Class is basically split into 4 sections:

1. Nearby galaxies
2. Distant galaxies
3. Galaxy formation
4. Galaxies as probes of cosmology

Week 1

Introduction: history, overview of processes

• In Binney and Merrifield, Galactic Astronomy, read Chapter 1, 2.1, 2.3, and 2.5
• Do one (or more if you want!) of the problems at the end of Chapter 2. Write up the solution using the computer (strong preference to use LaTeX!!), so I can post a good solution for everyone to see.
• Year 2 students choose paper (not on Introduction)

Week 2

Observational properties of galaxies: photometric, spectroscopic, morphological, gravitational Galaxy classification and catalogs. Biases and selection effects

• In Binney and Merrifield, read chapter 4.1.1, 4.2.1, 4.2.2, 4.3.1
• Read introduction to RC3 catalog, Hubble atlas
• For an exponential disk, derive what the half-light radius is in terms of the disk scale length.
• Compare, i.e. plot, the profiles for galaxies with Sersic index 1, 2, 3, 4 that have the same integrated brightness.
• Year 2 students hand in paper summary; year 1 students choose paper

Week 3

Physical properties of galaxies. Relation with morphological type. Morphology-density relation. Galaxy luminosity function

• Read Binney and Merrifield, 4.1.2, 4.1.3
• Read The Broadband Optical Properties of Galaxies with Redshifts 0.02 < z < 0.221, Blanton et al, 2003, ApJ594, 186
• Skim Roberts and Haynes, ARAA 32, 115
• Look up each of the following galaxies using NED. Note the appearance of the galaxy (e.g., your estimate of the Hubble type from a picture), the velocity/redshift, diameter, and magnitude. Check out a few papers on each object and find out what makes the object particularly noteworthy.
  1. NGC 147
  2. NGC 253
  3. NGC 3379
  4. NGC 4321
  5. NGC 4486
  6. NGC 5194
• Year 1 students hand in paper summary; year 2 students choose paper

Week 4

Morphology-density relation. Galaxy luminosity function.

• Become familiar with the SDSS Data Release 5 (www.sdss.ord/dr5)
• From DR5, extract a sample of all galaxies with radial velocities between 5000 and 10000 km/s
• Using this sample, investigate relationships between absolute magnitude, color, and concentration (due 2/21)
• Year 2 students hand in paper summary; year 1 students choose paper