Course schedule
Course schedule (details below in "Course topics")
| Theory session | Practice session | Topic |
|---|---|---|
| 7.1. | (11.1. no teaching) | Course introduction & information |
| 14.1. | 18.1. | Solar system, planets & space environment |
| 21.1. | 25.1. | Plasma 1: Observations |
| 28.1. | 1.2. | Plasma 2: Modelling |
| 4.2. | 8.2. | Coordinate systems & time |
| 11.2. | 15.2. | Orbits & celestial mechanics |
| (18.2.) | (22.2.) | Exam week, no teaching |
| 25.2. | 1.3. | Emission mechanisms 1 |
| 4.3. | 8.3. | Emission mechanisms 2 |
| 11.3. | 15.3. | Space technology & history |
| 18.3. | 22.3. | Galactic astronomy 1 |
| 25.3. | 29.3. | Galactic astronomy 2 |
| 1.4. | 5.4. | Extragalactic astronomy & cosmology |
| (8.4. no teaching) | 12.4. Exam | Exam week, exam on 12.4. |
Course topics
7.1. Introduction (AL, EK)
- Information
about the course: theory sessions & preliminary work, practice
sessions & group and individual assignments, exam. Evaluation
methods.
- Contents of the course & what to expect. Universe.
- Space scene in Finland and in Aalto: space technology, radio astronomy, space physics.
14.1. Solar system, planets & space environment (EK)
- Solar system structure and bodies, such as planets.
- Space as an environment for satellites.
21.1. Plasma 1: Observations (EK)
- Space plasma missions and instruments.
28.1. Plasma 2: Modelling (EK)
- Interpretation of observations by models and simulations.
4.2. Coordinate systems & time (MTT)
Celestial coordinate systems.
Time. Time standards.
11.2. Orbits & celestial mechanics (JP)
Kepler's laws.
Types of orbits, orbital elements, trajectories.
Effect of gravity.
25.2. Emission mechanisms 1 (JT)
- Basics of emission mechanisms: black body radiation, synchrotron emission etc.
- Significance in space sciences and technology.
25.2. Emission mechanisms 2 (JT)
- Basics of emission mechanisms continued.
11.3. Space technology & history (JP)
Overview of space exploration.
History of space technology.
18.3. Galactic astronomy 1 (AL)
- Building blocks of the Milky Way: evolution & origin, structure, physics, and rotation.
- The Galactic center.
25.3. Galactic astronomy 2 (AL)
- Stars.
- Interstellar medium: dust, neutral and ionized hydrogen, molecules.
1.4. Extragalactic astronomy & cosmology (MTT)
- Introduction to galaxies. Redshift. Hubble's law.
- Radio galaxies. Quasars and other active galactic nuclei. Quasar research at Metsähovi.
- Basics of cosmology. Cosmic microwave background.