AST 498 / AST 591 — Astrophysics Seminar — Fall 2025

``Astrophysics Seminar: Astrophysics and Cosmology with Webb, Hubble, and other Facilities''

Backup Zoom link (only if the above Zoom link fails): https://asu.zoom.us/j/7191824655

[Zoom passwd: 1234 in case Zoom asks for one. You must login via: asu.zoom.us and my.asu.edu to enter any ASU Zoom room, or the Google drive with presentations. If you get stuck in the Zoom waiting room, you need to go to the Zoom app and sign into Zoom with your ASU email address. Then, sign back into Zoom]. We are aware of a few on-line students that can only attend class by Zoom, who have permission to do so. If you are an in-person student, you are expected to attend in GWC-505. Prof. Windhorst will need to Zoom into class and his office hours for the first couple of weeks due to medical reasons, as he will be recovering from surgeries. ASU Research Scientist Dr. Tim Carleton has kindly agreed to setup the Zoom in GWC-505 before each Mo noon class-time.

Scroll down to table of Fall 2025 Seminar and Journal Club presentations and presenters  

Course Objectives and Topic for this Semester:

The aim of this course is to introduce the students to a series of short seminal papers on more recently published work in the general area of this semester's broad topic: Astrophysics and Cosmology with the Webb and Hubble Space Telescope, and with other Facilities. The emphasis is on the development of scientific method and theory, and on the latest scientific discoveries, rather than just on new measurements or incremental improvement in one particular technique.

Course Requirements:

During this semester's Journal Club, each enrolled student will give a 20-25 min oral presentation on their selected paper in class. Given the large number of AST 498/591 students signed up this semester, we will hold of two ~20-25 minute presentations per week, each followed by 5-10 min discussion. We will therefore strictly start on time and adhere to two 30 min slots for each class period --- just like the strict time schedule used during our AAS conferences! Students who have not been able to sign up for a paper presentation slot (because there may be more students than available speaker slots this semester) may suffice with leading the discussion of other presenter's papers during the semester, for which they may also receive credit. Paper presentations by volunteer senior graduate students, postdocs, and others not enrolled in this class, will be allowed only if speaker slots become available.

The presentation of your paper should consist of a general introduction covering the scope of the paper and where it fits within the larger field of research of which the paper is part, followed by a more detailed summary of the paper and a discussion of its impact. This includes a summary of the assumptions made in the paper, the new observational data obtained or theoretical methods used, the reduction and analysis procedures applied to the data, the reliability and completeness of these procedures, and the reliability and relevance of the new scientific results presented in the paper. Each presentation is followed by a 5-10 min time slot for questions & answers, and subsequent discussion, in which especially the students who take this class for a grade will engage.

Class Grading:

Your grade will be based on your active participation in this class, on the quality of your presentation, the importance of your presented paper for the field, and how well you answer all questions on you representation from other class students who will act as your peers. Typically, students will receive an A (or A+) in this class for a job (very) well done -- we do not intend to give out B-D grades (unless you throw in the towel), but students who could not sign up for a presentation, or are auditing the class, may opt for a Pass/Fail grade instead.

Journal Club Presentations and Schedule:

Dates for the presentations(s) by each student will be assigned within the first week of the first class --- on a first come, first serve basis. The choice of paper to discuss will be up to the student, but certain restrictions and requirements will apply (see also Tips., below). We will be happy to discuss your choice of a particular paper, and offer suggestions when you are in doubt as to what is best.

The majority of the work for this class will revolve around computer-based presentations (i.e., PDF, PPT, or HTML format). A laptop computer running Redhat 9, or CentOS Linux, or MAC O/S (with a Chrome, Firefox, or Safari browser, Acrobat PDF Reader, and OpenOffice for PPT files) will be available in the classroom to give the presentation, but students are encouraged to bring and use their own Windows, Linux or Macintosh laptop should they have one. If you use your own laptop, remember to bring the proper HDMI cable adapter ("dongle"), as the assortment in GWC-505 is limited.

At least ONE WEEK BEFORE their scheduled presentation, each student should provide Tim Carleton and Rogier Windhorst with the reference to a paper of their choice. We will place a link on this class web-page to an electronic version of this paper (URL or PDF file), so that all other students can download and read it, and formulate questions well before the class starts, and so more effectively participate in the discussion of that paper during class. From experience, students will learn a lot less if they don't read the paper before it is being discussed.

