Learn about the physical phenomena at play in astronomical objects and link theoretical predictions to observations.
Course Details
| Language | English |
| Duration | 7 |
| Effort | 3-5 hours / week |
Description
How can we study the Universe we live in using the only available information it provides us with: light ?
This course provides an overview of the physical phenomena at play in the astronomical objects surrounding us, from planets and stars to the cosmic filaments, from galaxies such as our own Milky Way to large galaxy clusters. The course emphasizes the links between theoretical predictions and observations.
In this course, you will learn the basics of astrophysics using simplified mathematical developments. In particular, you will learn the role played by gravity in astrophysics, including gravitational lensing, and how matter and radiation interact. The material in this course is essential to follow more advanced astrophysics courses.
What you will learn
- Influence of gravity on celestial bodies
- Matter-radiation interactions
- Star formation and evolution
- Basics of cosmology
Plan
- Week 1: General introduction - Kepler's Laws - Virial theorem.
- Week 2: Radiation processes - Line radiation - Black body - Measuring radiation.
- Week 3: Doppler-Fizeau effect and astrophysical applications - Interstellar and intergalactic radiation - Strömgroen sphere - Absorption/emission - Color index - Tidal forces.
- Week 4: Roche limit - Comets - Planetary energy balance - Planetary atmospheres -
- Week 5: Stellar formation - Stellar classification - Stellar evolution.
- Week 6: The galaxies - Rotation of the Milky Way and Oort constants - Dark matter.
- Week 7: Fundamentals of cosmology - Distance ladder - Gravitational lensing.
