Amata MERCURIO | GENERAL ASTRONOMY

cod. 0512600026

GENERAL ASTRONOMY

	0512600026
	DEPARTMENT OF PHYSICS "E. R. CAIANIELLO"
	EQF6
	PHYSICS
	2024/2025

PERCORSO SHARED STUDY PATHWAY

	YEAR OF COURSE 3
	YEAR OF DIDACTIC SYSTEM 2017
	AUTUMN SEMESTER

TEACHING UNITS

	SSD	CFU	HOURS	ACTIVITY	TYPE OF ACTIVITY
	FIS/05	6	48	LESSONS	OPTIONAL SUBJECTS

PROFESSORS

	VALERIO BOZZA T Curriculum
	AMATA MERCURIO Curriculum

EXAMS

Exam	Date	Session
APPELLO DI GENNAIO 2025	15/01/2025 - 10:00	SESSIONE ORDINARIA
APPELLO DI GENNAIO 2025	15/01/2025 - 10:00	SESSIONE DI RECUPERO
APPELLO DI FEBBRAIO 2025	10/02/2025 - 10:00	SESSIONE ORDINARIA
APPELLO DI FEBBRAIO 2025	10/02/2025 - 10:00	SESSIONE DI RECUPERO

	Objectives
	THE COURSE PROVIDES THE BASIC NOTIONS OF ASTRONOMY, FROM COORDINATES SYSTEMS TO CELESTIAL MECHANICS, LAYING THE FOUNDATIONS FOR A FUTURE ASTROPHYSICAL EDUCATION. KNOWLEDGE AND UNDERSTANDING: DURING THE COURSE, ASTRONOMICAL COORDINATES SYSTEMS ARE DEFINED, THE PROBLEM OF THE MEASURE OF TIME IS DISCUSSED AND THE MAIN SYSTEMATIC EFFECTS IN ASTROMETRY ARE REVIEWED. THE MAIN PHOTOMETRIC QUANTITIES ARE DEFINED, WHILE A BROAD SPACE IS DEVOTED TO CELESTIAL MECHANICS: FROM KEPLER’S LAWS, TO THE TWO- AND THREE-BODY PROBLEMS, WITH SPECIAL REGARD TO BINARY AND PLANETARY SYSTEMS. FINALLY, SPECTROSCOPIC METHODS AND THE MAIN TOPICS IN ASTROPHYSICS ARE MENTIONED. APPLYING KNOWLEDGE AND UNDERSTANDING: STUDENTS LEARN HOW TO SOLVE PROBLEMS ABOUT COORDINATE TRANSFORMATIONS, DETERMINATION OF THE POSITION OF STARS, ORBITAL ELEMENTS OF STELLAR AND PLANETARY SYSTEMS, MEASURES OF THE FLUX OF A STAR. EACH PROBLEM IS FRAMED IN ITS PHYSICAL CONTEXT SO AS TO BETTER UNDERSTAND THE SCIENTIFIC SENSE OF SUCH MEASURES.

THE COURSE PROVIDES THE BASIC NOTIONS OF ASTRONOMY, FROM COORDINATES SYSTEMS TO CELESTIAL MECHANICS, LAYING THE FOUNDATIONS FOR A FUTURE ASTROPHYSICAL EDUCATION.
KNOWLEDGE AND UNDERSTANDING:
DURING THE COURSE, ASTRONOMICAL COORDINATES SYSTEMS ARE DEFINED, THE PROBLEM OF THE MEASURE OF TIME IS DISCUSSED AND THE MAIN SYSTEMATIC EFFECTS IN ASTROMETRY ARE REVIEWED. THE MAIN PHOTOMETRIC QUANTITIES ARE DEFINED, WHILE A BROAD SPACE IS DEVOTED TO CELESTIAL MECHANICS: FROM KEPLER’S LAWS, TO THE TWO- AND THREE-BODY PROBLEMS, WITH SPECIAL REGARD TO BINARY AND PLANETARY SYSTEMS. FINALLY, SPECTROSCOPIC METHODS AND THE MAIN TOPICS IN ASTROPHYSICS ARE MENTIONED.
APPLYING KNOWLEDGE AND UNDERSTANDING:
STUDENTS LEARN HOW TO SOLVE PROBLEMS ABOUT COORDINATE TRANSFORMATIONS, DETERMINATION OF THE POSITION OF STARS, ORBITAL ELEMENTS OF STELLAR AND PLANETARY SYSTEMS, MEASURES OF THE FLUX OF A STAR. EACH PROBLEM IS FRAMED IN ITS PHYSICAL CONTEXT SO AS TO BETTER UNDERSTAND THE SCIENTIFIC SENSE OF SUCH MEASURES.

	Prerequisites
	CLASSICAL MECHANICS, NEWTONIAN GRAVITY, ANALITICAL MECHANICS, SPECTRUM OF ELECTROMAGNETIC WAVES.

