This course consists of individual reading and study in astronomy under the guidance of the instructor.

Advisory Prerequisite: Permission of instructor.

This course is for students in Astronomy who are prepared to undertake a limited research project under the guidance of a member of the staff of the Department of Astronomy. ASTRO 399 is open to qualified students in other departments and is subject to approval by concentration advisors and members of the staff of the Department of Astronomy.

Advisory Prerequisite: Permission of instructor.

A course on problems in astronomy. Content varies by term and instructor.

Advisory Prerequisite: Graduate standing and permission of instructor.

Research in theoretical astrophysics. The universe displays a wonderful diversity of structure spanning an enormous range of scales in mass, length, and time. The physical character and dynamic history of many of these astrophysical systems — stars, galaxies, the entire Universe — are not fully understood. Michigan theoretical astrophysicists are working to improve our understanding of how the Universe, and the structures within it, came to be. Topics of interest include development of the early Universe, inflation, formation of galaxies and clusters of galaxies, star formation and cosmology, and dynamics of astrophysical fluids. Much work is guided by observations from optical telescopes, such as the Michigan-Dartmouth-MIT telescope, as well as several NASA missions.

Advisory Prerequisite: Graduate standing and permission of instructor.

Using large telescope facilities, research is done in observational astrophysics at the two 6.5 m telescopes of the Magellan Project at the Las Campanas Observatory in Chile, the 2.4-m Hiltner and 1.3-m McGraw-Hill telescopes of the MDM Observatory in Arizona, and the 26 m radio telescope at Peach Mountain Observatory near Ann Arbor.

Advisory Prerequisite: Graduate standing and permission of instructor.

Election for dissertation work by doctoral student not yet admitted as a Candidate.

Advisory Prerequisite: Election for dissertation work by doctoral student not yet admitted as a Candidate. Graduate standing.

Graduate School authorization for admission as a doctoral Candidate. N.B. The defense of the dissertation (the final oral examination) must be held under a full term Candidacy enrollment period.

Enforced Prerequisites: Graduate School authorization for admission as a doctoral Candidate