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