	Contents
	HISTORICAL INTRODUCTION TO SKY OBSERVATIONS (2 HOURS) GEOMETRY OF THE SPHERE (2 HOURS) ASTRONOMICAL COORDINATES: ALTAZIMUTAL AND EQUATORIAL SYSTEM, COORDINATE TRANSFORMATIONS, ECLIPTIC AND GALACTIC COORDINATES (5 HOURS) MEASURE OF TIME: THE DAY, UNIVERSAL TIME, JULIAN DATE, PRECESSION OF THE EQUINOXES, NUTATIONS (3 HOURS) SYSTEMATIC EFFECTS IN ASTROMETRY: REFRACTION, PROPER MOTIONS, GEOCENTRIC AND ANNUAL PARALLAX, ABERRATION, GRAVITATIONAL LENSING (5 HOURS) PHOTOMETRY: ELECTROMAGNETIC RADIATION, PHOTOMETRIC UNITS, ATMOSPHERIC EFFECTS, STELLAR CATALOGS (2 HOURS) INTRODUCTION TO CELESTIAL MECHANICS: CONICAL CURVES, KEPLER’S LAWS, GRAVITATION (1 HOURS) TWO-BODY PROBLEM: LAGRANGIAN, EQUATIONS OF MOTION, EFFECTIVE POTENTIAL, ORBITAL VELOCITY, KEPLER’S PROBLEM (4 HOURS) ORBITAL ELEMENTS: DETERMINATION OF ORBITAL ELEMENTS IN THE SOLAR SYSTEM (3 HOURS) BINARY AND EXOPLANETARY SYSTEMS: VISUAL BINARY STARS, SPECTROSCOPIC BINARIES, ECLIPSING BINARIES, EXTRASOLAR PLANETS (6 HOURS) EXTENSIONS TO THE TWO-BODY PROBLEM: LAPLACE-RUNGE-LENZ VECTOR, GRAVITATION OF EXTENDED BODIES, EXTENDED MASS DISTRIBUTIONS (4 HOURS) THREE-BODY PROBLEM: N-BODY PROBLEM, TRIANGULAR AND COLLINEAR SOLUTIONS, CLASSIFICATION (2 HOURS) RESTRICTED THREE-BODY PROBLEM: LAGRANGIAN POINTS AND STABILITY ANALYSIS (4 HOURS) INTRODUCTION TO ASTROPHYSICS: COLOR AND LUMINOSITY, SPECTROSCOPY, STELLAR CLASSIFICATION, EVOLUTION AND STELLAR CLUSTERS, GALAXIES AND COSMOLOGY (5 HOURS)

Contents

HISTORICAL INTRODUCTION TO SKY OBSERVATIONS (2 HOURS)
GEOMETRY OF THE SPHERE (2 HOURS)
ASTRONOMICAL COORDINATES: ALTAZIMUTAL AND EQUATORIAL SYSTEM, COORDINATE TRANSFORMATIONS, ECLIPTIC AND GALACTIC COORDINATES (5 HOURS)
MEASURE OF TIME: THE DAY, UNIVERSAL TIME, JULIAN DATE, PRECESSION OF THE EQUINOXES, NUTATIONS (3 HOURS)
SYSTEMATIC EFFECTS IN ASTROMETRY: REFRACTION, PROPER MOTIONS, GEOCENTRIC AND ANNUAL PARALLAX, ABERRATION, GRAVITATIONAL LENSING (5 HOURS)
PHOTOMETRY: ELECTROMAGNETIC RADIATION, PHOTOMETRIC UNITS, ATMOSPHERIC EFFECTS, STELLAR CATALOGS (2 HOURS)
INTRODUCTION TO CELESTIAL MECHANICS: CONICAL CURVES, KEPLER’S LAWS, GRAVITATION (1 HOURS)
TWO-BODY PROBLEM: LAGRANGIAN, EQUATIONS OF MOTION, EFFECTIVE POTENTIAL, ORBITAL VELOCITY, KEPLER’S PROBLEM (4 HOURS)
ORBITAL ELEMENTS: DETERMINATION OF ORBITAL ELEMENTS IN THE SOLAR SYSTEM (3 HOURS)
BINARY AND EXOPLANETARY SYSTEMS: VISUAL BINARY STARS, SPECTROSCOPIC BINARIES, ECLIPSING BINARIES, EXTRASOLAR PLANETS (6 HOURS)
EXTENSIONS TO THE TWO-BODY PROBLEM: LAPLACE-RUNGE-LENZ VECTOR, GRAVITATION OF EXTENDED BODIES, EXTENDED MASS DISTRIBUTIONS (4 HOURS)
THREE-BODY PROBLEM: N-BODY PROBLEM, TRIANGULAR AND COLLINEAR SOLUTIONS, CLASSIFICATION (2 HOURS)
RESTRICTED THREE-BODY PROBLEM: LAGRANGIAN POINTS AND STABILITY ANALYSIS (4 HOURS)
INTRODUCTION TO ASTROPHYSICS: COLOR AND LUMINOSITY, SPECTROSCOPY, STELLAR CLASSIFICATION, EVOLUTION AND STELLAR CLUSTERS, GALAXIES AND COSMOLOGY (5 HOURS)

