- Docente: Adriano Guarnieri Minnucci
- Credits: 8
- SSD: FIS/05
- Language: Italian
- Teaching Mode: In-person learning (entirely or partially)
- Campus: Bologna
- Corso: First cycle degree programme (L) in Astronomy (cod. 8004)
Learning outcomes
At the end of the course the student knows the basic elements concernig the Earth, the Solar System, the Stars, the Galaxy and the basic tools in order to describe orbital motions, to determine the position of celestial objects, their distances and the emitted radiation, and to perform astronomical observations.
Course contents
Outline of spherical astronomy. The planet Earth. The celestial sphere. Time and its measure.
The motion of celestial bodies. The two body problem. The integration of the equation of motion. The solar system: a general overview. The planets. Extrasolar planets.
Continuous radiation from the stars. Stellar brightness and magnitudes. Outline of photometric systems.
General properties of the stars. Spectral classifications of the stars. Hertzsprung-Russel diagram. Double stars and the determination of the mass of the stars. Variable stars. Star clusters.
The Milky Way: general properties.
Galaxies.
Distances of celestial bodies
Readings/Bibliography
P. Giannone, Elementi di Astronomia, Pitagora Editrice Bologna
B. Carroll, D. Ostlie, An Introduction to modern astrophysics, Pearson International Edition
M. Kutner, Astronomy - A physical perspective, Cambridge University Press
Teaching methods
Frontal lectures
Assessment methods
Oral exam
Office hours
See the website of Adriano Guarnieri Minnucci