UF0B303 Introductory Astronomy and Astrophysics

Faculty of Philosophy and Science in Opava
Winter 2020
Extent and Intensity
3/2/0. 3 credit(s). Type of Completion: zk (examination).
Teacher(s)
RNDr. Tomáš Gráf, Ph.D. (lecturer)
RNDr. Tomáš Gráf, Ph.D. (seminar tutor)
RNDr. Hana Kučáková, Ph.D. (seminar tutor)
Guaranteed by
RNDr. Tomáš Gráf, Ph.D.
Centrum interdisciplinárních studií – Faculty of Philosophy and Science in Opava
Prerequisites (in Czech)
( UFAF001 Mechanics and molecular physic || UF01000 Mechanics and molecular physic ) && TYP_STUDIA(B)
Course Enrolment Limitations
The course is also offered to the students of the fields other than those the course is directly associated with.
fields of study / plans the course is directly associated with
Course objectives
The course enables students to learn the basics of astronomy and astrophysics using resources more or less high-school mathematics and physics, some parts (History of Astronomy and Solar System chapter) are presented only in a popular way. Subject along with a basic course in physics provides a sufficient basis for the study of advanced astronomical and astrophysical disciplines.
Syllabus
  • 1) History of Astronomy:
    Aristarchus, Hipparchus, Ptolemy, Aristotle, Copernicus, Brahe, Kepler, Galileo, Newton, Hubble, Einstein.
    2) Spherical astronomy:
    coordinate systems, precession and nutation Earth's axis, aberration, parallax, refraction, constellations, star maps and catalogs, time, calendar.
    3) Celestial Mechanics:
    Newton's law of gravity, escape velocity, Kepler's laws, orbital elements, Kepler's equation, the relative positions of the planets synodic and sidereal orbital period.
    4) The Solar System:
    formation, planets and their moons, small bodies, moon, eclipses and occultations, tidal, libration, apparent and actual motion of the planets.
    5) Radiation in Astrophysics:
    characteristic radiation of blackbody radiation, temperature, radiation of atoms and molecules, Boltzmann and Saha equation, continuous and line spectrum.
    6) The variable stars:
    magnitude, Pogsonova equation, color index and excesses, interstellar and atmospheric extinction, spectral classification, H - R diagram.
    7) Double stars:
    classification binaries, basic properties, mass function.
Literature
    recommended literature
  • Štefl V., Korčáková D., Krtička J. Úlohy z astrofyziky. Skriptum MU Brno, 2010. info
  • Karttunen H., Kröger P., Oja H., Poutanen M., Donner K. J. Fundamental Astronomy. Springer, 2007. info
  • Šolc M., Švestka J., Vanýsek V. Fyzika hvězd a vesmíru. SPN, Praha, 1991. info
  • Vanýsek V. Základy astronomie a astrofyziky. Academia, Praha, 1980. info
Language of instruction
Czech
Further comments (probably available only in Czech)
Study Materials
The course can also be completed outside the examination period.
Teacher's information
Conditions for credit:
obtaining at least 75% of the points that the compensatory written work.
Requirements for successful completion of the test:
obtaining at least 50% points of the written exam and successful completion of the oral examination.
The course is also listed under the following terms Winter 1993, Winter 1994, Winter 1995, Winter 1996, Winter 1997, Winter 1998, Winter 1999, Winter 2000, Winter 2001, Winter 2002, Winter 2003, Winter 2004, Winter 2005, Winter 2006, Winter 2007, Winter 2008, Winter 2009, Winter 2010, Winter 2011, Winter 2012, Winter 2013, Winter 2014, Winter 2015, Winter 2016, Winter 2017, Winter 2018, Winter 2019.
  • Enrolment Statistics (recent)
  • Permalink: https://is.slu.cz/course/fpf/winter2020/UF0B303