What is a galaxy? The major luminous components: stars, gas, dust, bulge, disc, spiral arms, stellar halos. Short history of the discovery of galaxies, from the Arabs to Hubble’s work. Modern observations and galaxy surveys. The basics numbers: mass, size, luminosity, colors. Basic questions about galaxies.
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1. Introduction to the realm of nebulae
3. Photometry of early-type galaxies
4. Photometry of late-type galaxies
5. Apparent and true flattening of galaxies
6. Properties of elliptical galaxies
8. Spiral arms
9. Origin and stability of spiral arms
10. Scale relations
12. Cosmic distance scale - Part II
13. Cosmic distance scale - Part III
14. Galaxy dynamics
16. Galaxy dynamics - Part III
18. Stellar populations in galaxies
19. Galaxy clusters
He worked as professor of astronomy at the University of Naples Federico II. Former director of the Capodimonte Astronomical Observatory, has been president of the Italian Astronomical Society and of the National Society of Sciences, Letters, and Arts in Naples. Its scientific interests range from the dynamics and evolution of stellar systems to observational cosmology. His main achievements regard the nature and properties of elliptical galaxies, the cosmic distance scale, and the abundance of dark matter. Author of over 400 scientific papers and of some books, he has conceived and managed, in synergy with the European Southern Observatory, the realization of VST, the largest optical wide-field telescope worldwide, now operating from the Chilean Andes. A freelance journalist, he is interested in history of science and epistemology, and in the dissemination of the scientific culture in the Mediterranean area. Commendatore of the Republic for scientific merits, he has received honors and awards, including a Honorary Professorship from the Moscow State University Lomonosov in 2010. He is currently serving in the Council of the National Institute for Astrophysics (INAF).
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