Galactic Astronomy
Volledige vakbeschrijving
This course begins with an exploration of our Milky Way Galaxy, identifying its overall structure and our Sun’s place within which. Continuing outward, we study properties of other galaxies, highlighting properties of varying types, how they form and change with time. Finishing up with how large scale observations lead us to the initial conditions of our universe and the Big Bang theory itself.Doelstellingen van dit vak
• Illustrate the size/structure of our Milky Way Galaxy, how we are able to measure motions of stars/gas clouds, map its overall structure and determine our place within which. • Compare/contrast the shapes, sizes & compositions of: spiral, elliptical, peculiar & irregular galaxies; being able to classify to which type they belong based upon imagery, orbital motions of bodies within which and/or physical content descriptions. • Evaluate observational evidence to differentiate between the top- down and bottom-up models describing galactic formation. • Discuss competing models explaining the presence of galactic spiral arms. • Breakdown the historical classifications of active galaxies into the subcategories of: radio galaxies, Seyfert galaxies, quasars & blazars; understanding their impact on galactic evolution. • Explain the methods of determining distances to galaxies within the cosmological distance ladder, applying them to various galactic structures. • Describe the various pieces of evidence for dark matter within most galaxies and clusters of galaxies. • Relate how observations of distant supernovae led to the discovery that our universe is accelerating in its expansion rate. • Identify the key observations supporting the Big Bang as well as how problems with this model led to the inflationary hypothesis & the problems it solves. • Summarize the eras of our universe after the Big Bang, identifying various processes that occurred within each and/or differentiated them from each other.Voorwaarden
PHY2009Aanbevolen literatuur
• Carroll, B. & Ostlie, D. (2017). An Introduction to Modern Astrophysics (2nd ed.). Cambridge. • Selected articles and materials will be referenced/provided to the studentsPHY2010
Periode 2
28 okt 2024
20 dec 2024
Studiepunten:
5.0Taal van de opleiding:
EngelsCoördinator:
Onderwijsmethode:
PBL, ResearchEvaluatiemethoden:
Assignment, Attendance, Participation, Written exam