PHYS 1500 Astronomy Lecture Outline and Specific Objectives v1.3
This outline summarises lecture-by-lecture the main concepts which we hope will be conveyed in Astronomy and
which will be regarded as examinable. The order is as currently expected, but may change slightly, or may
slip slightly, as lecturers present the material and availability of guest lecturers changes.
Relevant sections of the textbook are given since you will be expected to read the book – hopefully before the
relevant lecture. There is a lot in the book, but in general it is the concepts that are important rather than the
small details. These are summarized at the end of each chapter as the Summary of Key Concepts.
Although not specifically examinable, we would also recommend you read:
Chapter 3 The Science of Astronomy
Especially Section 3.4 THE NATURE OF SCIENCE
Chapter 4 Making sense of the Universe: Understanding Motion, Energy and Gravity
You may also wish to read (for fun?!) some of the more difficult concepts in:
Chapter S2 Space and Time
Chapter S3 Spacetime and Gravity
Chapter S4 Building Blocks of the Universe
Not specifically covered in lectures:
Chapter 24 Life in the Universe (not in latest edition of the text)
Introduction
Lecture 1
Chapter 1 Our Place in the Universe
Text Sections: 1.1 – 1.3
Specific Objectives - after studying this chapter you should be able to:
• describe our place in the cosmos
Lecture 2
Chapter 2 Discovering the Universe for Yourself
Text Sections: 2.1
Specific Objectives - after studying this chapter you should be able to:
• explain the significance of the constellations
• describe how the sky moves from different parts of the Earth
Chapter S1 Celestial Timekeeping and Navigation
Text Sections: S1.1 and S1.2
Specific Objectives - after studying this chapter you should be able to:
• Explain the concepts of days, months and years
• Describe celestial coordinate systems
Chapter 2 Discovering the Universe for Yourself
Text Sections: 2.2
Specific Objectives - after studying this chapter you should be able to:
• describe the origin and significance of precession
• explain the origin of the seasons
Chapter 15 Surveying the Stars
Text Sections: 15.1
Specific Objectives - after studying this chapter you should be able to:
• explain the system of apparent magnitudes describing the brightness of stars
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Not covered in lecture, but still examinable
Chapter 2 Discovering the Universe for Yourself
Text Sections: 2.3 – 2.4
Specific Objectives - after studying this chapter you should be able to:
• explain the phases of the moon
• describe and explain lunar and solar eclipses
• describe the annual motion of the sun and planets
Chapter 4 Making Sense of the Universe
Text Sections: 4.5
• explain the origin of lunar tides
Solar System
Lecture 3 and 4
Chapter 7 Our Planetary System
Text Sections: 7.1 and 7.2
Specific Objectives - after studying this chapter you should be able to:
• describe the main features of the planetary orbits
• identify the differences between terrestrial and gas giant planets
Lecture 5
Chapter 8 Formation of the Solar System
Text Sections: 8.1 – 8.3
Specific Objectives - after studying this chapter you should be able to:
• identify the evidence for the age of the solar system
• identify the evidence related to the formation of the solar system
• describe the main stages in the formation of the solar system and formation of the planets
• describe the hypotheses explaining the vastly different compositions and masses of the terrestrial and
giant planets
Lecture 6
Chapter 9 Planetary Geology: Earth and the other Terrestrial Worlds
Text Sections: 9.1 – 9.6
Specific Objectives – emphasising the comparative properties and histories of the terrestrial planets – the book
is more detailed than required - after studying this chapter you should be able to:
• describe the process of differentiation
• describe and explain the correlation between size of a planet and its present level of geologic activity
• describe the evidence that the Earth has a molten core
• relate cratering to the history of the solar system and the level of activity of a planetary surface
• describe the formation of the Moon and the evolution of the lunar surface
• compare the mean densities of the terrestrial planets
• describe and compare the surfaces and geological activity of the terrestrial planets
• describe the evidence for the existence of water on the surface of Mars
Chapter 10 Planetary Atmospheres: Earth and the other Terrestrial Worlds
Text Sections: 10.1 – 10.6
