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PHYS51545: Astrophysics

It is possible that changes to modules or programmes might need to be made during the academic year, in response to the impact of Covid-19 and/or any further changes in public health advice.

Type Tied
Level 5
Credits 45
Availability Available in 2023/24
Module Cap None.
Location Durham
Department Physics

Prerequisites

Corequisites

  • PHYS51915 Core Ia: Introduction to Machine Learning and Statistics and PHYS52015 Core Ib: Introduction to Scientific and High-performance Computing

Excluded Combinations of Modules

Aims

  • Introduction to the basic research skills needed by postgraduate research students; develop general background.

Content

  • This module teaches you state-of-the-art research and science across a broad range of astrophysics, from stellar populations to galaxy formation and high-energy astrophysics.

Learning Outcomes

Subject-specific Knowledge:

  • Basic computing, accessing databases, scripts, presentation skills, specific research background.

Subject-specific Skills:

  • Basic computing

Key Skills:

  • Presentation skills

Modes of Teaching, Learning and Assessment and how these contribute to the learning outcomes of the module

Teaching Methods and Learning Hours

ActivityNumberFrequencyDurationTotalMonitored
Stellar structure and evolution41 per week60 minutes4 
Stellar Populations41 per week60 minutes4 
AGN and black holes82 per week60 minutes8 
Cosmology82 per week60 minutes8 
Galaxy Formation82 per week60 minutes8 
The Intergalactic Medium and the Interstellar Medium82 per week60 minutes8 
The Milky Way41 per week60 minutes4 
Large-scale structure62 per week60 minutes8 
Clusters and Groups of Galaxies82 per week60 minutes8 
Gravitational lensing41 per week60 minutes4 
The high-z universe41 per week60 minutes4 
Instrumentation in astronomy82 per week60 minutes8 
Stellar dynamics82 per week60 minutes8 
Cosmological simulations123 per week60 minutes12 
Self-study and reading354 

Summative Assessment

Component: CourseworkComponent Weighting: 100%
ElementLength / DurationElement WeightingResit Opportunity
Coursework 125 
Coursework 225 
Coursework 325 
Coursework 425 

Formative Assessment

Through unmarked homework and feedback on the coursework

More information

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