Topic outline

  • Course content and learning outcomes

    Course structure
    The course is divided into two parts, the first concentrating on space physics instruments and the second on astronomical missions. There are two teaching sessions per week. The sessions are complementary, aiming to give theoretical and scientific background, and to provide practical details, such as simulations, assignments, project work, and so on, to enhance the student's understanding.

    Most of the teaching sessions are live lectures via Zoom, however, some self-study sessions could be included as well. In the second part of the course, some teaching sessions are dedicated to project work help and discussions. Details of each session are described on the Course schedule page, with corresponding information about how to participate. Be sure to check each session's details beforehand so that you know how it will be organized.

    • The sessions are scheduled for Tuesdays 14-16 and Thursdays 12-14
    • The course starts on Tuesday 8.9.2020 at 14-16.
    • There is no exam. Evaluation and grading principles can be soon found here.

    Workload
    • Contact hours 48 h (2 x 2 h per week).
    • Independent work 87 h.

    Course content

    • Observational techniques in astronomy and space physics.
    • Scientific payloads of satellites and probes.
    • Effect of space environment on instrumentation.
    • Life cycle of a space mission: researcher's view.
    • Examples of science missions.


    Learning outcomes

    • After this course the student knows why and how information about astronomical and solar system phenomena is collected.
    • She/he can describe the physical principles on which the scientific instruments onboard satellites and probes are based.
    • The student is able to differentiate between various types of instruments and observing techniques and what they are used for, and evaluate which kind of systems are suitable for measuring certain astronomical and solar system phenomena.
    • She/he identifies what kinds of effects space environment has on instrumentation and observations.
    • The student is able to review the state-of-the-art space instrumentation and its immediate possibilities and challenges.
    • She/he can explain the life cycle of a space mission from a researcher's point of view (from long-term planning, such as ESA's Cosmic Vision, to implementation and operation of a space mission, all the way to analysis of the scientific data), and give examples of scientific space missions.

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Course schedule