ASP3012 · Stars and galaxies

Overview

Stars and Galaxies are the most fundamental objects in astronomy. This unit will introduce you to the modern study of stars and galaxies, how we collect data and how computational tools work hand in hand with telescopes to advance our understanding. We will study the following topics: observing the stars; thermodynamics and equation of state; stellar composition; reduced equations of stellar structure; polytrophic stellar models; stellar energy sources and timescales; energy transport; full equations of stellar structure; evolution of the Sun; the main sequence; post-main-sequence evolution; stellar nucleosynthesis; red giants and supernovae; chemical evolution of the Galaxy; Galactic archaeology; Galactic morphology and stellar content; Galactic dynamics; orbits in spherical and axisymmetric potentials; potential theory; elliptical and spiral galaxies; large-scale structure of the Milky Way; dark matter; galactic distances; surface brightness of galaxies; collisions between galaxis; active galaxies.

Areas of study: Astrophysics Physics

Offerings

Assessment

The Handbook lists an examination for this unit.

Assessment details may change. Please refer to the assessment information in Moodle closer to the start of the teaching period.

Requisites

The Handbook lists no prerequisite, corequisite or prohibition for this unit.

Learning outcomes

1. Explain the nature of stellar structure and evolution, stellar life histories, and their ultimate fates;how they produce energy, how they synthesise the chemical elements, and their ultimate fates;
2. Describe stellar nucleosythesis, the main nuclear processes, their products and sites within stars and the elements they produce;
3. Build simple computer models of stars and galaxies;
4. Distinguish and classify different types of galaxies;
5. Explain the relationships between stellar evolution, galactic evolution, and the creation of the elements;
6. Demonstrate the implications of the observed nature of galaxies for theories of the universe;
7. Describe the morphology and kinematics of the Milky Way;
8. Summarise the significance of dark matter to galactic structure;
9. Illustrate the use of multi-wavelength data for understanding stars and galaxies;

Workload

The workload to achieve the learning outcomes for this unit is 144 hours spread across the semester (roughly 12 hours per week) - approximately an even mixture of attendance at scheduled activities and self-scheduled study time. Learning activities comprise a mixture of instructor directed, peer directed and self-directed learning, which includes face-to-face and online engagement.

Student experience, not official rules. Nothing here changes what the Handbook says.