Tools of Modern Astronomy

Unit Code: HET606

Credit Points: 12.5 Credit Points

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Related Course/s:

A unit of study in the Graduate Certificate of Science (Astronomy), Graduate Diploma of Science (Astronomy) and Master of Science (Astronomy).

Aims & Objectives:

Aims
This Unit aims to provide a good understanding of electromagnetic radiation, focusing on both its emission mechanisms and its subsequent detection, with an emphasis on telescopes and their observations. The electromagnetic spectrum from gamma rays to radio waves will be covered.
Objectives
After successfully completing this Unit, students should be able to:
• understand the nature of light and appreciate that different wavelengths of electromagnetic radiation require different types of detectors; • understand the basic principles of telescope design and their use;
• understand the principles and techniques of observational astronomy across the electromagnetic spectrum;
• research an astronomy topic in depth, using dependable sources of astronomical information on the internet.

Teaching Methods:

Online Delivery Mode, Contact via Newsgroup and Email.

Assessment:

Assessable newsgroup contributions, essay, online tests and project

Content:

• Celestial co-ordinates and time systems
• The nature and production of light: gamma-rays to radio waves; thermal and non-thermal sources; emission lines; earthly and heavenly examples
• The electromagnetic spectrum; the sky at different wavelengths; atmospheric windows
• Photometry, filters, colour magnitudes and colour indices
• Photomultipliers, CCD imaging
• Optical spectroscopy, prism and grating spectroscopy; the detection of extrasolar planets via spectroscopic means
• The eye as an optical instrument, lens systems, refracting and reflecting telescopes; magnification, light-gathering power, angular resolution, diffraction limit and aberrations
• Principles of telescope mount and housing design, control systems.
• Optical seeing, active and adaptive optics, laser guide stars, astronomical site selection and light pollution issues
• Infrared astronomy: detectors, South Pole infrared astronomy and space missions
• Construction and resolving power of single-dish radio telescopes, principles of radio and microwave receivers
• Radio interferometry, interferometer arrays and aperture synthesis, VLBI, data analysis
• High-energy astronomy: design of UV, X-ray and gamma-ray telescopes and detectors
• Neutrino astronomy, gravity wave detectors

Textbooks: