Course schedule
Course schedule (details below in "Course topics")
| Theory session | Practice session | Topic |
|---|---|---|
| 13.1. | (17.1. no teaching) | Course introduction & information |
| 20.1. | 24.1. | Solar system, planets & space environment |
| 27.1. | 31.1. | Plasma 1: Observations |
| 3.2. | 7.2. | Plasma 2: Modelling |
| 10.2. | 14.2. | Coordinate systems & time |
| (17.2.) | (21.2.) | Exam week, no teaching |
| 24.2. | 28.2. | Orbits & celestial mechanics |
| 2.3. | 6.3. | Emission mechanisms 1 |
| 9.3. | 13.3. | Emission mechanisms 2 |
| 16.3. Cancelled | 20.3. Online | Galactic astronomy 1 |
| 23.3. Cancelled | 27.3. Online | Galactic astronomy 2 |
| 30.3. Cancelled | 3.4. no teaching | Extragalactic astronomy & cosmology |
| (6.4. no teaching) | 9.4. Exam Online | Exam week, exam on 9.4. |
Course topics
13.1. 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.
20.1. Solar system, planets & space environment (EK)
- Solar system structure and bodies, such as planets.
- Space as an environment for satellites.
27.1. Plasma 1: Observations (EK)
- Space plasma missions and instruments.
3.2. Plasma 2: Modelling (EK)
- Interpretation of observations by models and simulations.
10.2. Coordinate systems & time (MTT)
Celestial coordinate systems.
Time. Time standards.
24.2. Orbits & celestial mechanics (JP/AS)
Kepler's laws.
Types of orbits, orbital elements, trajectories.
Effect of gravity.
2.3. Emission mechanisms 1 (JT)
- Basics of emission mechanisms: black body radiation, synchrotron emission etc.
- Significance in space sciences and technology.
9.3. Emission mechanisms 2 (JT)
- Basics of emission mechanisms continued.
16.3. Galactic astronomy 1 (AL)
- Building blocks of the Milky Way: evolution & origin, structure, physics, and rotation.
- The Galactic center.
23.3. Galactic astronomy 2 (AL)
- Stars.
- Interstellar medium: dust, neutral and ionized hydrogen, molecules.
30.3. 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.
9.4. Exam
- online in MyCourses: see page Evaluation and grading for more details