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Key facts
| Type | Weekly Classes |
|---|---|
| Location | Oxford - Ewert House |
| Address | Ewert House Summertown Oxford OX2 7DD |
| Dates | Tue 2 Oct to Thu 6 Dec 2012 Day: Tuesday Time of meeting: 2.00-4.00pm Number of meetings: 10 |
| Subject area(s) | Astronomy |
| CATS points | 10 |
| Fees | From £165.00 |
| Application status | Course ended |
| Course code | O12P875PYW |
| Course contact | If you have any questions about this course, please email ppweekly@conted.ox.ac.uk. |
Overview
Galaxies and the Cosmos - Option AIf you wish to enrol on Galaxies and the Cosmos - OPTION B which runs on a Thursday evening from 7.00-9.00pm in Hilary Term, please click on the 'Select a different date/time' box in the Key Facts above.
When we look at the night sky with the naked eye we can some of the stars and planets, all of them within our own galaxy. How many stars are there in our galaxy? How far away are they? What about other galaxies? How many are there and what are they like?
Description
This course will explore the basic nature and characteristics of the heavenly bodies -- stars and planets -- that comprise our galaxy and all galaxies. How big is our star in comparison with our planet?What else is there in our solar system besides the planets?
In addition, the course will provide an introduction to the techniques used to assess how far away other heavenly bodies are from us and how we can sometimes measure this distance to within a few centimetres!
We look at other galaxies and consider how they compare with our own Milky Way and we explore what may be as yet unobservable but which might present a threat to life on Earth.
This course will introduce some of these topics and all scientific principles will be fully explained. The course is open to all.
Programme details
Week 1: Our place in the universe: Some relevant scales. The nature of lightWeek 2: Distance measurement: How we know how far away the planets. stars and galaxies are
Week 3: The Sun, our class G yellow dwarf star
Week 4: Star classification
Week 5: What orbits our star?
Week 6: Star death - dwarf stars
Week 7: Star death - giant stars. How neutron stars and black holes are formed
Week 8: Our Milky Way galaxy and the characteristics of normal galaxies
Week 9: Galactic recession: The Hubble law - looking into the past
Week 10: Exploration techniques: Some of thelatest ideas
Background Reading:
Moore, Sir Patrick: The Sky at Night
Pickover, Clifford: The Stars of Heaven
Staff
Mr David Chapple
Role: Tutor
David Chapple is a lecturer in the physical sciences, an author of physics textbooks, and has worked on the design of weapons systems for the...more
Course aims
Course Aim:This course aims to give students an understanding of both the nature and characteristics of the heavenly bodies that comprise our galaxy and others.
Course Objectives:
To gain an understanding of stars and planets as the basic physical objects which comprise all galaxies, and to consider our galaxy in comparison with others.
Assessment methods
This will be by Option A, with assessable coursework elements consisting of a number of assignments in the form of set questions throughout the course. The number of elements will be two.Teaching methods
Teaching/learning methods will include:1. Presentations by power point.
2. Practical demonstrations.
3. Use of video presentations.
4. Use of overhead projector.
5 Use of white board.
6. Class or group discussions/activities
Teaching outcomes
By the end of the course students can be expected to:Describe the composition, life cycle, and some of the physical properties of stars and galaxies.
Describe some of the physical characteristics of our solar system and the basic scenario for the formation of a planetary system.
Describe some methods for gathering information about the Universe.
Apply for this course
Sorry, this course is not currently accepting applications. If you have any questions about this course, please use the course enquiry form.