00057 - Astronomy

Learning outcomes

At the end of the course, the student will possess a general understanding of the main topics in astronomy and astrophysics. In particular, the student will be able to present and discuss the physical content of the Universe and the astrophysical processes involved in the formation and evolution of cosmic objects, from the Solar System to the stars and the galaxies, and will also be able to present a brief overview of modern cosmology.

Course contents

The celestial Sphere and the coordinate systems. The observed motion of the Sun. The ancient Systems of the World. Sidereal and Solar time. Calendars. The observed motion of the planets. The Kepler's laws and the law of gravitation. The electromagnetic radiation. Apparent and absolute magnitude of the stars. Telescopes. Stellar evolution and the production of energy in the stars. The Sun and the Solar System. Our own Galaxy. The galaxies and the astronomical distance ladder. The active galactic nuclei (AGN). Cosmology.

Readings/Bibliography

• F. S. Delli Santi : "Introduzione all'Astronomia", Zanichelli, Bologna, 1996

• R. A. Freedman & W. J. Kaufmann III, "Universe" (8th edition), WG Freeman and Company, 2008

• J. M. Pasachoff & A. Filippenko "The Cosmos" (5th edition), Cambridge University Press, 2019

Other readings :

• S. Straulino & B. Olmi, "Astronomia", Zanichelli editore, 2020 

• M. H. Jones, R. J. A. Lambourne & S. Serjeant Eds., "An Introduction to Galaxies and Cosmology" (2nd edition), Cambridge University Press, 2015

• D. Rothery, N. McBride & I. Gilmour Eds., "An Introduction to the Solar System" (3rd edition), Cambridge University Press, 2018

• B. W. Carroll & D. A. Ostlie, "An Introduction to Modern Astrophysics" (2nd edition), Cambridge University Press, 2017

Teaching methods

Oral and practical lectures.

Assessment methods

Oral examination.

Office hours

See the website of Myriam Gitti