ASTR 5580 - Extragalactic Astronomy and Cosmology (Honors)

A core course that explores modern cosmological concepts. Develops a mathematical formalism necessary to understand the formation of galaxies, clusters of galaxies, large scale structure and the expansion and the age of the Universe. Topics include the existence and properties of the cosmic microwave background, the origin of the light elements, cosmological inflation, and the role of dark matter and dark energy in the formation and expansion of the Universe.