Study Programmes 2015-2016
| ASTR0004-2 | |||||||||||
| Astrophysics and Space Techniques | |||||||||||
|
Duration :
|
|||||||||||
| 30h Th, 15h Pr, 5h Labo., 5h Proj., 5d FW | |||||||||||
|
Number of credits :
|
|||||||||||
|
|||||||||||
|
Lecturer :
|
|||||||||||
| Jean Surdej | |||||||||||
|
Language(s) of instruction :
|
|||||||||||
| English language | |||||||||||
|
Organisation and examination :
|
|||||||||||
| All year long, with partial in January | |||||||||||
|
Units courses prerequisite and corequisite :
|
|||||||||||
| Prerequisite or corequisite units are presented within each program | |||||||||||
|
Course contents :
|
|||||||||||
| In this course of Astronomy and space techniques, we introduce all the necessary concepts that enable us to understand basic observational data, the structure and the evolution of galactic objects (stars, ...), of extragalactic ones (galaxies, clusters, quasars, ...) as well as modern ground-based and space telescopes as well as their instrumentation. This course has been designed for future engineers willing to understand and communicate with other people basic concepts of astronomy as well as to those wishing to pursue more specialized studies in astrophysics (cf. end-of-year thesis oriented towards astrophysics, master in space sciences, PhD in astrophysics, ...) or a future career in this field.
In the first part of this course, we present the main discoveries in astrophysics already known by the antique greek astronomers, including an introduction to the different spherical coordinate systems and to photometry. A brief presentation of the theory of gravitational lenses will also be given. The second part of this course is dedicated to a good understanding of modern telescopes and their instrumentation, located on the ground and in space. The principles and operation of infra-red, optical (cf. the ESO VLTI), sub-millimeter (ALMA) and radio (VLTI and VLBA) interferometers, large future telescopes (ELTs) and liquid mirror telescopes will also be reviewed in detail. The students will be proposed to either participate to a training session (5 nights) at the Calern observatory (Nice, France) or to write and present a report based upon observations carried out with a small telescope located on the roof of the ULg Physics building. |
|||||||||||
|
Learning outcomes of the course :
|
|||||||||||
| This course of astrophysics shows how the simple use of physical laws established on the Earth enables one to understand the origin, the history and the evolution of the Universe and of its major constituents. At the end of this course, the students will have improved their critical sense and developed some skills for research. | |||||||||||
|
Prerequisite knowledge and skills :
|
|||||||||||
| None | |||||||||||
|
Planned learning activities and teaching methods :
|
|||||||||||
| 15 hours of practical exercises (observations with a telescope of 26 cm located on the roof of the ULg Institute of Physics) or the equivalent of 5 nights of observation at the Calern Observatory located near Nice (France) will be organized during the academic year. Several research assistants will participate to these practical exercises, training and visits. | |||||||||||
|
Mode of delivery (face-to-face ; distance-learning) :
|
|||||||||||
| 30 hours of theory in astrophysics will be taught during the first months of the academic year (Sart Tilman, room 1.19, Bldg. B5b). | |||||||||||
|
Recommended or required readings :
|
|||||||||||
| Lecture notes will be accessible via the link http://www.aeos.ulg.ac.be/teaching.php
Some reference books are also mentioned in the lecture notes. |
|||||||||||
|
Assessment methods and criteria :
|
|||||||||||
| Evaluation of the students will be organized as follows: 1) an oral exam based upon the theory (60% of the points), 2) observations at the Calern Observatory or practical work with a report and oral presentation based upon the observations collected with the 26 cm telescope available in Sart Tilman (40% of the points). The oral exam (2 questions, approximately 1h30m) will be proposed in January. Evaluation of the students will essentially be based upon his(her) understanding as opposed to his(her) memory skills. | |||||||||||
|
Work placement(s) :
|
|||||||||||
| Possibility of a run of 5 observing nights at the Calern Observatory (Nice, France). Several research assistants will coach the students during these practical exercises, training and visits. | |||||||||||
|
Organizational remarks :
|
|||||||||||
| None. | |||||||||||
|
Contacts :
|
|||||||||||
| J. Surdej (Full Professor and F.R.S.-FNRS honorary research director) surdej@astro.ulg.ac.be
Olivier Absil (Research Associate F.R.S.-FNRS) Absil@astro.ulg.ac.be Lindsay Marion (FRIA PhD student) Lindsay.Marion@ulg.ac.be Maxime Devogèle (assistant ULg) Devogele@astro.ulg.ac.be(Ricci@astro.ulg.ac.be ) Olivier Wertz (post-doc, ULg) Wertz@astro.ulg.ac.be(Ricci@astro.ulg.ac.be ) Bikram Pradhan (boursier WBI) Pradhan@astro.ulg.ac.be(Ricci@astro.ulg.ac.be ) Secretary (Mrs Sylvia Grandjean) Sylvia.Grandjean@ulg.ac.be Institute of Astrophysics and Geophysics, ULg, Allée du 6 Août 19, Bât. B5c, B-4000 Sart Tilman (Liège) - Tel.: 04/366 97 83 or 9755, Fax: 04-366 97 46 http://www.aeos.ulg.ac.be |
|||||||||||
|
Items online :
|
|||||||||||
 | Astrophysics and space techniques Lecture notes will become available via the link below: |
||||||||||