12994 (v.2) Astronomy 201

Area:

Department of Applied Physics

Credits:

12.5

Contact Hours:

5.0

** The tuition pattern below provides details of the types of classes and their duration. This is to be used as a guide only. For more precise information please check your unit outline. **

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

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.

** To ensure that the most up-to-date information about unit references, texts and outcomes appears, they will be provided in your unit outline prior to commencement. **

Field of Education:

19900 Other Natural and Physical Sciences (Narrow Grouping)

HECS Band (if applicable):

Extent to which this unit or thesis
utilises online information:

Informational

Result Type:

Grade/Mark

Availability

Year	Location	Period	Internal	Area External	Central External
2004	Bentley Campus	Semester 2	Y

Area External	refers to external course/units run by the School or Department, offered online or through Web CT, or offered by research.
Central External	refers to external course/units run through the Curtin Bentley-based Distance Education Area