned instructors and explorers. “A mutual trust builds as stories and anecdotes are shared, ” says mission director Loredana Bessone. “The atmosphere is always one of respect.” CAVES focuses on multicultural approaches to leadership, following orders, teamwork and decision-making. At the end of the course the astronauts will have a better understanding of how they function in a multicultural team and what they are skilled at, as well as areas for self-improvement. Safety training Behavioural activities are woven into the course to foster effective communication, decision-making, problem-solving, leadership and team dynamics. “From the first activity together, the support team saw that this year’s ‘cavenauts’ would be a really tight crew, ” says Loredana. “Their teamwork is an example of what an expedition in an isolated, risky and alien environment should be.” Cavenauts This year’s participants are an even more international team than ever, including ESA’s Pedro Duque, NASA’s Jessica Meir and Richard Arnold, Japan’s astronaut Aki Hoshide, China’s Ye Guangfu and Russia’s Sergei Korsakov. The cavenauts bring a broad mix of skills with their backgrounds in science, engineering, flying, military and education as well as experience and culture. Pedro Duque comments, “It is a great privilege to take part in one of the last exploration activities remaining on Earth and to enter the underworld supervised by world-class experts. Pedro Duque “We will use the knowledge we gain about ourselves and the group in our next space endeavours.” Follow the underground adventure on Twitter with via @ESA_CAVES, and on the CAVES blog where the crew have provided impressions of their first week of training. Loredana concludes: “ESA’s CAVES course brings together spacefarers from all over the world to create the best crew. We hope to see them one day exploring other worlds with the same awe and respect we have for caves.”

Units: 3 Advisory: Completion of ENGL 50 Hours: 54 lecture General principles and fundamental facts of astronomy associated with planetary systems. Includes historical developments of planetary astronomy, basic principles of planetary system observations and analysis, and general concepts for interpreting the night sky with charts and almanacs. Particular detail given to the formation, evolution, and current condition of the Sun and Solar System, as well as current knowledge of other planetary systems. (CSU, UC) ASTR 0005. Introduction to Stars, Galaxies, and the Universe Units: 3 Advisory: Completion of ENGL 50 Hours: 54 lecture General principles and fundamental facts of astronomy emphasizing stars, galaxies, and the universe. Includes historical developments of astronomy, basic principles of astronomical observations and analysis, and general concepts for interpreting the night sky with charts and almanacs. Particular detail given to structure and evolution of stars, general characteristics of deep sky objects (star clusters, nebulae, and galaxies), large-scale structure of the Universe, and cosmology. (CSU, UC) ASTR 0007. Life in the Universe Units: 3 Formerly known as INT 11 Hours: 54 lecture Study of the emerging discipline of astrobiology. Designed for science and non-science majors. Relevant principles of biology, astronomy, and earth science used in searching for life in the universe. Includes cultural and philosophical implications of life existing elsewhere in the universe. (CSU, UC) ASTR 0010. Elementary Astronomy Units: 3 Advisory: Completion of ENGL 50 Hours: 54 lecture General principles and the fundamental facts of astronomy. Includes historical developments of astronomy, the formation, evolution and current condition of sun and solar system, stellar structure and evolution, deep sky objects (star clusters, nebulae, galaxies), structure of universe, and cosmology. Not open to students who have successfully completed both ASTR 2 and ASTR 5. (CSU, UC) ASTR 0011. Observational Astronomy Unit: 1 Prerequisite: Completion with grade of "C" or better, or concurrent enrollment in, ASTR 2, 5, or 10 Advisory: Completion of ENGL 50 Hours: 54 laboratory Basic interpretation of astronomical observations through telescopes, binoculars, computers, cameras, and other simple measuring equipment. Use of planetarium to facilitate recognition of constellations, stars, planetary motions, and study coordinate systems and celestial motions. Development of observational skills to study outdoor sky and outcomes of indoor laboratory experiments. Emphasis on quantitative and qualitative analysis of variety of astronomical data. (CSU, UC) ASTR 0014. Astrophotography and Imaging Unit: 1 Prerequisite: Completion with grade of "C" or better, or concurrent enrollment in, ASTR 2, 5, or 10 Advisory: Completion of ENGL 50 Hours: 54 laboratory Basic principles and practices of astrophotography and image processing. Astronomical observations and data collection associated with the use of telescopes, binoculars, computers, cameras, and other related equipment. Development of observational techniques and data analysis procedures for the study of the outdoor sky with related indoor experiments and studies. Particular emphasis placed on quantitative and qualitative analysis of a variety of astronomical data collected with cameras. NOTE: About 5 nights of activities will be required. (CSU, UC) ASTR 0025. Frontiers in Astronomy Units: 3 Prerequisite: Completion of ASTR 5 or 10 with grade of "C" or better Hours: 54 lecture Topics at the forefront of astronomical research including an in-depth look beyond introductory astronomy. Emphasis on theoretical principles and supporting observational data. Includes relativity and warped spacetime, black holes, dark matter, quasars, gravitational waves, grand unified and super symmetry theories, and other recent developments in cosmology. (CSU, UC) ASTR 0028. Independent Study Units: 1-3 Designed for students interested in furthering their knowledge at an independent study level in an area where no specific curriculum offering is currently available. Independent study might include, but is not limited to, research papers, special subject area projects, and research projects. See Independent Study page in catalog. (CSU, UC-with unit limitation)