	Teaching Methods
	LECTURES AT BLACKBOARD AND PRACTICAL EXERCISES WITH STUDENTS' INVOLVEMENT

	Verification of learning
	THE ASSESSMENT OF STUDENT LEVEL OCCURS THROUGH TWO TESTS: A) PRACTICAL PROJECT ON ASTRONOMICAL COORDINATES, CELESTIAL MECHANICS AND DETERMINATION OF ORBITAL ELEMENTS WITH THE USE OF A COMPUTER, TO BE COMPLETED INDIVIDUALLY IN ONE MONTH. B) FINAL ORAL INTERVIEW ON THE TOPICS DISCUSSED DURING THE COURSE. THE PURPOSE IS TO VET THE DEGREE OF UNDERSTANDING OF THE NOTIONS ON ASTRONOMY THROUGH A QUESTION ON THE ASTRONOMICAL MEASURE (COORDINATES, TIME, PHOTOMETRY) AND A QUESTION ON CELESTIAL MECHANICS. THE MINIMAL SCORE OF 18/30 IS OBTAINED IF ALL PROBLEMS IN THE PROJECT ARE AT LEAST SKETCHED AND IF THE STUDENT IS ABLE TO DEMONSTRATE A MINIMAL KNOWLEDGE OF THE CELESTIAL COORDINATES AND KEPLER'S LAWS. THE MAXIMAL SCORE OF 30/30 IS ASSIGNED IF THE PROBLEMS OF THE PROJECT ARE SOLVED CORRECTLY AND IF THE STUDENT MASTERS ALL TOPICS OF THE COURSE, BEING ABLE TO DESCRIBE THE LOGICS BEHIND THE CALCULATIONS SHOWN IN THE CLASSES. THE "LAUDE" IS ATTRIBUTED TO OUTSTANDING STUDENTS, WHO ARE ABLE TO ANSWER PROMPTLY AND MAKE CONNECTION BETWEEN ALL ARGUMENTS.

Verification of learning

THE ASSESSMENT OF STUDENT LEVEL OCCURS THROUGH TWO TESTS:
A) PRACTICAL PROJECT ON ASTRONOMICAL COORDINATES, CELESTIAL MECHANICS AND DETERMINATION OF ORBITAL ELEMENTS WITH THE USE OF A COMPUTER, TO BE COMPLETED INDIVIDUALLY IN ONE MONTH.
B) FINAL ORAL INTERVIEW ON THE TOPICS DISCUSSED DURING THE COURSE. THE PURPOSE IS TO VET THE DEGREE OF UNDERSTANDING OF THE NOTIONS ON ASTRONOMY THROUGH A QUESTION ON THE ASTRONOMICAL MEASURE (COORDINATES, TIME, PHOTOMETRY) AND A QUESTION ON CELESTIAL MECHANICS.
THE MINIMAL SCORE OF 18/30 IS OBTAINED IF ALL PROBLEMS IN THE PROJECT ARE AT LEAST SKETCHED AND IF THE STUDENT IS ABLE TO DEMONSTRATE A MINIMAL KNOWLEDGE OF THE CELESTIAL COORDINATES AND KEPLER'S LAWS.
THE MAXIMAL SCORE OF 30/30 IS ASSIGNED IF THE PROBLEMS OF THE PROJECT ARE SOLVED CORRECTLY AND IF THE STUDENT MASTERS ALL TOPICS OF THE COURSE, BEING ABLE TO DESCRIBE THE LOGICS BEHIND THE CALCULATIONS SHOWN IN THE CLASSES.
THE "LAUDE" IS ATTRIBUTED TO OUTSTANDING STUDENTS, WHO ARE ABLE TO ANSWER PROMPTLY AND MAKE CONNECTION BETWEEN ALL ARGUMENTS.

	Texts
	- ROY & CLARKE: "ASTRONOMY, PRINCIPLES AND PRACTICE", IOP PUBLISHING - FITZPATRICK: "AN INTRODUCTION TO CELESTIAL MECHANICS", CAMBRIDGE UNIVERSITY PRESS - WINN, "TRANSITS AND OCCULTATIONS" - KARTUNEN, KROEGER, OJA, POUTANEN, DONNER, "FONDAMENTI DI ASTRONOMIA", UTET - LECTURE NOTES

	More Information
	STUDENTS ARE RECEIVED AFTER APPOINTMENT SET BY E-MAIL.

Lessons Timetable

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Amata MERCURIO | GENERAL ASTRONOMY