ASTRO 291Astronomical Methods and the Solar System

4 credits · Astronomy and Astrophysics · Penn State

This course and subsequent ASTRO 292 , are a two-semester sequence to overview our current knowledge of astronomy. They are designed for students with a solid grounding in math and physics who wish to obtain a more quantitative understanding of the universe than that presented in ASTRO 1 or the 100-level ASTRO series. These courses are required for students majoring in astronomy, generally taken in the sophomore year. ASTRO 291 starts with the appearance of the sky to the naked eye and the historical development of astronomy. It then turns to an introduction to physical processes relevant to the interpretation of astronomical findings: Newtonian gravity and its applications in celestial mechanics, electromagnetic radiation, and a simplified understanding of atoms. The principal tools of astronomy, telescopes and their instrumentation are described. The course proceeds with the survey of astronomy with the constituents of the solar system: sun, planets, natural satellites, planetary rings, asteroids, and comets. Physical processes are integrated with empirical findings to provide a profound and quantitative understanding of the phenomena; e.g. the role of angular momentum and tidal forces in establishing the orbits and spins of solar system bodies. After the development of these concepts, a survey of the properties of the constituents of the Solar System (planets, moons, rings, asteroids, comets, meteors, and the Sun) is conducted.