ASTR 312, Galactic & Extragalactic Astronomy

Spring 2016

TuTh 10:50-12:05

Room 219 JCL

Dr. Chris Fragile

Office: JCL 207

Office hours: MW 2:00-3:30

But if you see me in my office at other times, you are welcome to stop in.

Phone: 953-3181

fragilep@cofc.edu


 [ Tentative Schedule ] [ General Info ] [ Goals and Objectives ] [ Grading Scheme ]


Tentative Schedule (Subject to change as we go.)

DATE

COURSE MATERIAL

ASSIGNMENTS/NOTES
7 Jan 24.1 Counting the Stars HW 1, Solutions
12 Jan 24.2 The Morphology of the Galaxy  
14 Jan 24.3 Kinematics of the Milky Way Project 1
19 Jan 24.4 The Galactic Center HW 2, Solutions
21 Jan 25.1 The Hubble Sequence  
26 Jan 25.2 Spiral & Irregular Galaxies HW 3, Solutions
28 Jan 25.3 Spiral Structure  
2 Feb 25.4 Elliptical Galaxies  
4 Feb 26.1 Interactions of Galaxies HW 4, Solutions
9 Feb 26.2 The Formation of Galaxies Project 2
16 Feb 28.1 Observations of Active Galaxies HW 5, Solutions
18 Feb 28.2 A Unified Model of Active Galactic Nuclei  
23 Feb 28.3 Radio Lobes and Jets  
25 Feb 28.4 Using Quasars to Probe the Universe HW 6, Solutions
3 Mar Test 1 Solutions
7-11 Mar Spring Break!  
15 Mar 27.1 The Extragalactic Distance Scale Project 3
17 Mar 27.2 The Expansion of the Universe HW 7, Solutions
22 Mar 27.3 Clusters of Galaxies  
24 Mar 29.1 Newtonian Cosmology HW 8, Solutions
31 Mar 29.2 Cosmic Microwave Background  
5 Apr 29.3 Relativistic Cosmology HW 9, Solutions
7 Apr 29.4 Observational Cosmology  
12 Apr 30.1 The Very Early Universe & Inflation  
14 Apr 30.2 The Origin of Structure  
19 Apr Test 2 Solutions
28 Apr Final Exam, 8-11 am, JCL 219  

 


Syllabus Fine Print

Prerequisites:MATH 221 and ASTR 231

Required text: An Introduction to Modern Astrophysics, B. W. Carroll & D. A. Ostlie (2nd Ed.)

Attendance: Attendance is the responsibility of the student. Assignments are expected to be turned in when they are due. Late submissions will be penalized, if they are accepted at all.


Official Course Description:

Structure, kinematics, and dynamics of galaxies including the Milky Way. Galactic evolution, active galaxies and quasars, accretion disks, and cosmology.

Learning Outcomes:

  1. Deepen students’ understanding of basic astrophysical principles.
  2. Broaden students’ training in astrophysical sciences.
  3. Develop in the students a working knowledge of galactic and extragalactic astronomy.

Grades:

Your grade will be assessed based upon two midterm exams, approximately weekly homework assignments, a final exam, and a course project. Each assignment category will be given equal weight. The formal grading scale might change depending on how the class performs, but the final scale will be no more stringent than the one below.

Homework 20%
Exam #1 20%
Exam #2 20%
Project 20%
Final exam 20%
A >90%
A- 87-90%
B+ 84-87%
B 80-84%
B- 77-80%
C+ 74-77%
C 70-74%
C- 67-70%
D+ 64-67%
D 60-64%
D- 57-60%
F <57%