If you prepare a presentation and do not plan to use your own laptop, post your PDF (preferred format) or PPT presentation no later than the afternoon preceding class to Tim by e-mail attachment or via an URL, so that we can check that it displays properly (Windows' proprietary fonts, e.g., math symbols, often don't!). Tim will place all presentations and papers (PDF, PPT, or URL format) on the URL repository below, so they can be accessed by all class students. Details are available via links in the Table below that contains this semester's TENTATIVE Journal Club schedule (this Schedule is subject to change throughout the semester!).

Tips for finding a suitable paper:

Papers that had/have a large impact will be cited by many other authors. Papers with few or no citations, or mostly self-citations by the authors, are not suitable for discussion. Papers are required to: (1) have been peer reviewed, and preferably be already published a peer reviewed journal and (2) have at least 3 citations by researchers other than the authors of that paper. In general, discussion of a paper that recently appeared on 'astro-ph' is discouraged, unless the "Comments" give a specific volume/issue of the peer-reviewed journal, where such paper is scheduled to appear and/or the citation requirement is satisfied. (This semester we will be a bit more lenient on these rules, given the very recent nature of the new JWST etc data that is coming in).

For a 20-25 min presentation, a single 4 or 5-page ApJ Letters may be suitable, or a longer journal paper. Typically, papers should be the equivalent of 8–10 pages in a main journal (multi-page tables or atlases of figures, and the list of references don't count).

Although not a complete depository of all scientific literature in astronomy and astrophysics, astronomy has nonetheless a very large, full-text digital library: the NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS): http://adsabs.harvard.edu/abstract_service.html . The best and most complete astronomical preprint server is on: https://arxiv.org/archive/astro-ph .

You are encouraged to consider choosing papers that you find based on the main topics in Astrophysics and Cosmology with Webb, Hubble or other modern facilities. If you are not certain what paper to choose for this semesters Journal Club, or need some more background information, please browse some of the papers and references on the following preprint server: ADS or on: https://arxiv.org/archive/astro-ph

Course Schedule and Guidelines:

The Google docs at the bottom contains the TENTATIVE schedule of AST 591/498 presentations. During the first day of classes, we will discuss the program and syllabus for the semester. Each student who signed up for AST 591/498 will be asked to volunteer for a time slot to give a presentation on a paper, and/or lead its discussion.

Since we may have both graduate and undergraduate students signed up for this class this semester, we have the following guidelines:

(a) All students that take this class for credit will make one 20-25 min presentation on a significant paper related to this semester's topic, followed by a 5-10 min discussion of that paper and its presentation.

(b) If there are more students than time slots (likely this semester), all class periods will have two students present a 20-25-min presentation of a paper, each followed by a 5-10 min discussion.

At the end of each class, you will be asked to evaluate the student speaker of that day. Please fill out the Speaker Evaluation Form, and return it to Tim at the end of that class period. (An electronic way of logging these comments may instead be used, i.e. via a Google docs, TBD). Like the real refereeing process in publishing scientific papers, you may remain anonymous in your comments. But please be polite in your comments, because you, too, will one day will be judged by your peers!

You will be asked to select/modify the preferred day of your presentation below during the first day of class. The listed days are placeholders on this TENTATIVE SCHEDULE until that time. If students --- who signed up for this class --- do not volunteer on time for a slot and/or a topic, we will schedule enrolled students in one of the remaining slots, in which case you may not get the slot you want!

For astronomy classes (and mode detailed ASU rules) and other events at ASU this semester, see also:

http://windhorst111lab.asu.edu/   (Click on Syllabus, scroll to bottom)

SESE Colloquia — We. 3:30-4:30 pm in ISTB4-Marston.

ASU Policies (the University requires or suggests that all our Syllabi include the following):

Accommodation for Religious Practices: The university community should, in all its activities, be sensitive to the religious practices of the various religious faiths represented in its student body and employees. Faculty are asked to recognize the obligations of their students who may be participating in the observance of religious holidays. Students should notify faculty at the beginning of the semester about the need to be absent from class due to religious observances. For more information, visit https://public.powerdms.com/ASU/documents/1541225)

Missed Classes Due to University-Sanctioned Activities: Students who participate in university-sanctioned activities that require classes to be missed, shall be given opportunities to make up examinations and other graded in-class work. Normally, the made-up work will be due on the class day immediately after the absence. Absence from class or examinations due to university-sanctioned activities does not relieve students from responsibility for any part of the coursework required during the period of the absence. For more information, visit https://public.powerdms.com/ASU/documents/1557490 ).

