Astronomy 358
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G A L A X I E S

Fall 1998 - *updated 15 September 1998*

Meetings: Tuesdays and Thursdays, 11:00 AM-12:15 PM
RLM 15.216B, the Astronomy department classroom

Instructor: Dr. Harriet L. Dinerstein, RLM 16.324

Office Phone: 471-3449

E-mail: harriet@astro.as.utexas.edu

Office Hrs.: W 3:00 - 4:00 p.m., TH 2:00 - 3:00 p.m.

T.A.: Zhaohui Shang, RLM 16.220

Office Phone: 471-3447

E-mail: shang@astro.as.utexas.edu

Office Hrs.: T 1:00 - 2:00 p.m., F 1:30 - 2:30 p.m.

Prerequisites, Subject Matter, and Goals: Astronomy 358 is an upper-division elective for astronomy majors and others with appropriate background. The prerequisites are two semesters of lower-division college physics and the associated math (simple calculus); it is helpful, although not required, to have taken at least one college course on astronomy at the level of AST 307 or above. AST 358 was created in order to make a place in our curriculum for such topics as the structure of the Milky Way Galaxy, interstellar matter, properties of normal and active galaxies, and the large-scale structure and history of the Universe. The level is similar to that of AST 352K, General Stellar Astronomy. A cautionary note: it is a very ambitious undertaking to cover all of Galactic and extragalactic astronomy in one semester. However, we hope to provide a broad and interesting introduction to many of the major frontiers in astronomical research today.

Textbook: The main written source for course content will be the Instructor's Notes, hard copies of which will be on reserve on the PMA Library on the ground floor of RLM Hall. As a secondary text, we will also use a new book by Debra Meloy Elmegreen (an authority on the structure of galaxies), "Galaxies and Galactic Structure" (publication date 1998). Other useful books and materials will be kept on reserve in the PMA library.

Course Requirements and Grading Breakdown:
  • Homeworks: 25% : the HW with the lowest score (only one) will be dropped.
  • Term paper: 15%: length < 8 double-spaced pages, due around Nov. 19.
  • Exams: Two hour exams, 25% each. Tentative dates: Oct. 13, Dec. 3.
  • Class Participation: 10 %.
    • Term Paper: Part of the purpose of the term paper is to enable each student to look more deeply into a topic of interest, that may or may not be covered in detail in class. It will also serve as an introduction to using the astronomical literature. A list of suggested topics will be provided, but you will be able to select alternate topics as long as they are relevant to the course subject matter. At least two of your sources for the term paper must be papers in professional journals. There will be a presentation on electronic and library resources during one of our class sessions early in the semester.

    Homework Policies: You may discuss the background and general approach to the homework problems with your classmates if you wish, but the paper that you finally turn in must represent your own work and understanding of the problem. We encourage you to seek help from the instructor or TA if you have trouble getting started. Methods for getting help include attending regularly scheduled office hours, setting up an appointment with the instructor or TA, and asking questions by e-mail. Homeworks will be assigned roughly every 1-2 weeks depending on the pace of the lectures. It is expected that homeworks will be turned in on time. Late homeworks that are received within 24 hours after the deadline will be graded but be given substantially diminished credit. After 24 hours, they will not be graded or given credit. You will be allowed to drop one (and only one) homework grade, to cover emergencies and provide flexibility.

    Exam Format and Policies: The exams will be closed-book, closed-notes, and in class. You will be expected to bring calculators, since some of the exam problems may involve simple calculations. You will be given a set of relevant equations and values of constants at each exam. This eliminates the need for you to memorize, so that you may concentrate on understanding the material and how to apply the equations. In addition, you will usually have some choice of questions to answer, on various topics.

    Major Topics:

    I. The Milky Way as a Galaxy: stellar populations and structural components, interstellar matter, motions of the stars and gas, theories of formation, satellite galaxies

    II. Galaxies: properties and types of normal galaxies, star formation patterns, "activity" (both starbursts and active nuclei), galaxy-galaxy interactions and consequences

    III. Cosmology: galaxy clustering, Hubble expansion, the extragalactic distance scale, galaxy evolution, large-scale structure and flows