The Departments of Physics and Astronomy offer an interdepartmental major in Astrophysics which combines the Physics major with a foundation of course work in Astronomy. The goal of the major is to provide a rigorous and organized program of study for students wishing to pursue graduate study in astronomy or astrophysics and for those who would like a coordinated astronomy extension to the physics major. Modern astrophysics is the application of physics and mathematics to the study of the universe, and hence there is necessarily a very close connection between physics and astronomy. For students interested in attending graduate school in astronomy, a thorough grounding in mathematics and physics is absolutely essential. The interdisciplinary nature of astrophysics makes it appropriate that this major does not reside in just one department. Although thorough preparation in physics is at the core of an astrophysicist's training, a strong astronomical background is fundamental as well. Our students who have done well in astronomy graduate school report that a solid basis in astronomy has been crucial preparation for their teaching responsibilities as graduate students. It also provides them with a broader overview of the discipline than they would have if they had studied only physics before attending graduate school. In addition to the nine courses required for the Physics major, an Astrophysics major takes four courses in the Astronomy Department: an introductory-level course to provide a broad background (Astronomy 101), a 200-level observing techniques course to introduce modern observational techniques (Astronomy 206, Basic Astronomical Techniques with Lab), as well as any two 300-level courses in Astronomy: e.g., Astronomy 301 (Advanced topics in Astronomy and Astrophysics), Astronomy 303 (Advanced Planetary Geology), Astronomy 311 (Advanced Astrophysics), Astronomy 323 (Advanced Planetary Atmospheres and Climates), or 350/360/370 (Individual Study/Senior Thesis). The total course load is no larger than for several other interdepartmental majors and it provides more focused preparation for graduate school, and fewer course requirements, than a double major in physics and astronomy. The Director of the Astrophysics program is the Chair of the Department of Astronomy. Professor Glenn Stark is currently the Physics Department's liaison to the program. All students electing to major in Astrophysics have two faculty advisors - one each from the Physics and Astronomy Departments.

Because most jobs are in basic research and development, a doctoral degree is the usual educational requirement for astronomers. Master's degree holders qualify for some jobs in applied research and development, whereas bachelor's degree holders often qualify as research assistants or for other occupations related to astronomers. Education and Training A PhD degree in physics or closely related fields is typically required for basic research positions, independent research in industry, faculty positions, and advancement to managerial positions. This prepares students for a career in research through rigorous training in theory, methodology, and mathematics. Additional experience and training in a postdoctoral research appointment, although not required, is important for astronomers aspiring to permanent positions in basic research in universities and government laboratories. Many astronomy PhD holders ultimately teach at the college or university level. Holders of a bachelor's or a master's degree in astronomy often enter an unrelated field. However, they are also qualified to work in planetariums running science shows, to assist astronomers doing research, and to operate space-based and ground-based telescopes and other astronomical instrumentation. Other Qualifications Mathematical ability, problem-solving and analytical skills, an inquisitive mind, imagination, and initiative are important traits for anyone planning a career in astronomy. Work Environment Most astronomers do not encounter unusual hazards in their work. Astronomers who make observations with ground-based telescopes may spend many hours working in observatories; this work usually involves travel to remote locations and may require working at night. Astronomers whose work depends on grant money often are under pressure to write grant proposals to keep their work funded. Astronomers may need to work at odd hours to observe celestial phenomena, particularly those working with ground-based telescopes.