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AY 620 Section 001: Extragalactic Astronomy

Fall 2012

3 Credit Hours
Primary Instructor: Dr. William Keel
Syllabus subject to change.
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Prerequisites

From the Student Records System

No prerequisites found.

Course Description

 Topics covered include galaxy structure, contents, evolution, cosmology, and active galactic nuclei. There is no textbook as such; extensive supporting material is found at http://astronomy.ua.edu/keel/galaxies .

Student Learning Outcomes

The primary goal is for graduate students to be prepared to enter the research literature in topics of extragalactic astronomy and cosmology, with the bckground to be able to follow the material and build on it in areas of their own research.

Outline of Topics

Nominal list of lecture topics
23 Aug Introduction - the Universe of galaxies
28 Aug History - the discovery of galaxies
30 Aug No class
4 Sept Catalogues and data sources
6 Sept Galaxy classification, visual and quantitative
11 Sept Global properties and systematics - biases, scaling laws, luminosity functions
13 Sept Interstellar matter in in galaxies
18 Sept Stellar content
20 Sept Star formation, starburst galaxies
25 Sept Environmental effects on galaxies
27 Sept Dynamics of galaxies
2 Oct Dynamics of ellipticals, central masses
9 Oct Dark matter
11 Oct The Hubble constant and distance scale
16 Oct Galaxy groups
18 Oct Clusters of galaxies
23 Oct Large-scale structure; biasing, clues to formation
25 Oct Galaxy interactions and mergers
30 Oct Intergalactic matter - diffuse, QSO absorption-line systems
1 Nov Active nuclei: introduction, radio sources
6 Nov AGN taxonomy - radio galaxies, Seyfert nuclei, QSOs, BL Lac objects
8 Nov Emission-line spectra and their interpretation
13 Nov Inflow and outflow: accretion disks, winds, jets
15 Nov Host galaxies of AGN and their environments
20 Nov Evolution of QSOs
27 Nov Evolution of galaxies
29 Nov Observational cosmology, the Friedman model
4 Dec Cosmic microwave background radiation
6 Dec Galaxy formation, the pregalactic Universe, nucleosynthesis

Exams and Assignments

The grade will be based on homework sets and a final exam, part of which is in take-home form involving writing a mock observing proposal on a topic relevant to the course.

Required Texts

UA Supply Store Textbook Information

Textbook data from the Supply Store not found for this course.

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The Academic Misconduct Disciplinary Policy will be followed in the event of academic misconduct.

Disability Statement

If you are registered with the Office of Disability Services, please make an appointment with me as soon as possible to discuss any course accommodations that may be necessary. If you have a disability, but have not contacted the Office of Disability Services, please call 348-4285 or visit 133-B Martha Parham Hall East to register for services. Students who may need course adaptations because of a disability are welcome to make an appointment to see me during office hours. Students with disabilities must be registered with the Office of Disability Services, 133-B Martha Parham Hall East, before receiving academic adjustments.

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