Specific Objectives – emphasising the comparative properties and histories of the terrestrial planets – the book
is more detailed than required - after studying this chapter you should be able to:
• describe and compare the evolution and current composition of the atmospheres of the terrestrial
planets
Lecture 7
Chapter 11 Jovian Planet Systems
Text Sections: 11.1 - 11.3
Specific Objectives – emphasising the comparative properties and histories of the giant planets - after studying
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this chapter you should be able to:
• outline the formation of the gas giants, and contrast this with the formation of the terrestrial planets
• compare the sizes, masses and compositions of the giant planets
• identify the cloud layers in the giant planets’ atmospheres
• describe the belt and zone circulation in Jupiter's atmosphere
• identify the composition and dynamics of planetary rings
• describe formation scenarios for planetary ring systems
Lecture 8
Chapter 11 Jovian Planet Systems
Text Sections: 11.1 - 11.3
Specific Objectives – emphasising the comparative properties and histories of the giant planets - after studying
this chapter you should be able to:
• describe the surfaces and compositions of the Galilean satellites in particular
• explain how the composition of moons can be inferred from mean density
• describe tidal heating of Io
• describe Saturn’s icy moons
• describe what makes Titan unique among the solar system moons
Lecture 9
Chapter 12 Asteroids, Comets and Dwarf Planets: Their Nature, Orbits and Impacts
Text Sections: 12.1 – 12.4
Specific Objectives - after studying this chapter you should be able to:
• identify the locations and nature of the asteroid belt, Kuiper belt and the Oort cloud
• describe how meteorites are related to asteroids and comets
• sketch the structure of a comet
• describe their formation and roles in supplying long and short period comets to the inner solar system
• describe the nature of Pluto, Eris and other Kuiper Belt objects
• discuss the danger of asteroid impacts on Earth
Lecture 10
Chapter 13 Other Planetary Systems: Their Nature, Orbits and Impacts
Text Sections: 13.1 – 13.4
Specific Objectives - after studying this chapter you should be able to:
• identify the evidence for the existence of other planetary systems
• describe the differences between our solar system and other planetary systems
Lecture 11 - Guest lecture on Exoplanets
Chapter 13 Other Planetary Systems: Their Nature, Orbits and Impacts
Text Sections: 13.1 – 13.4
Specific Objectives - after studying this chapter you should be able to:
• outline the basic nature of the imaging challenge posed by exoplanets
• describe what we can learn from detailed studies of exoplanets
• describe the major approaches to direct imaging – Adaptive Optics, Coronographs
• describe models of formation of exoplanets
• describe what is meant by the term “habitable zone”
Lecture 12
REVIEW - PLANETS
Telescopes
Lecture 13
Chapter 5 Light and Matter
Text Sections: 5.2
Specific Objectives - after studying this chapter you should be able to:
• describe light as part of the electromagnetic spectrum
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identify that the wavelength of light determines the colour we see
define photon and identify that light also behaves as a particle
Chapter 6 Telescopes: Portals of Discovery
Text Sections: 6.1 – 6.4
• describe in general terms the principles behind the operation of a telescope
• describe the effect of the Earth's atmosphere on incoming radiation of different wavelengths
Stars
Lecture 14
Chapter 14 Our Star
Text Sections: 14.1 and 14.2
Specific Objectives - after studying this chapter you should be able to:
• explain the balance between gravity and pressure
• describe the basic structure of the Sun
• describe the processes of energy transport in stars (radiation and convection)
• identify that energy in main sequence stars comes from nuclear reactions (proton-proton chain and CNO
cycle)
• identify the relevant fundamental particles (proton, neutron, electron, positron, neutrino, gamma ray
photon)
Lecture 15 - Guest lecture on the Sun
Chapter 14 Our Star
Text Sections: 14.3
Specific Objectives - after studying this chapter you should be able to:
• describe sunspots and the sunspot cycle
• describe other examples of solar activity
• explain the origin of solar activity
• describe how solar activity affects the Earth
Lecture 16
Chapter 15 Surveying the Stars
Text Sections: 15.1, 15.3
Specific Objectives - after studying this chapter you should be able to:
