Faculty List

• P. Artymowicz, M.Sc. (Warsaw University), Ph.D. (N. Copernicus Astron. Center, Polish Academy of Sciences), Professor
• J. Bayer Carpintero, B.Sc. (Los Andes, Bogota), M.Sc., Ph.D. (Toronto), Associate Professor, Teaching Stream
• C.C. Dyer, B.Sc. (Bishop's), M.Sc., Ph.D. (Toronto), Professor Emeritus
• J.P. Lowman, B.Sc. (Toronto), M.Sc., Ph.D. (York, Canada), Professor
• K. Menou, B.Sc. (Angers), M.Sc. (Toulouse), Ph.D. (Paris XI)  Associate Professor
• H. Rein, M.A.St. (Cambridge), Ph.D. (Cambridge), Associate Professor
• D. Valencia, B.Sc., M.Sc. (Toronto), Ph.D. (Harvard), Associate Professor
• D. Weaver, B.Sc., M.Sc., Ph.D. (Toronto), Assistant Professor, Teaching Stream

For an updated list of Program Supervisors, please visit the Physics and Astrophysics website.
For more information, visit the Department of Physical and Environmental Sciences website.

Astronomy is one of the oldest and at the same time also one of the most dynamic areas of science. It is the attempt to understand everything beyond the Earth’s atmosphere, from the solar system in which we find our direct and recent origins, to the largest distance scales in the universe typified by galaxies, cosmic voids, and the big bang. The past decades have seen startling discoveries, such as thousands of extrasolar planets, black holes, and gravitational waves. Those discoveries have given us both new understanding of the universe and made us more aware of the problems still facing us in attaining a deeper understanding. As more planets are discovered, there promises to be an even stronger collaborative effort with disciplines such as chemistry and biology to discover the possible origins of life. Astronomy is often a collaborative effort with disciplines such as high energy physics, chemistry, and biology. With new telescopes collecting more data than ever, computer science and data analysis are now important parts of almost every major astronomical discovery. 

The introductory courses ASTA01H3 and ASTA02H3 are at a level suitable for students without a mathematical background. In addition, the course ASTB03H3 is intended for students who have taken no previous astronomy, and covers the history of modern astronomy. It is intended to provide a historical perspective on modern astronomy, and by example, an introduction to the evolution of a number of modern scientific areas. For students wishing to further their study in astronomy, there are a number of higher-level courses, which are integral components of Major and Specialist programs in Physics and Astrophysics, and related areas. Refer to the Physics and Astrophysics section of the Calendar for details of these courses and programs.

Program Combination Restrictions

Programs in Astronomy, Physical Sciences, and Physics and Astrophysics cannot be combined.

Experiential Learning and Outreach

For a community-based experiential learning opportunity in your academic field of interest, consider the course CTLB03H3, which can be found in the Teaching and Learning section of the Calendar.