Stars and Galaxies
Spring 2005
Aims
This second year course aims to give students a basic understanding of
the observed properties of stars and galaxies, covering astrophysical
environments on a range of scales from individual stars through
stellar clusters, galaxies and clusters of galaxies, and to allow them
to relate these properties to underlying physical phenomena.
Objectives
Students should be familiar with the principal observational
properties of stars and galaxies. They should appreciate how these
observations inform our physical understanding of these systems. They
should be able to apply physical laws to make simple calculations to
understand the observed properties. They should have an elementary
understanding of the formation processes of stars and galaxies.
Syllabus
- Stars
- Observational properties - luminosity, colour spectrum,
spectral lines. Stellar structure and star formation.
- Stellar systems
- HR diagrams, star clusters. Variable stars and endpoints of
stellar evolution.
- Galaxies
- Observational properties - Hubble sequence, colours, spectra.
Galactic dynamics and structure. Distance indicators. Active
galaxies and quasars. Galaxy luminosity and mass functions. Galaxy
clusters.
Prerequisites
I assume that you are familiar with the contents of the first year course
Introduction to Astrophysics.
Lecture notes for this course are available
from
http://astronomy.sussex.ac.uk/~andrewl/intast.html.
Teaching and Learning Methods
Two lectures and one workshop each week.
All classes are held in PEV1-2A1 on Mondays at 10.00, Tuesdays at 11.00 and
Thursdays at 11.00.
The Thursday classes (weeks 2-10) will take the form of workshops,
when students will either be able to get help with formally assessed
problem sheets, or will mark each other's non-assessed problem sheets.
An attendance register will be taken at every class.
Assessment
70% of the marks for this course come from a written, closed-book
examination in the Summer.
Students have to answer two questions out of three on a paper lasting 1.5 hours.
Past examination papers (Astrophysics 2A) can be found via
the web at
http://www.sussex.ac.uk/USIS/pastexams/.
The remaining 30% of the course marks come from continuous assessment,
which will take the form of problem sheets handed out at weekly intervals.
Only the even-numbered problem sheets will be formally assessed,
solutions to which should be submitted by 5pm Thursday in weeks 3, 5, 7 and 9.
You are strongly encouraged to tackle all of the problem sheets,
so that you get practice in problem-solving on all topics in the syllabus.
Reading List
The best book for this course is also recommended
for the third year course Galactic Structure:
- L.S. Sparke & J.S. Gallagher, Galaxies in the Universe
(QB857 Spa)
Most of the course is covered in the following general astronomy textbooks:
- F.H. Shu, The Physical Universe (QB43.2 Shu)
- W.J. Kaufmann, Universe (QB43.2 Kau)
- H. Karttunen et al., Fundamental astronomy (QB43.2 Fun)
More detailed reading on the stars and galaxies parts of the course may be
found in the following two books:
- R.J. Tayler, The stars: their structure and evolution (QB801 Tay)
- R.J. Tayler, Galaxies: structure and evolution (QB857 Tay)
The library has several copies of all of the above books in the short loan
department.
Name and location of course lecturer
Dr Jon Loveday, Arundel 209, Tel 7719,
J.Loveday@sussex.ac.uk
Office hour: Tuesdays 16:00 - 17:00.
Course website:
http://astronomy.susx.ac.uk/~loveday/starGal