Extragalactic Astronomy

Code:

AST4001

Acronym:

AST4001

Keywords
Classification	Keyword
OFICIAL	Astronomy

Instance: 2023/2024 - 2S

Active?	Yes
Responsible unit:	Department of Physics and Astronomy
Course/CS Responsible:	Master in Astronomy and Astrophysics

Cycles of Study/Courses

Acronym	No. of Students	Study Plan	Curricular Years	Credits UCN	Credits ECTS	Contact hours	Total Time
M:A_ASTR	12	Study plan since academic year 2023/2024	1	-	6	42	162
			2

Teaching language

English
Obs.: As aulas decorrerão em português caso todos dominem esta língua.

Objectives

The aim of this course is that students acquire a thorough knowledge about different types of galaxies, their composition and the physical mechanisms responsible for the variety of observed properties and their evolution in different environments. Alongside the theoretical approach, existing observational evidence will be presented, and the major ongoing and future projects with scientific impact in this area will be mentioned.

Learning outcomes and competences

It is intended that students acquire a thorough knowledge about different types of galaxies, their composition and the physical mechanisms responsible for the variety of observed properties and their evolution in different environments. Alongside the theoretical approach, it is expected that students develop skills of reasoning and understanding, critical analysis and exposition of different results available in the literature and, if possible, experience a brief approach to research in this topic through the small project that is proposed.

Working method

Presencial

Program

I. The Milky Way - structure, dimensions, main constituents (stars, interstellar medium, dark matter).

II. Galaxy classification schemes and main properties of the different galaxy types.

III. Disks and spheroids - dynamics, total mass estimates, scaling relations and statistical properties. Star formation in disks.

IV. Spectral synthesis: main types, ingredients and equations.

V. Groups and clusters of galaxies: dimensions, constituents and main properties.

VI. Physical mechanisms responsible for galactic evolution in groups and clusters: dynamical friction, ram-pressure stripping, tidal stripping, mergers.

VII. Active galaxy nuclei - emission; different types of AGN and the unification scheme. Estimates of the mass of the central supermassive black hole.

VIII. High redshift galaxies and evolutionary studies: techniques and types of distant galaxies; K and E corrections; observational biases; evolution in color, morphology, star formation rate and stellar mass function.

Mandatory literature

Peter Schneider; Extragalactic Astronomy and Cosmology, Springer. ISBN: 978-3-642-54082-0/978-3-642-54083-7 (eBook)
Mo Houjun; Galaxy formation and evolution. ISBN: 9780521857932

Complementary Bibliography

Carroll Bradley W.; An introduction to modern astrophysics. ISBN: 0-201-54730-9
B.W. Carrol, D.A. Ostlie; An Introduction to Modern Galactic Astrophysics and Cosmology, Addison-Wesley, 2007
Sparke Linda S.; Galaxies in the universe. ISBN: 0-521-59740-4
Peterson Bradley M.; An introduction to active galactic nuclei. ISBN: 0-521-47911-8 (pbk)
A.K. Kembhavi, J.V. Narlikar; Quasars and Active Galactic Nuclei, Cambridge University Press, 1999
Krolik Julian H.; Active galactic nuclei. ISBN: 0-691-01151-6

Comments from the literature

Throughout the semester, references for scientific papers dealing with the subjects taught will be provided.

Teaching methods and learning activities

The classes consist of an exposition of the contents of the syllabus, with the help of multimedia. The aim is also to create moments for discussion of concepts or scientific results based on relevant and/or recent articles, in order to promote active learning. Exercises are also solved when appropriate.

Software

O trabalho prático requer conhecimentos de python.

keywords

Physical sciences > Astronomy > Astrophysics

Evaluation Type

Distributed evaluation with final exam

Assessment Components

designation	Weight (%)
Exame	50,00
Participação presencial	5,00
Apresentação/discussão de um trabalho científico	25,00
Trabalho prático ou de projeto	20,00
Total:	100,00

Amount of time allocated to each course unit

designation	Time (hours)
Estudo autónomo	60,00
Frequência das aulas	42,00
Trabalho laboratorial	30,00
Apresentação/discussão de um trabalho científico	30,00
Total:	162,00

Eligibility for exams

There will be no attendance record in the classes of this curricular unit but we find it to be essencial that the students attend the lectures.

None of the components of the Distributed Assessment are compulsory; the student will not lose attendance for not presenting any of them.

The exam is compulsory and has a minimum grade - see Formula of final grade.

Calculation formula of final grade

Assessment in the course consists of:
1) 50% - final written exam, with consultation - compulsory (in normal or appeal period) and with a minimum mark of 8/20;

and the following Distributed Assessment components:
2) 5% - participation in class discussions prompted by questions posed by the teacher;
3) 45% - practical work with a report (20%) and (partial) presentation and oral discussion (25%).

The practical computer work is carried out throughout the semester under the supervision of the teachers. The written report is due on the last day of the course, where the results will also be presented and discussed.

Special assessment (TE, DA, ...)

Students with special status will be subject to the same assessment as the other students, with the exception of class discussions (participação presencial). These take place during classes, throughout the semester, so students who do not attend classes due to this type of status will have this component replaced by an extra question in the exam (counting 5% to the final grade).

It should be noted that some classes will be dedicated to carrying out the computational work - the dates of these classes will be announced in due course via a dynamic Sigarra email sent to all students enrolled in the course.

Classification improvement

The improvement of the classification can be made on the written exam component only, that will still weigh 50% of the final mark.

Observations

 The jury of this curricular unit is composed by Catarina Lobo and Nuno Santos.