28412 - Fundamentals of Astronomy 1

Academic Year 2010/2011

  • Teaching Mode: Traditional lectures
  • Campus: Bologna
  • Corso: First cycle degree programme (L) in Mathematics (cod. 8010)

Learning outcomes

The aim of the course is to provide a general view of Astronomy & Astrophysics.

Course contents

- The celestial sphere. Coordinates and the motion of celestial bodies

- Time. The calendar and its evolution

- The size of the Earth

- Tolemaic and Copernican systems

- The lunar parallax

- The stellar parallax

- Kepler's laws and the newtonian gravity

- The solar system

- Extrasolar planets and the search for extraterrestrial life

- Radiative processes

- Telescopes and astronomical observations

Readings/Bibliography

“Essentials of Astronomy”  Lloyd Motz & Anneta Duveen
Columbia University Press

“Fundamental Astronomy” H. Karttunen, P. Kroger, H. Oja, M. Poutanen, K.J. Donne
r.  Springer

Teaching methods

Lectures.

Assessment methods

Oral exam.

Teaching tools

Powerpoint slides and traditional blackboard.

Office hours

See the website of Andrea Cimatti