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| Version 2013-2014 |
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| SPAT0043-1 | Small bodies in the solar system
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| Duration : | 15h Th, 5h Pr |
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| Number of credits : |
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| Lecturer : | Emmanuel Jehin |
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Language(s) of instruction :
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| French language |
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Course contents :
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| Small solar system bodies (asteroids , comets and meteors ) are an important source of information to understand the origin and evolution of the Solar System. These bodies, mostly intact since the formation of the solar system 4.6 billion years ago , deliver, through their study (dynamics, composition, etc. ) important informations about the physical and chemicals conditions that were prevailing at those early times. This is a very active area of ¿¿research that had in recent years many important advances thanks to, among others things, space missions.
The course aims to make an overview of the various small bodies, from tiny interplanetary dust particules of the zodiacal light to the recently discovered dwarf planets, through comets and asteroids, the leftover of the primitive accretion disk, and by establishing many links between the different classes.
Table of Contents :
1 . asteroids
2 . Meteors and meteorites
3 . comets
4 . Trans-Neptunian Objects (TNO )
TP
Observations of comets and asteroids with the TRAPPIST robotic telescope installed in Chile. |
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Learning outcomes of the course :
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| The aims of the lecture are:
(1) to provide the student with basic information on the different categories of small bodies;
(2) to illustrate different physical problems related to the study of small bodies;
(3) to present the different observational approaches of small bodies;
(4) to help the student to get the big picture that emerges from the study of small bodies for the understanding of the solar system;
(5) to promote interest in research across a range of exciting topics and many open questions ;
(6) to generate interest for observational astronomy through the use of the TRAPPIST robotic telescope (discovery of new asteroids) |
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Prerequisites and co-requisites/ Recommended optional programme components :
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| Basic knowledge of physics, at the level of bachelor in science. |
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Planned learning activities and teaching methods :
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| The student will prepare a presentation of about 1/2 hour to resume a paper related to the lecture.
The student will learn during the laboratory the observing techniques of asteroids and comets, realize his own observations, learn the basic techniques for dealing with CCD data. The student will learn to calculate the orbital parameters from the observations.
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Mode of delivery (face-to-face ; distance-learning) :
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| Theoretical lectures of two hours (projection of slides and discussions).
Laboratory of two hours (with laptops)
Second semester. |
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Recommended or required readings :
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Assessment methods and criteria :
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| Oral examination. The student will prepare a presentation of about 1/2 hour on a paper related to the lecture.
Series of questions related to the lecture and linked to the paper. |
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Work placement(s) :
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Organizational remarks :
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Contacts :
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| Contacts
Emmanuel Jehin
Institut d'Astrophysique et de Géophysique, Bât. B5c, allée du 6 Août, 4000 Liège 1 (SartTilman).
Tél.: 04/366.97.26
E-mail : ejehin@ulg.ac.be |
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| Items online : |
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| Small bodies of the Solar system |
| Notes "Small bodies of the Solar system" |
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