Physics 431/531: Galactic Astronomy

  Lectures:     Disque 919, Tu Th 9:30 am - 10:50 am
  Office:       Disque 610
  Phone:        (215) 895-2723
  Fax:          (215) 895-1549
  e-mail:       steve (at) physics.drexel.edu

• Course overview
  
  The goal of this course is to present an introduction to the processes responsible for the formation, structure, evolution, and present-day appearance of the Milky Way and other galaxies. Using the Milky Way Galaxy as a guide, we will develop analytical and numerical tools to help us understand of the properties of these magnificent objects, near and far. For the most part, these tools will be based on familiar concepts in classical mechanics and thermodynamics. The list of topics to be covered is presented in more detail in the course syllabus.

• Course syllabus

• Detailed course outline

• Some notes on the Jeans instability

• Notes on the two-body problem

• Homeworks

  • Homework #1   (solutions)

  • Homework #2   (solutions)

  • Homework #3   (solutions)

  • Homework #4   (solutions)

  • Homework #5   (solutions)