Astronomy 358
#42595

G A L A X I E S

Fall 1996

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

Instructor: Dr. Harriet L. Dinerstein, RLM 16.224
Office Phone: 471-3449
e-mail: harriet@astro.as.utexas.edu

T.A.: to be announced

Office Hrs.: Mon. 1:30-3 PM and Wed. 11 AM-noon (tentative), or by appointment

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 these areas that include some of the major frontiers in astronomical research today.

Textbook (not!): There is not, at present, any truly appropriate textbook for this course; the choices I have tried in the past have not proven to be ideal. You will have access to a set of course notes prepared by the instructor in the PMA library; these are for perusal and personal copies only (not for resale!). Several books that are useful for one or more sections of the course will be kept on overnight reserve in the PMA library. A few copies of two of these, listed below, can be purchased at the University Co-Op, where they are listed as "recommended" texts: Galaxies: Structure and Evolution, Revised edition, 1993, Tayler, R. 1993, Cambridge U. Press. New paperback, price about $25. Galactic Astronomy: Structure and Kinematics, 2nd ed., 1981, Mihalas and Binney, Freeman & Co. Out of print, but there are often used copies available (price depends on condition).

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. 21.
  • Exams: Two in-class hour exams, 15% each. Tentative dates Oct. 8, Nov. 12. Comprehensive final, 20%. Fri., Dec. 13, 9 AM-noon.
  • Participation: 10 %: includes lecture summaries, written questions submitted to the instructor, and brief paper summaries, as well as spontaneous questions.
    • Term Paper: Since we will not be able to discuss every relevant topic in enough detail to satisfy everyone, I am assigning a term paper. The term paper will enable each student to look more deeply into a topic of his or her selection (with the instructor's approval), as well as serving as an introduction to 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. (If identical solutions are presented by two students, neither student will receive credit.) We also encourage you to seek help from the instructor or TA if you have trouble with some points or are unable to get started on a problem. 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. (However, I will not promise to immediately answer questions that arrive just a few hours before the homework is due!) Homeworks will be assigned roughly every 1-2 weeks depending on the pace and content of the lectures. I also try to avoid having a homework due on the day of an exam, or on due dates for other assignments, such as term papers. Homeworks and exams will be graded and returned within 1-2 weeks. Homeworks must be handed in at the beginning of class (11:00 AM) on the due date, usually one week after distribution. We expect all homeworks to 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. This should cover emergencies, and does give you the flexibility of omitting one homework; however, it is advisable to attempt all of the homeworks if at all possible, since this will give you the best chance at a high homework score, and also serves as preparation for the exams.

    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. There is usually some choice of questions. Hour exams will cover material presented up to that point in the semester. The final exam will be given at the official time during finals week: (Friday!) Dec. 13, 9 am-noon. It will be comprehensive, but will give slightly greater emphasis to material covered during the last third of the semester.

    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