00057 - Astronomy

Learning outcomes

At the end of the course, students will have acquired the fundamentals of astronomy and astrophysics and a basic understanding of the physical content of the Universe. Specifically, students will be able to: - describe the motions of celestial bodies and the historical development of the definition of World Systems; - recognize the differences between bodies in the Solar System and describe their formation and evolution; - describe the mechanisms underlying the production of energy in the Sun and stars and the propagation of electromagnetic radiation; - describe the fundamental stages of stellar evolution; - explain the main observations underlying the definition of astronomical distance scales and models of the formation and evolution of the Universe.

Course contents

The course aims at providing fundamental knowledge of astronomy, one of the principal natural sciences.
The sky, the stars, the planets, and the universe, an integral part of the nature that surrounds us, will be observed, understood, and interpreted within a general physical context, governed by fundamental physical and mathematical laws.
Specifically, the following knowledge will be provided:

• Main astronomical phenomena in relation to local geography: apparent motions of the stars, the sun, and the planets
• Vocabulary for observing celestial phenomena: magnitudes, properties of light, wavelength, blackbody laws, Doppler effect
  
• Main observation techniques and operating principles of telescopes and astronomical instruments
  
• Atmospheric effects, definition of seeing, and light pollution
  
• Origin and evolution of the universe, stars, planets
  
• Laws of the Universe: Universal Gravitation, General Relativity, the Expansion of the Universe
  
• Birth, Evolution, and Death of a Star: Origin of All Chemical Elements
  
• Functioning and Properties of the Major Source of Clean Energy: the Sun
  
• Formation and Evolution of Protoplanetary Disks and Extrasolar Planets
  
• Our Galaxy and Galaxies
  
• Origin and Evolution of the Universe: Cosmology
  
  By the end of the course, students will have acquired the following skills:
  
• Use of appropriate astronomical terminology
  
• Basic use of simple digital planetarium software to describe celestial phenomena (e.g., Stellarium)
  
• Ability to orient oneself by looking at the sky during the day and at night.
  
• Ability to critically address and explain astronomical topics, describing and interpreting simple astronomical phenomena
  
• Ability to critically analyze a popular astronomical article
  
• During the course, attention will be paid to current issues such as light pollution and the Sun as a source of clean energy.
  

The main contents are:

• Historical Introduction to Astronomy as a Natural Science
  
• Fundamental Astronomy
  
• Our Solar System
  
• The Stars
  
• Galaxies and Cosmology
  
  

In particular, the following topics will be addressed:

• Position Astronomy
  
• Astronomical Scales and Distances
  
• The Nature of Light and Its Measurement
  
• Interaction between Radiation and Matter
  
• Observational Techniques: Photometry, Spectroscopy, Interferometry, and Astrometry
  
• Telescopes and Observational Instruments
  
• Our Star: The Sun and Solar Energy
  
• Notes on the Formation of the Solar System
  
• Structure and Properties of Solar System Bodies
  
• Apparent and Actual Motions of Planets and the Laws of Gravitation
  
• The Formation of Stars and Stellar Clusters
  
• Formation and Evolution of Protoplanetary Disks Around Young Stars
  
• The Evolution and Death of Stars
  
• Interstellar Medium, Gas, and Dust
  
• Our Galaxy: The Milky Way
  
• Structure of the Universe: Galaxies and Galaxy Clusters
  
• Cosmology: Origin and Evolution of the Universe

 

Readings/Bibliography

Recommended books

• R. A. Freedman & W. J. Kaufmann III, "Universe" (8th edition), W. G. Freeman and Company, 2008
• J. M. Pasachoff & A. Filippenko, "The Cosmos" (5th edition), Cambridge University Press, 2019

Further reading:

• H. Karttunen et al., edited by A. Cimatti and P. Focardi,

Teaching methods

The course program is organized using innovative teaching methods.

• 2/3 of the lectures will be done in person, while 1/3 will be done or remotely, during a field trip, or following the proposed group activities.
• Use of teaching technologies (Teams, virtual and/or other teaching tools, software, and video). An example could be videos of institutes that operate ground-based or space-based astronomical observatories (such as ESO, ESA, or STScI) that use real, current data to explain basic concepts (for example, the HR diagram using a video produced by STScI: https://hubblesite.org/contents/media/videos/35-Video?amp;news=true&Tag=Star%20Clusters ).
• Main astronomical phenomena related to the location will be explained using digital planetarium software (e.g., Stellarium).
• A visit at the Loiano Astronomical Observatory to explore concepts discussed during lectures, organizing astronomical observations in small groups, and, if possible, doing observations in groups.
  

Specific group activities will be proposed.
Groups will consist of a maximum of 3 students.

Possible activities proposed:

• During the course, each group of students will select a popular science article from MEDIA INAF and present it to the class, explaining two key figures from the article. This activity has several goals: - Stimulate interest by accessing science articles - Teach how to read and critically present a current scientific issue
• Each group will learn to read a sundial - Print a sundial, noting their birthdays (possibly including a visit to the sundial at the Basilica of San Petronio)
• Construction of a (part of) Analemma
• Sunspot observations
  
  

These activities will be carried out by each group and summarized in a 1-page report per activity. The reports prepared by the groups will then be presented at the oral exam.
The innovative teaching method proposed aims to enhance the skills students have acquired during the course, developing the following:

• Looking at nature with a critical attitude, stimulating the search for a scientific explanation
• Research activities using scientific sources available online
• Problem-solving activities (guided by the teacher in the proposed activities but with essential personal input)
• Acquisition of analysis, synthesis, and presentation skills
• Learning to work in groups (a crucial aspect, especially for students who have experienced the Covid period)

Assessment methods

The exam will be done in a completely innovative way.
Each student will submit a short one-page report describing the activities done during the semester and the results obtained (one report per group).
Each student will choose a topic and explore further using additional materials (scientific articles, reviews, online materials) suggested by the professor. They will write an abstract (approximately half of an A4 page) and prepare a PowerPoint presentation of approximately 20 slides.
The exam will be oral only, starting from the presentation of these 20 slides. Questions will focus primarily on the content presented and the experiences undertaken.
The final grade will also take into account the student's commitment and participation in the proposed activities.

Teaching tools

Use of teaching technologies (Teams, virtual and/or other teaching tools, software, videos). Examples include videos produced by institutes of ground-based or space-based astronomical observatories (such as ESO, ESA, or STScI) that use real data to explain basic concepts.

The main astronomical phenomena related to the observatory location will be explained using digital planetarium software (e.g., Stellarium).

Office hours

See the website of Veronica Roccatagliata