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Syllabus
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1. Introduction |
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Fascination of Astronomy |
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Important branches of Astronomy |
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* Observational Astronomy : Catalogues and Star charts
and instrumentation |
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* The astronomical Zoo : Solar system, Stars and star
clusters, Molecular Cloud Compleses, Galaxies and Clusters
of Galaxies, intergalactic medium. |
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* Windows to the Universe : Radio Astronomy, Infrared,
Optical, Ultraviolet, and X-ray and Gamma Ray Astronomy,
cosmic rays, rays. |
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2. Historical Perspectives |
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A. Brief History of Astronomy |
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* Western Astronomy Copernicus, Tycho Brahe, Kepler,
Galileo, Newton, Einstein, Hubble, …… |
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B. Space Probes: Apollo Series, Moon Landing, Pioneer,
Mariner, Voyager Series, Modern Space probes, Magelan,
Galileo, Space Telescopes-IRAS, Hubble, GRO, ASCA …… |
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3. Basic Mathematics |
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* Spherical Trignometry formulae. |
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* Spherical Trignometry formulae. |
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4. Basic Physics |
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4.1 Physical concepts |
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* Density, Pressure, Atmospheric pressure. |
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* Temperature and Temperature Scales, Black Body Radiation.
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* Velocity, Acceleration, Force; Momentum; Acceleration
due to gravity. |
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4.2 Dynamical calculations. |
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Orbital Velocity and Escape Velocity, Newton's laws
of motion, Newton's law of gravitation, gravitational
acceleration of planets; Escape velocity of planets;
orbital velocity of planets; Proof of eliptical orbits,
Doppler effect. |
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4.3 Kepler's Laws and Orbits |
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Elliptical Motion, Eccentricity, Perihelion, Aphelion,
Foci, Velocity at Perihelion, Velocity at Aphelion,
Velocity at any point, Orbit parameters (a, b), calculating
orbit of a comet. |
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5. Advanced Physics |
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Electromagnetic Radiation; Electromagnetic Spectrum;
Wave length; Frequency; Speed of light, Visible spectrum;
Invisible spectrum; Absorption/emission spectrum.. Foundations
of relativity. |
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6. Observational Techniques |
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A. Astronomical Measurements: Astronomical Unit; Light
Year; Parsec; Parallax., Distance to Stars from the
parallax and other methods. |
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B. Magnitude scales : Apparent Magnitude; Absolute
Magnitude; Bolometric Magnitude Distance of star from
magnitude. |
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C. Optics : Magnification., lenses and Mirrors; Baclow
lens; Eyepieces, Binoculars; Telescopes: Refracting;
Reflecting; Casegrian. |
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D. Time in Astronomy : Types of Year; Tropical Sidereal;
Andmalistic; Types of Lunar month; Sidereal; Synodic;
Drocenic; Nedical; Sidereal Time; GST; LST; Mean time;
Time Zones; IST; LT; Universal Time; Ephemeries Time;
Julian date; Calendars; Julian; Gregorian. |
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E. Calculation : Calculations of travel time of planets;
Julian day number calculations; Calculation GST and
LST. |
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F. Celestial Coordinate Systems and Celestial Circles
: Equator; Ecliptic; Meridian; Six O clock circle; Celestial
Points : Equinoxes and Solstices; Poles (Ecliptic and
Equatorial); Precession of Earth's Axis; Celestial Coordinates;
Alt/Azimuth; RA/Declination; Longitude/Latitude; Conversion
of Coordinates. |
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7. Astronomy from Indian Almanac |
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* 27 Constellations and 12 signs of zodiac |
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* Niryaan and Sayan positions of planets. |
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* Elongation and visibility of planets |
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* Tithi and Nakashtra (meaning), use of Tithi |
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* Sampatik Kaal (meaning) |
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* Calculations : Elongation of planets and their visibility
Elongation chart. |
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8. Laboratory Astronomy |
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Observations of elemental spectra and their correlation
to Astronomy, absorption and emission features, Dopler
Shift, Hubble's Law and expanding universe, Black body
ration and temperatures, types variabilities (binary,
pulsations etc.) HR diagram. |
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9. Size and Distance Scales |
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Scales on powers of 10, structure differences on size
scale, boundaries of dimensions, determination of distance
and standard candies. |
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10. Solar System |
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Astronomical bodies : Sun, planets and satellites.
Gravitational fields Origin of solar system. |
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Shadows and crescents eclipses; Solar Eclipses : Partial,
Total, Annular; Lunar Eclipse : Partial, Total, Annular;
Eclipse Year; Nodes; Saros and Metonic Cycle. |
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11. Minor Bodies in the Solar System |
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Meteorites, Asteroids, Comets, and their orbits, composition
and sizes and masses, Oort's Cloud and Kuiper Belt,
inflow rate. |
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12. Clustering in Space |
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Size scale of the Universe, planets around stars,
stellar clusters, Galaxies, Galactic structures. |
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13. Exotic Objects in the Universe |
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Evolution of stars, brown dwarfs, white dwarfs, neutron
stars, black holes, pulsars, quasars and X-ray sources. |
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14. Quiet Universe |
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Emission in stars, equilibrium conditions in astrophysical
objects and structures, dynamic equilibria and importance
of rotation and magnetic fields. |
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15. Violent Universe |
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Flares on the sun and stars, accretion instabilities,
supernovae type I and II, and Active Galactic Nuclei,
Galaxy mergers and the Big Bang. |
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16. Universe at Different Wavelength High & Low
Energies |
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Radio universe, synchrotron emission and jets in stars
and galaxies, winds and protostellar and protogalactic
matter, protostellar clouds, Infrared Universe and star
forming region-atmospheres and halos of stars, Optical
Universe and stars and their interactions, velocity
distributions and large scale structures. Ultraviolet
astronomy-clouds and absorption High energy phenomena
in stars production of X rays and Gamma rays, Atmosphere
of stars, magnetospheres of pulsars, inner structures
of quasars. |
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17. Invisible Universe |
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Dark matter in the universe, Halos of Galaxies, neutrinos. |
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18. Einstein's Universe |
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The Big bang and cosmology, expanding universe and
evidences for Big Bang, Gravitational redshift and time
dilation. |
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19. Outstanding Problems in Astronomy |
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Unresolved problems in Astronomy and Astrophysics. |
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Projects and Experiments |
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1. Plot of Comets path. |
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2. Plot of and Sun throughout the year |
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3. T2 and R3 plot: Keplers 3rd
law proof. |
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4. Sundial construction : Equatorial and Horizontal.
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5. Plotting, retrograde motion on sky chart. |
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6. Model of comet's path. |
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7. Path of comet on sky chart. |
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8. Plotting constellations. |
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9. North-South line from shadow of a stick, determination
of latitude and longitude from shadow. |
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10. Plotting Sunset/moon rise. |
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11. Sun-Spot observation. |