• define what is meant by a binary or multiple star system
• explain the difference between Open (Galactic) and Globular star clusters
• define luminosity and explain how it is determined
• define parallax and explain how it is used to determine distances to stars
• explain the system of apparent magnitudes describing the brightness of stars
Lecture 17
Chapter 5 Light and Matter
Text Sections: 5.4
Specific Objectives - after studying this chapter you should be able to:
• explain why the surface temperature of a star is related to its colour
• describe the blackbody radiation spectrum from a hot body and its relationship to the temperature of the
body
• describe and explain the formation of emission and absorption spectra
• describe the Doppler effect and its use for determining velocity
Lecture 18
Chapter 15 Surveying the Stars
Text Sections: 15.1 – 15.2
Specific Objectives - after studying this chapter you should be able to:
• describe the classification of stars into spectral types
• describe how stellar spectra can provide information on surface temperature, density, composition and
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velocity
define luminosity classes
describe the Hertzsprung-Russell (H-R) diagram and identify main sequence stars, red dwarfs, giants
and white dwarfs
identify the frequency of stellar types
explain how the ages of open clusters and globular clusters are determined from their H-R diagrams
Lecture 19
Chapter 16 Star Birth
Text Sections: 16.1 – 16.3
Specific Objectives - after studying this chapter you should be able to:
• describe the main stages of star formation
• describe the concept of a pressure-temperature thermostat operating inside stars
• identify that fusion of elements heavier than hydrogen requires higher temperatures
Chapter 17 Star Stuff
Text Sections: 17.1 – 17.4
Specific Objectives - after studying this chapter you should be able to:
• identify that the evolution of a star is determined by its initial mass
• describe the evolution of a low-mass star into a red giant, a planetary nebula and a white dwarf
• describe the main features of white dwarfs
Lecture 20
Chapter 17 Star Stuff
Text Sections: 17.3 – 17.4
Specific Objectives - after studying this chapter you should be able to:
• describe the evolution of a high-mass star into a red supergiant, a supernova and a neutron star or black
hole
Lecture 21
Chapter 18 The Bizarre Stellar Graveyard
Text Sections: 18.1 – 18.3
Specific Objectives - after studying this chapter you should be able to:
• describe the main features of white dwarfs, neutron stars and pulsars, black holes
Lecture 22
REVIEW - STARS
Lecture 23 – Guest lecture on X-Ray Binary systems
Chapter 17 Star Stuff
Text Sections: 17.4
Specific Objectives - after studying this chapter you should be able to:
• describe the effect on stellar evolution of a mass exchange between stars
Lecture 24 - Guest lecture on Stellar Seismology
Chapter 14 Our Star
Text Sections: 14.2
Specific Objectives - after studying this chapter you should be able to:
• describe stellar seismology allows us to probe the internal structure of stars
Lecture 25 – Mid-semester test
The Milky Way
Lecture 26
Chapter 19 Our Galaxy
Text Sections: 19.1 – 19.2
Specific Objectives - after studying this chapter you should be able to:
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describe the orbits of the stars in the Galactic disc and bulge
sketch the major structural components of the Galaxy
describe the composition of interstellar gas
identify the phases of the interstellar medium
identify the effects of intervening dust on the properties of stars
define HII regions, reflection nebulae and molecular clouds
Lecture 27
Chapter 19 Our Galaxy
Text Sections: 19.2
Specific Objectives - after studying this chapter you should be able to:
• describe the global cycle of star formation and chemical enrichment of interstellar gas that occurs in the
Galaxy
• identify the relative contributions of low and high mass stars to the total luminosity, mass and chemical
enrichment of the interstellar medium
• define metallicity, and explain how the metallicity of the interstellar medium evolves with time
• describe the trends in the spatial variation of metallicity within the Galaxy
• describe the various ways in which star formation may be triggered
Lecture 28
Chapter 19 Our Galaxy
Text Sections: 19.2
Specific Objectives - after studying this chapter you should be able to:
• define population I and II objects, and identify several examples of each
• sketch the rotation curve of the Galaxy and explain how it constitutes evidence for dark matter
