PHY2030 - Module Description

MODULE TITLE	Observing the Universe					CREDIT VALUE	15
MODULE CODE	PHY2030		MODULE CONVENER			Dr S. Hinkley

DURATION	TERM	1	2	3	Number Students Taking Module (anticipated)		84
	WEEKS		T2:01-11

DESCRIPTION – summary of the module content (100 words)

In this module students will gain a basic knowledge of the universe and its contents, and good understanding of astrophysical measurement. As such it is crucial for the astrophysics project work, and when combined with the detailed understanding of stars, galaxies and cosmology obtained from the subsequent modules, PHY3070, PHY3066 and PHYM006, will provide a well-balanced grounding in astrophysics.

MODULE AIMS – intentions of the module

The specific aims of the module are to impart: a basic knowledge of the hierarchy of objects in the universe, including their structural and evolutionary relationship to each other; an understanding the underlying principles of key instrumentation used for observational astrophysics; an understanding of how we can obtain structural information and physical parameters from distant, often unresolved, objects.

INTENDED LEARNING OUTCOMES (ILOs) (see assessment section below for how ILOs will be assessed)

On successful completion of this module you should be able to:

Module Specific Skills and Knowledge:

describe the scale of various structure in the universe and explain how astrophysicists arrive at these measurements;
calculate the distances to various objects given suitable data;
quantitatively describe the basic functioning of the optical/UV/IR telescope and spectrograph, radio interferometer and other astronomical instruments;
calculate the signal-to-noise expected in various astronomical observing scenarios;
use observational data to calculate masses and radii of stars and exo-planets;
quantitatively describe the concepts of expanding space-time and cosmological redshift;

Discipline Specific Skills and Knowledge:

solve mathematical problems;

Personal and Key Transferable / Employment Skills and Knowledge:

develop self-study skills;
work to deadlines.

SYLLABUS PLAN – summary of the structure and academic content of the module

Broad Overview and Background
1. The contents of the Universe.
2. Celestial co-ordinate systems.
3. Ages in the Universe (our Sun, clusters, galaxies).
4. Broad outline of Stellar evolution.
Measuring the following properties.
1. Parallax and distance to the Sun.
2. Luminosity of stars — main-sequence distances.
3. The temperatures of stars.
4. The masses of stars and planets (Kepler's Laws the importance of binaries).
5. The radii of stars and planets
Telescopes, Instruments and Interferometers.
1. Statistics of photon counting instruments. Energy integrating instruments.
2. Ideal and non-deal telescopes (angular resolution, platescales and aberrations).
3. Classical imaging systems.
4. Spectrographs, polarimeters and heterodyne techniques.
5. Charge coupled devices.
6. Interferometry & sparse apertures.
7. Radio Astronomy, X-ray, gamma-ray astronomy.
8. Turbulence, adaptive optics, coronographs and higher resolution.
Additional topics
1. Spectroscopy of exoplanet atmospheres.
2. Diffuse gas.
3. Modern instruments: SKA, JWST, SPHERE.
4. Cosmology, the expanding universe and its evolution.

LEARNING AND TEACHING

LEARNING ACTIVITIES AND TEACHING METHODS (given in hours of study time)

Scheduled Learning & Teaching activities

22 hours

Guided independent study

128 hours

Placement/study abroad

0 hours

DETAILS OF LEARNING ACTIVITIES AND TEACHING METHODS