12994 (v.2) Astronomy 201
| Area: | Department of Applied Physics |
| Credits: | 12.5 |
| Contact Hours: | 5.0 |
| Lecture: | 1 x 2 Hours Weekly |
| Fieldwork: | 2 x 5 Hours Once-only |
| Prerequisite(s): | 1737 (v.3) Particles and Waves 101 or any previous version
AND
1744 (v.3) Structure of Matter 102 or any previous version
AND
7318 (v.5) Astronomy 101 or any previous version
AND
7329 (v.5) Planetary Science 101 or any previous version
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| Syllabus: | Background - Observational astrophysics, scale of the universe, nature of the observables. Co-ordinate Systems - spherical trigonometry, celestial sphere, horizontal, equatorial, ecliptic and galactic coordinates. Time - sideral, solar, UT and atomic time, calendars, Julian date. Positional measurements - history, constellations, catalogues, refraction, aberration, parallax, nutation, precession, astrometry, mean and apparent coordinates. Photometry - intensity, flux density, luminosity, surface brightness, apparent and absolute magnitudes, filter systems, extinction, atmospheric seeing, absorption. Image processing - measurements, apeture photometry, CCD processing, counting statistics and signal-to-noise ratios, visualisation, filters. Detectors - theyeye, photography, CCDs, photomultipliers. Telescopes - reflectors, refractors, mounts, aberration, distortion. Spectroscopy - blackbody radiation, ionisation, H-R diagram, spectrographs, elementary spectral analysis, classifications. Radio astronomy - antennae, beam patterns, detectors, bandwidth, interferometers. |
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| Unit Outcomes: | On successful completion of this unit students will have received an introduction to practical work in astronomy and the application of data analysis, signal processing and image processing concepts to the subject. They will have gained an understandingof coordinates systems, time, position, telescopes, CCD detectors, photometry, imaging, spectroscopy and radio astronomy and will be competent in the practical use of optical telescopes. |
| Text and references listed above are for your information only and current as of September 30, 2003. Please check with the unit coordinator for up-to-date information. |
| Unit References: | Karttunen et al, 'Fundamental Astronomy', Springer. Birney, D., 1991, 'Observational Astronomy', Cambridge University Press, England. Smith, R., 1995, 'Observational Astrophysics', Cambridge University Press, New York. Green, R., 1985, 'Spherical Astronomy', Cambridge University Press, England. Kitchen, 'Astrophysical Techniques', Adam Hilger. Roy and Clarke, 'Astronomy - Principles and Practice', Adam Hilger. Kaler, J. B., 1996, 'The Ever Changing Sky', Cambridge University Press, New York. |
| Unit Texts: | No prescribed text. |
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| Unit Assessment Breakdown: | Presentations 10%. Assignments 36%. Laboratory 24%. Final Examination 30%. |
Current as of: February 2, 2004
CRICOS provider code 00301J