Academic Integrity/Anti-Plagiarism Policy: Academic honesty is expected of all students in any materials intended to be used for an academic evaluation, including, but not limited to: all examinations, papers, presentations, laboratory work, academic transactions, and records. The possible sanctions for academic integrity violations include but are not limited to, appropriate grade penalties, course failure (indicated on the transcript as a grade of E), course failure due to academic dishonesty (indicated on the transcript as a grade of XE), loss of registration privileges, disqualification, and dismissal. For more information, see http://provost.asu.edu/academic-integrity . Plagiarism of any kind will not be tolerated. Students must take the exams/quizzes independently without assistance from other students. Students may not submit papers?Lab reports written by persons other than themselves.

In the AST Labs we strictly enforce these policies. For your grade, we only want to measure your abilities, not how well you can copy material from somewhere else. That is, while you may have 1-2 Lab team mates that together collect, e.g., telescope data, you still need to write your own Lab report and answer its questions independently. While you may have Lab data in common with your team mates, you may not copy answers to questions from your team mates. A relatively new ASU sanction for documented, serious cases of plagiarism or academic dishonesty is the grade of XE. This grade will appear on students' transcripts. A postscript indicates that the grade denotes ``failure due to academic dishonesty.''

Disruptive, Threatening, or Violent Behavior: In the classroom and out, students are required to conduct themselves in a manner that promotes an environment that is safe and conducive to learning and conducting other university-related business. All incidents and allegations of violent or threatening conduct by an ASU student will be reported to the ASU Police Department (ASU PD) and the Office of the Dean of Students. Such incidents will be dealt with in accordance with the policies and procedures described in Section 104-02 of the Student Services Manual, available at https://public.powerdms.com/ASU/documents/1560490 ).

Disability Accommodation: If you are a student with a disability and have need of assistance or special accommodations, contact Student Accessibility and Inclusive Learning Services (SAILS) https://eoss.asu.edu/accessibility . Students requesting accommodations for a disability must register with SAILS, and must submit appropriate documentation to the instructor from SAILS. For more information, please review the policy at https://public.powerdms.com/ASU/documents/1560607 ).

Copyright: Students must refrain from uploading to any course shell, discussion board, or website used by the course instructor or other course forum, material that is not the student's original work, unless the students first comply with all applicable copyright laws; faculty members reserve the right to delete materials on the grounds of suspected copyright infringement. For more information, see the Computer, Internet, & Electronic Communications Policy at https://public.powerdms.com/ASU/documents/1540286 .

Instructor's Copyrighted Material: The instructor may want to state that the course content, including lectures, are copyrighted materials. Students may not share outside the class, upload, sell, or distribute course content or notes taken during the conduct of the course (see ACD 304-06, "Commercial Note Taking Services" for more information). The instructor may want to place on each page (or online equivalent) of all instructional materials provided or made available to students the following statement: "THIS CONTENT IS PROTECTED AND MAY NOT BE SHARED, UPLOADED, SOLD, OR DISTRIBUTED."

Prohibition Against Discrimination, Harassment, and Retaliation: Title IX is a federal law that provides that no person be excluded on the basis of sex from participation in, be denied benefits of, or be subjected to discrimination under any education program or activity. Both Title IX and university policy make clear that sexual violence and harassment based on sex is prohibited. An individual who believes they have been subjected to sexual violence or harassed on the basis of sex can seek support, including counseling and academic support, from the university. If you or someone you know has been harassed on the basis of sex or sexually assaulted, you can find information and resources at http://sexualviolenceprevention.asu.edu/faqs .

As a mandated reporter, I am obligated to report any information I become aware of regarding alleged acts of sexual discrimination, including sexual violence and dating violence. ASU Counseling Services, https://eoss.asu.edu/counseling, is available if you wish to discuss any concerns confidentially and privately.

Civil Discussion: In this course, you will hone your reasoning through discussion and shared inquiry. All of us benefit when we can think out loud together in confidence that we<80><99>ll give each other the benefit of the doubt, critique ideas rather than the individuals voicing them, and refrain from sharing course conversations outside the classroom.

Please come to class prepared to engage in discussion. Sharing questions, ideas, and interpretations is important to this course. Please critique ideas rather than people, and be cordial with each other as we experiment with philosophies, positions, and interpretations with which we may or may not agree. My expectation is that discussions will not be recorded or shared outside the class.

I hope that you actively engage in class; your education and that of your classmates will benefit. The materials we will study lend themselves to multiple perspectives, and we will discuss ideas, questions, and interpretations openly and respectfully. Our classroom is a community, and we should all be confident that discussions will not be shared outside of it.

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