PHYS1005: Introduction to Astronomy & Space Science

1. PHYS1005: Introduction to Astronomy & Space Science • Broad introduction to modern astronomy and astrophysics • Apply simple physical principles to very distant objects (well beyond reach) and learn about their nature • Nature of the course: • Mostly lectures, but including 4 problem classes + revision lectures • 3 lectures/week • Assessment: • 80% by examination (end January) • 20% from multiple-choice, computer-based quiz (beginning January; 2 practice sessions planned for Nov and Dec – see PHYS1005 web page!) • i.e. no continuous assessment or lab component! • Details on handout • N.B. any updates will appear on the web page! PHYS1005 – 2003/4

2. Books and other material: • Universe by Kaufmann & Freedman (5th ed.) • Comprehensive, beautifully produced, reasonable maths level • Useful for semester 2 course PHYS1008 Physics of Solar System • Used in previous years  possible second-hand copies from 2nd yrs! • Introductory Astronomy & Astrophysics by Zeilik, Gregory & Smith (4th ed.) • Slightly more advanced (assumes a higher level of maths) • Useful in later courses (for astronomers/space scientists) • WWW (http://www.phys.soton.ac.uk) • Everyone should look at course web pages! • Repository for all lecture material • And links to much else besides! • N.B. these are NOT a replacement for text books! • Astronomy magazines (Hartley Library): • Sky & Telescope • Astronomy Now • Frequent astro articles in New Scientist, Scientific American PHYS1005 – 2003/4

3. Background to course: • Core course for Physics with Astronomy and Physics with Space Science • N.B. no previous knowledge of astronomy is assumed! • A-level Physics is required and is assumed • A-level Maths is preferred but not essential (students with AS-level Maths only did fine last year) • 4 sets of Problem Sheets to work through • But these do not count in your assessment • Expect ~3hrs/week independent study (reading, reviewing lecture material, doing problems) per course PHYS1005 – 2003/4

4. Overview of topics covered in course: • Gain feel for astronomical scales: distances, times, masses: • e.g. travelling in a regular passenger jet, roughly how long would it take to reach the Sun? • 2 months • 2 years • 20 years • 200 years • Answer: 20 years! • Travelling in the same jet, how long would it take to reach the nearest star to the Sun? (What’s its name?) • 5,000 years • 50,000 years • 500,000 years • 5,000,000 years • Answer: 5 million years! (α Cen) PHYS1005 – 2003/4

5. Timescales: • How old is the Earth? • 6,500 yrs • 65 million yrs • 800 million yrs • 4.5 billion yrs • Answer: 4.5 billion yrs - significance of a) and b)? • a) is “biblical” age, b) is last major impact event • N.B. the Sun is the same age as the Earth, but how much longer will it last? • How old is the Universe? • 4.5 billion yrs • 8 billion yrs • 13.5 billion yrs • Answer: 13.5 billion yrs – from where? • MAP satellite to survey cosmic microwave background (2003!) PHYS1005 – 2003/4

6. Examples of what course contains (and what it does not contain!): Sun and Planets are in PHYS1008! e.g. Mars: Beagle 2 on Mars Express (launched in June) Due to land in Isidis Planitis Basin http://www.beagle2.com PHYS1005 – 2003/4

7. and Solar Corona: • coronal mass ejections (CME) seen by SOHO • http://umbra.nascom.nasa.gov/eit/cme/ PHYS1005 – 2003/4

8. Stars, Galaxies & Cosmology: Planetary Nebulae (dying stars) (see HST web site or APOD) PHYS1005 – 2003/4

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16. Wilkinson Microwave Anisotropy Probe PHYS1005 – 2003/4