F3170 General astronomy

Faculty of Science
Autumn 2024
Extent and Intensity
3/1/0. 2 credit(s) (fasci plus compl plus > 4). Type of Completion: zk (examination).
Teacher(s)
RNDr. Jan Janík, Ph.D. (lecturer)
RNDr. Jan Janík, Ph.D. (seminar tutor)
Guaranteed by
RNDr. Jan Janík, Ph.D.
Department of Theoretical Physics and Astrophysics – Physics Section – Faculty of Science
Contact Person: RNDr. Jan Janík, Ph.D.
Supplier department: Department of Theoretical Physics and Astrophysics – Physics Section – Faculty of Science
Timetable
Thu 15:00–17:50 F3,03015
  • Timetable of Seminar Groups:
F3170/01: Mon 13:00–13:50 F4,03017, J. Janík
F3170/02: Thu 11:00–11:50 Fcom,01034, J. Janík
Prerequisites
Graduation of first two the terms of physics. Knowledge of operations with matrices.
Course Enrolment Limitations
The course is also offered to the students of the fields other than those the course is directly associated with.
fields of study / plans the course is directly associated with
Course objectives
In this lecture student learns to explain motion of bodies on the sky, their rises and sets, what, when and where we can observe. Student will know how to calculate location of bodies at their orbit, master history of astronomy, timing and calendar.
Learning outcomes
Student will be able after completing the course:
- explaint differences between coordinating systems in astronomy;
- calculate rises and sets of celestial objects;
- calculate position of object in solar system;
- determine position on Earth;
- find out stellar and righ sollar time;
- describe differences between calendars;
- apply reduction with respect to parallax, precession and nutation;
Syllabus
  • The subject and aim of astronomy. The meaning of astronomical observations and astronomical instruments. The origin and main stages of the development of astronomy. Egyptian, megalithic, Chinese, Babylonian, Greece and Arabian astronomy. European contemporary astronomy. Systems of coordinates, mutual transformation among them. Cartesian, cylindric, spherical CS, astronomical CS: equatorial, ecliptical, galactic. Motions of planets and stars on the celestial sphere. Geocentric and heliocentric systems, their substantiation. The asset of Aristotle, Ptolemaios, Copernicus, Kepler. The Newton gravitational law, laws of motion. The problem of two bodies, generalized Kepler laws. The geometry of the trajectory, the position, the motion of the body on the trajectory. Orbital elements, the motion of satelites of planets, the determination of mass of bodies of the Solar system. The problem of 3 bodies. Lagrange and Roche surfaces, Lagrangian points and their meaning. Gravitational disturbances, spheres of activity, tides. The Earth, its shape, mass, gravitational field, rotation, Coriolis force. The revolution of the Earth around the Sun, diurnal and annual aberration, parallax. Types of years, seasons. Sun dials, time equation, zonal time, summer time. Solar and lunar calendars. Lunisolar precession, its causes, consequences. Nutation.
Literature
  • ŠIROKÝ, Jaromír. Astronomie a astrofyzika. 2. uprav. vyd. Olomouc: Rektorát Univerzity Palackého, 1979, 340 s. info
  • ŠIROKÝ, Jaromír and Miroslava ŠIROKÁ. Základy astronomie v příkladech. Vyd. 3. Praha: Státní pedagogické nakladatelství, 1977, 158 s. URL info
  • ŠIROKÝ, Jaromír and Miroslava ŠIROKÁ. Základy astronomie v příkladech. Vyd. 2. Praha: Státní pedagogické nakladatelství, 1973, 158 s. info
  • ŠIROKÝ, Jaromír and Miroslava ŠIROKÁ. Základy astronomie v příkladech. Vyd. 1. Praha: Státní pedagogické nakladatelství, 1966, 156 s. info
  • HACAR, Bohumil. Úvod do obecné astronomie. Vyd. 1. Praha: Státní pedagogické nakladatelství, 1963, 511 s. URL info
Teaching methods
3 h classical lectures + 1 hour class exercises, consultations, all is ended by the sophisticated oral examination
Assessment methods
The prerequisite for the exam is credit for active participation in the exercise. In case of interest there will be consultations. A question will be given during the exam with 30 minutes for preparation. The actual exam, which lasts 30 minutes, is individual and quite demanding, and aims to determine the extent to which the examinee has understood the material.
Language of instruction
Czech
Follow-Up Courses
Further Comments
Study Materials
The course can also be completed outside the examination period.
The course is taught annually.
Teacher's information
http://astro.physics.muni.cz/study/courses/f3170/
The course is also listed under the following terms Autumn 2007 - for the purpose of the accreditation, Autumn 2010 - only for the accreditation, Autumn 2000, Autumn 2002, Autumn 2004, Autumn 2005, Autumn 2006, Autumn 2007, Autumn 2008, Autumn 2009, Autumn 2010, Autumn 2011, Autumn 2011 - acreditation, spring 2012 - acreditation, Autumn 2012, Autumn 2013, Autumn 2014, Autumn 2015, Autumn 2016, autumn 2017, Autumn 2018, Autumn 2019, Autumn 2020, autumn 2021, Autumn 2022, Autumn 2023.
  • Enrolment Statistics (recent)
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