ASTR 445: Galaxies and Cosmology

Course Description

A course devoted to our current understanding of the composition, structure, and evolution of the universe based on general relativistic theory and astronomical observations of remote galaxies using both ground-and space-based technologies. Topics include observational characteristics, classification, kinematics and evolution of galaxies, quasars and active galactic nuclei, the cosmic microwave background radiation, concepts of general relativity, single-and multi-component models of the universe, dark matter and dark energy, and the orgin of the universe (the big bang, inflation and the creation of the first elements). Four hours lecture. (OC).