Astronomy 1
A.Y. 2018/2019
Learning objectives
Obiettivo del corso di Astronomia 1 e' di offrire una panoramica il piu'
possibile completa e aggiornata delle principali tematiche
dell'astrofisica contemporanea, utile allo studente per individuare gli
argomenti sui quali costruire la propria formazione specialistica. In
questo primo modulo si intendono fornire le competenze di base di
astrofisica stellare.
possibile completa e aggiornata delle principali tematiche
dell'astrofisica contemporanea, utile allo studente per individuare gli
argomenti sui quali costruire la propria formazione specialistica. In
questo primo modulo si intendono fornire le competenze di base di
astrofisica stellare.
Expected learning outcomes
Undefined
Lesson period: First semester
Assessment methods: Esame
Assessment result: voto verbalizzato in trentesimi
Single course
This course cannot be attended as a single course. Please check our list of single courses to find the ones available for enrolment.
Course syllabus and organization
Single session
Responsible
Lesson period
First semester
Course syllabus
PART I - Fundamental properties of stars
1. Historical introduction
2. Continous radiation from stars
Brilliance. Electromagnetic spectrum. Planck's law. Colour indexes. Stellar distances. Absolute magnitudes.
3. Spectral lines in stars
Spectral types. Formation of spectral lines. Hertzsprung-Russell diagram.
4. Binary stars and stellar masses
Doppler effect for circular orbits. Binary stars in elliptical orbits. Stellar masses. Stellar sizes.
5. The Sun as a typical star
Fundamental structure. Elements of theory of radiative transport. The photosphere. The chromosphere. The solar corona. Solar activity.
PART II - Telescopes and astronomical instruments
6. Optical telescopes
Effective area, angular resolution. Seeing. Rifractive and reflective telescopes. Spectroscopy. Earth observatories. Hubble Space Telescope. Data handling.
7. "Below the visible"
IR and sub-mm astronomy. Microwave observations. Radioastronomy. Experiments and observations from the Earth. Space missions.
8. "Above the visible"
UV observations. X-ray astronomy. Gamma-ray astronomy. High-energy space telescopes
PART III - Stellar evolution
9. The main sequence
Sources of stellar energy. Nuclear astrophysics: formation of elements in equilibrium and non-equilibrium conditions. Stellar structure. Hydrostatic equilibrium. Radiative and convective energy transport. Cosmic abundances. Stellar models. Solar neutrinos.
10. The final phase of stellar evolution
Beyond the main sequence. Giants. Cepheid variables. Planetary nebulae. White dwarves.
11. Relativity
Special and general relativity: a short introduction. Astronomical tests for general relativity. Gravitational redshift. Gravitational waves. Schwarzschild radius. Black holes.
12. The final phase of massive stars
Supernovae and SN remnants. Neutron stars. Pressure, rotation and magnetic field of compact stars. Pulsars. Pulsars and interstellar space. Stellar black holes.
13. Evolution of compact binaries
Compact systems with a white dwarf. Compact systems with neutron stars. Systems with a black hole. Examples of compact systems
1. Historical introduction
2. Continous radiation from stars
Brilliance. Electromagnetic spectrum. Planck's law. Colour indexes. Stellar distances. Absolute magnitudes.
3. Spectral lines in stars
Spectral types. Formation of spectral lines. Hertzsprung-Russell diagram.
4. Binary stars and stellar masses
Doppler effect for circular orbits. Binary stars in elliptical orbits. Stellar masses. Stellar sizes.
5. The Sun as a typical star
Fundamental structure. Elements of theory of radiative transport. The photosphere. The chromosphere. The solar corona. Solar activity.
PART II - Telescopes and astronomical instruments
6. Optical telescopes
Effective area, angular resolution. Seeing. Rifractive and reflective telescopes. Spectroscopy. Earth observatories. Hubble Space Telescope. Data handling.
7. "Below the visible"
IR and sub-mm astronomy. Microwave observations. Radioastronomy. Experiments and observations from the Earth. Space missions.
8. "Above the visible"
UV observations. X-ray astronomy. Gamma-ray astronomy. High-energy space telescopes
PART III - Stellar evolution
9. The main sequence
Sources of stellar energy. Nuclear astrophysics: formation of elements in equilibrium and non-equilibrium conditions. Stellar structure. Hydrostatic equilibrium. Radiative and convective energy transport. Cosmic abundances. Stellar models. Solar neutrinos.
10. The final phase of stellar evolution
Beyond the main sequence. Giants. Cepheid variables. Planetary nebulae. White dwarves.
11. Relativity
Special and general relativity: a short introduction. Astronomical tests for general relativity. Gravitational redshift. Gravitational waves. Schwarzschild radius. Black holes.
12. The final phase of massive stars
Supernovae and SN remnants. Neutron stars. Pressure, rotation and magnetic field of compact stars. Pulsars. Pulsars and interstellar space. Stellar black holes.
13. Evolution of compact binaries
Compact systems with a white dwarf. Compact systems with neutron stars. Systems with a black hole. Examples of compact systems
FIS/05 - ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS - University credits: 6
Lessons: 42 hours
Professors:
Bersanelli Marco Rinaldo Fedele, Tomasi Maurizio
Professor(s)
Reception:
Ask the teacher
Laboratorio di Strumentazione Spaziale, Department of physics (via Celoria 16, Milano)