ASTR 222 — Galaxies & Cosmology
Spring 2022
Time / Place: Mondays & Wednesdays, 12:45 pm - 2:00 pm, Sears 552
Course Webpage: http://astroweb.case.edu/bjanesh/astr222/
Canvas: https://canvas.case.edu/courses/30699
Office Hours Reservations: https://fantastical.app/bjanesh/astr-222-office-hours
PDF Syllabus: Find a PDF copy here
Useful, but not required, Textbooks:
Fundamentals of Astrophysics, by Ryden and Peterson
Course Description: The Milky Way Galaxy. Structure, dynamics, and evolution of galaxies. Galaxy clusters and large scale structure of the Universe. Physical cosmology and the Big Bang. Evolution of the Universe.
Grades:
| Weights | Scale | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Homework | 50% | A | 90.0 to 100% |
| Midterm Exam | 25% | B | 80.0 to 89.9% |
| Final Exam | 25% | C | 70.0 to 79.9% |
| D | 60.0 to 69.9% | ||
| F | 0.0 to 59.9% |
Disability Accommodations: In accordance with federal law, if you have a documented disability, you may be eligible to request accommodations from Disability Resources. In order to be considered for accommodations you must first register with the Disability Resources office. Please contact their office at 216.368.5230 to register or get more information on how to begin the process. Keep in mind that accommodations are not retroactive.
Homework: There will be a total of 4 homework assignments. Collaborative discussion is permitted and encouraged, but each person must turn in their own solutions with unique writeup/analysis. Collaborative means talking with each other about approaches, techniques, etc., and not swapping final solutions to copy! Submissions will be accepted on paper or in PDF format via Canvas. Write-ups should be typed or neatly handwritten. For PDF submissions, scan your handwritten work properly (see homework tips page for suggestions) and please make an effort to merge all parts into a single file for submission. Homework will generally be due in class but see each assignment for specifics.
Exams: There will be one midterm and one final exam. You are allowed one sheet (two for the final) of letter/A4-sized paper with notes on both sides, but exam questions will ask you to synthesize information from what you know, not just work a problem or cite facts. You may not work collaboratively with your classmates, and I’ll only answer clarifying or format questions. The final exam is scheduled for 5/4 from 8–11am, please register any time conflicts with Undergraduate Studies. Academic integrity violations during an exam will result in, at minimum, the failure of the exam.
Attendance/Late Policy: Attendance: you are highly encouraged, but not required, to attend lectures. I will be recording class audio (or Zoom lectures as necessary), which will be posted on the course webpage along with slides and notes. Late work: You get one free no excuse late homework (up to one week). All other late work loses 20% per day (0.83% per hour). If you have an emergency or otherwise legitimate reason out of your control for missing a homework due date (illness, technology issues, etc.), please document this with your Navigator and me ASAP. We’ll then work out an alternate due date without penalty.
Computing: Most (not all) HW assignments will require you to write and run code in Python to solve astronomical problems. Don’t worry — we’ll spend at least one class getting more familiar with Python before I ask you to use it, but ask for help if you need it. There will be occasional Python homework support sessions scheduled outside of normal class time by the Python Mentors. Typed reports can easily be created using a Jupyter notebook, showing formatted text alongside code and math. If you would like access to departmental computing resources, or have questions or concerns about this aspect of the course, please let me know as soon as possible.
Office Hours: Mondays and Wednesdays the hour after class ends, or a reserved time here: https://fantastical.app/bjanesh/astr-222-office-hours, or just drop in! Some questions can probably be answered via email; I will do my best to respond as soon as possible during normal business hours. If you have a question in person, please come prepared — for homework questions, you must attempt the problem on your own first! I will ask you to show me what you’ve tried before I answer questions. If you’re not sure where to start, see the homework tips page.
| Date | General Topic | R&P Readings | 📼 | 📓 | 📌 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan 10 | Introduction to the Milky Way; Star Counts | 19.1, 19.2 | 📽 | ||
| Jan 12 | Size of the Milky Way; Distances | 13.1 | 📽 | ||
| Jan 17 | MLK Jr. Day — no class | — | — | ||
| Jan 19 | Metallicity and Stellar Populations | 14.2, 14.3, 14.4 | 📽 | ||
| Jan 24 | Metallicity and Stellar Populations | 14.2, 14.3, 14.4 | 📽 | ||
| Jan 26 | Structure of the Milky Way | 19.1, 19.2 | 📽 | ||
| Jan 31 | Velocities of Stars; Solar Motion | 19.3, 19.4 | 📽 | ||
| Feb 2 | Galactic Rotation; Galactic Center | 19.5, 19.6, 19.7 | 📽 | HW1 | |
| Feb 7 | Galactic Center; The Local Group | 📽 | |||
| Feb 9 | Galaxy Morphology and General Properties | 20.1 | 📽 | ||
| Feb 14 | Stellar Pops & Mass-to-Light Ratios | 20.2 | 📽 | ||
| Feb 16 | Disk Galaxies | 20.1 | 📽 | ||
| Feb 21 | Disk Galaxies; Spiral Arms | 20.1 | 📽 | ||
| Feb 25 | Feb 23 Class Cancelled | — | — | HW2 | |
| Feb 28 | Review | 📽 | — | ||
| Mar 2 | Midterm Exam | — | — | ||
| Mar 7 | Spring Break — no class | — | — | ||
| Mar 9 | Spring Break — no class | — | — | ||
| Mar 14 | Elliptical Galaxies | 20.1 | 📽 | ||
| Mar 16 | Extragalactic Distances & Hubble's Law | 20.4, 20.5 | 📽 | ||
| Mar 21 | Peculiar & Interacting Galaxies | 22.2 | 📽 | ||
| Mar 23 | Active Galaxies | 21.1 - 21.4 | 📽 | & | |
| Mar 28 | Galaxy Clusters & Galaxy Evolution | 22.1, 22.2, 22.3 | oops | ||
| Mar 30 | The Expanding Universe | 23.1, 23.2, 23.3 | 📽 | ||
| Apr 4 | The Expanding Universe | 23.1, 23.2, 23.3 | 📽 | ||
| Apr 6 | Age of the Universe; Microwave Background | 23.1 | 📽 | ||
| Apr 11 | Observational Cosmology; Cosmological Constant | 23.4, 23.5 | 📽 | ||
| Apr 13 | The Early Universe; Inflation | 24.2, 24.3 | 📽 | HW3 | |
| Apr 18 | Recombination; BBN | 24.3, 24.4 | 📽 | ||
| Apr 20 | Galaxy Formation | 📽 | |||
| Apr 25 | Dwarf Galaxies | 📽 | HW4 | ||
| May 4 | Final Exam 8-11 am | — | — |