AST103 Astronomy 2: The Milky Way

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AST103 Astronomy 2 The Milky Way University
Elective Unit
Explore our Galaxy and beyond!

• Introduction to Astronomy
• Light, gravitation, telescopes

• Stars and Stellar Evolution
• Our Sun and the nature of stars
• Neutron stars black holes

Two galaxies merging through their mutual
gravitational attraction How do stars and
galaxies form?

• Galaxies and Cosmology
• Quasars, active galaxies
• Origin and evolution of the Universe, the Big
  Bang
• Extraterrestrial life?

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A young, open cluster of stars NGC 6823
Topics
Ideal for study by anyone with an enquiring,
scientific mind!

• Stars and Stellar Evolution
• Our Sun, Nature of Stars, Birth and Death of
  Stars
• Einstein Astronomy Neutron Stars Black
  Holes

• Galaxies and Cosmology
• Our Galaxy, Galaxies, Quasars, Active Galaxies,
  Gamma-Ray Bursters, Cosmology, Dark Matter Dark
  Energy, Exploring the Early Universe, The Search
  for Extraterrestrial Life

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Exciting Universe Textbook with Extensive
e-Resources
Fully up-to-date text book Universe with CD-ROM
and On-Line Support (2005) http//www.whfreeman.co
m/universe7e/
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Universal Questions

• How can the structure of the whole
• Universe be studied?

• Cosmology
• What is the Big Bang?
• How large and how old is the Universe?
• How were chemical elements created?
• What is the ultimate fate of the Universe?
• What is the cosmic microwave background?

On-Line Animations and VideosInto the Heart of
a Type II Supernova

• Galaxies
• How are galaxies structured?
• When did they form? How do they evolve?
• Is our own Milky Way galaxy typical?
• Are there massive black holes at the centre of
  all galaxies?
• What are quasars and active galaxies? 

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Topical and Newsworthy
The media will be reporting on the latest news

• Supernovae
• What triggered this event in a nearby galaxy?
• Why are supernova so important?

• Massive Black Holes
• Is there a black hole in this galactic centre?
• How can we find out?

• Star Birth and Life
• How are new stars born within nebulae?
• Could life evolve there as well?

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On-line Tests
with immediate results

• Practice
• multiple attempts
• large question bank

• Assessment 1
• 4 short MCQ tests
• 50 contribution
• 40 overall to pass

Cassini-Huygens spacecraft reached Saturn (July
2004) Huygens landing on Titan (January 2005) 
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CLEA Experiment 1 Stellar Spectra
How can we learn about stars from their spectra?

• Virtual Instrumements
• record observations
• analyse results

• Assessment
• test based on worksheet
• 50 x 1/3 contribution
• 40 overall to pass

Contemporary Experiences in Astronomy Classificati
on of Stellar Spectra
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CLEA Experiments 2 3
Day time computer-based observations of stars
and galaxies

• Virtual Telescope
• find the distance to a star cluster
• determine the age of the universe
• use your own observations

Photoelectric Photometry of the
Pleiades Contemporary Experiences in
Astronomy Hubble Redshift

• Assessment
• test based on worksheet
• 50 x 2/3 contribution
• 40 overall to pass

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Clanfield Observatory http//www.hantsastro.org.uk
/
24 inch reflecting telescope
See the night sky for real!

• Hampshire Astronomical Group
• Tour, demonstrations, talks
• and observations

5 inch refractor

• Two or more visits per semester
• free of charge
• regardless of weather!
• Solar System and deep sky
• wide range of telescopes equipment
• solar observing

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South Downs Planetarium http//www.southdowns.org.
uk/
See the night sky in any weather!

• Educational Value
• helps understanding
• lively presentations
• highlights topical events

10 metre dome 100 seat star theatre Largest
planetarium in the South

• One visit per semester
• free of charge
• free transport
• regardless of weather!

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Interactive Classes
See the night sky in any weather!

• Educational Value
• helps understanding
• lively presentations
• highlights topical events

individual handset Ask the Audience anonymous
answers

• One visit per semester
• free of charge
• free transport
• regardless of weather!

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Where is dark matter in galaxies like the
Sombrero?
Further Information
Astronomy 2 The Milky Way marco.bruni_at_port.ac.uk
Mercantile House, Floor 7 http//www.whfreeman.co
m/universe7e/

• Follow-On Units
• Level 3 unit AST304Stars, Black Holes and
  Cosmology
• Level 2 Astrobiology (2005/6)

What is at the heart of the Crab nebula?