• identify objects that trace spiral arms
• explain the winding problem for spiral arms
• describe the density wave theory of spiral structure
Lecture 29
Chapter 19 Our Galaxy
Text Sections: 19.3 – 19.4
Specific Objectives - after studying this chapter you should be able to:
• describe the evidence for a massive black hole at the Galactic centre
• outline a scenario for the formation of the Galaxy
• describe some of the evidence which shows that the Milky Way has swallowed up smaller dwarf galaxes
in the past
Extragalactic Astronomy
Lecture 30
Chapter 20 Galaxies and the Foundation of Modern Cosmology
Text Sections: 20.1
Specific Objectives - after studying this chapter you should be able to:
• describe the various types of galaxies
• contrast the stellar populations and gas content of irregular, spiral and elliptical Galaxies
Lecture 31
Chapter 20 Galaxies and the Foundation of Modern Cosmology
Text Sections: 20.2 – 20.3
Specific Objectives - after studying this chapter you should be able to:
• explain how to determine distances to galaxies using observations of distance indicators (Cepheids and
type Ia supernovae)
• describe the Hubble law and how it can be used to determine distance
• identify the Local Group
• describe the expansion of the universe and the interpretation of redshift
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Lecture 32 – Guest lecture on Galaxies
Chapter 20 Galaxies and the Foundation of Modern Cosmology
Text Sections: 20.1
Specific Objectives - after studying this chapter you should be able to:
• describe the various types of galaxies
• contrast the stellar populations and gas content of irregular, spiral and elliptical Galaxies
Lecture 33
Chapter 21 Galaxy Evolution
Text Sections: 21.1 – 21.2
Specific Objectives - after studying this chapter you should be able to:
• describe the models for the formation of galaxies
Chapter 23 Dark Matter, Dark Energy, and the Fate of the Universe
Text Sections: 23.1 – 23.3
Specific Objectives - after studying this chapter you should be able to:
• explain what is meant by dark matter and dark energy
• describe methods to determine the masses of galaxies (rotation curve, velocities within a cluster)
• describe the evidence for dark matter in galaxies and clusters
• explain the gravitational lens effect
Lecture 34
Chapter 21 Galaxy Evolution
Text Sections: 21.3
Specific Objectives - after studying this chapter you should be able to:
• describe the observed properties of quasars and the evidence that they lie at great distances
• describe the observed properties of radio galaxies and Types I & II Seyfert galaxies
• describe the unified model of active galaxies and explain how it explains their observed properties
Lecture 35 – Guest lecture on Radio Galaxies
Chapter 21 Galaxy Evolution
Text Sections: 21.3
Specific Objectives - after studying this chapter you should be able to:
• describe how radio observations of galaxies, and of the cosmic microwave background, have helped to
advance our knowledge of the distant universe
Lecture 36
Chapter 22 The Birth of the Universe
Text Sections: 22.1 – 22.4
Specific Objectives - after studying this chapter you should be able to:
• describe the assumptions of cosmology
• describe and explain Olbers' paradox
• describe and explain the primordial background radiation in the context of the big bang theory
• explain how the abundances of elements supports the big bang theory
• identify the main stages in the history of the universe according to standard big-bang theory of
cosmology, including recombination
Lecture 37
Chapter 22 The Birth of the Universe
Text Sections: 22.1 – 22.4
Specific Objectives - after studying this chapter you should be able to:
• explain how inflation theory resolves some of the outstanding issues that cannot be explained by the
original big bang theory
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Lecture 38
Chapter 23 Dark Matter, Dark Energy, and the Fate of the Universe
Text Sections: 23.1 - 23. 4
Specific Objectives - after studying this chapter you should be able to:
• describe the evidence for acceleration of the universe
• describe the accepted (concordance) model of the universe
Tutorials
Topics discussed in the Tutorials are intended to support the content of the lectures, but they are also
examinable material. At least one of the Tutorial topics will be the subject of a question in the final examination.
You should be able to briefly discuss these topics at a general level.
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