Download
1 / 47
470 likes | 561 Views
Astronomy 1100 Introduction to Astrophysics.
E N D
Astronomy 1100Introduction to Astrophysics Goals: to develop a knowledge of some of the basic tools used in the study of astronomy and astrophysics, and to gain practical experience with them. The field depends highly on accurate observations to make deductions about the universe around us, and it is important to understand which observations are fundamental and which are subject to large observational uncertainties. Emphasis is placed on the development of critical judgment to separate observational information from proposed physical models.
Astronomical Factoids Ancient Numerology 20 = 1 × 20 = 2 × 10 = 4 × 5 Numbers 1, 2, 4, 5, 10 are factors of 20. But 1 + 2 + 4 + 5 + 10 = 22 > 20 So 20 is an abundant number. 22 = 1 × 22 = 2 × 11 Numbers 1, 2, 11 are factors of 22. But 1 + 2 + 11 = 14 < 22 So 22 is a deficient number.
6 = 1 × 6 = 2 × 3 Numbers 1, 2, 3 are factors of 6. But 1 + 2 + 3 = 6 = 6 ! So 6 is a perfect number. The first five known perfect numbers are: 6, 28, 496, 8128, and 33,550,336. They form a rather select group.
A perfect number is the sum of its proper positive divisors, e.g.6 = 1 + 2 + 3 = 1 2 328 = 1 + 2 + 4 + 7 + 14= 1 2 14= 1 4 7Very few perfect numbers exist.6, 28, 496, 8128, 33,550,336, 8,589,869,056
The astronomical connection… 6 = the number of nights it takes the Moon to go from a thin crescent after New Moon to First Quarter phase. 28 = the number of nights it takes for the Moon to go from a thin crescent after New Moon until it disappears from view at the next New Moon (“moonth” ≈ 29½ days). Coincidence? 6 = number of sides on a cube 360 = 6 × 6 × 10 = number of degrees in a circle 365, the number of days in a year 24 = 6 × 4 = number of hours in a day
The “Man in the Moon” The “Lady in the Moon” The “Beetle” The “Rabbit”
May 3, 1990. April 19, 1990. May 26, 1990.
Development of the 24-hour Day The “day” can be separated into four (4) distinct segments: Sunrise to Noon (high point) Noon to Sunset Sunset to Midnight (opposite of noon) Midnight to Sunrise If each of these segments is marked by the Sun’s movement through 6 smaller segments (6 is a perfect number) called “hours,” then the day consists of 24 hours.
Circular units in Astronomy A complete circle therefore consists of 360 = 6 6 10 units called degrees (°), or 24 = 4 6 units called hours (h). Subdivisions are: 1° = 60 arcminutes (') 1' = 60 arcseconds (") 1h = 60 minutes (m) 1m = 60 seconds (s)
Plane Trigonometry: Recall triangles in plane trigonometry. A, B, and C denote angles a, b, and c denote opposite sides Interrelated through:
Scientific Notation in Astronomy As in physics, mks units are normally used in conjunction with powers of ten notation and proper round-off rules. Astronomers can be lazy at times, however, and often “stray” from the standard usage. For example, in the study of stellar atmospheres, cgs units are used (an older variant of mks units). In stellar astronomy, the units of length, mass, and time are also expressed typically as: parsecs (pc), kiloparsecs (kpc), or Megaparsecs (Mpc), solar masses (M), and years (yr) or Megayears (Myr).
Some examples. 1. The Sun’s disk has an average angular diameter of 1920" while the Moon’s disk has an average angular diameter of 1865". The Sun’s average distance is 1.496 108 km, while that of the Moon is 3.844 105 km. What are the physical diameters of the Sun and the Moon?
Solution: First step: outline the problem in a diagram. r = 1.496108 km (Sun), r = 3.844105 km (Moon) Since the angles in both cases are small, roughly 0°.5, it is possible to solve for the angular diameter using the small angle equation, namely where the angle θ is expressed in dimensionless units, radians. 1 radian = 206265 arcseconds
For the Sun, r = 1.496108 km and θ = 1920". For the Moon, r = 3.844105 km and θ = 1865". Actual mean diameter of Moon = 3475 km.
2. The Hubble image below shows the satellites Titan (upper right), Enceladus, Dione, and Mimas (lower left) in transit across the planet Saturn. The equatorial diameter of Saturn is 120,536 km. What is the diameter of Titan? Solution: Measured diameters of the two images are 2¼ mm and 53 mm, respectively. The agreement is exact to within the 2 significant figure accuracy of the measurements.
The Summer Triangle Groups that look like their namesakes.
Hercules Normally pictured holding the world.
Sagittarius An archer? Better pictured as a teapot.
The Perseus Group A story in the stars.
Ursa Major Does this group truly look like a bear??!
A better way? − from Rambling Through the Skies, George Lovi, Sky & Telescope, December 1990.
The Heavenly “G.” Captain, all d’uh riggin’ seems perfectly polished.
Stars are presently designated in a variety of ways: Greek letters, from east to west for stars of comparable brightness (UMa)…
Greek letters, from from brightest to faintest for stars of comparable brightness (Ori, Cas), as well as Bayer-Flamsteed numbers…
Archaeoastronomy. Many constellations bear names originating from eras when the stellar configuration bore some resemblance to the object after which they are named, e.g. Ursa Major, the Great Bear.
Stars on the celestial equator (CE) rise due east and set due west. In 2600 BC Hydra lay along the CE, making then useful for navigation at night.
Only 50 of the 88 modern constellations were known in antiquity. They also outlined only regions in the northern sky, most being named by ancient Minoans.
Zodiacal Constellations, Astrological Eras, and the link to precession.
The old constellation of Argo, the Ship, was very large. It was but one of many symbols associated with the story of Noah’s Ark.
