ELEC-E4210 - Introduction to space, Lecture, 13.9.2021-14.12.2021

Topic outline

• Course schedule
  
  

  The Zoom room for the course can be found below, at the bottom of the page, under "Zoom room for live teaching sessions".
  

  
  

  Course structure

  There will be one theory session and one practice session for each topic. The sessions are complementary, the first aiming to give the theoretical and scientific background and the latter to provide practical details, such as simulations, assignments, discussions, and so on, to enhance the student's understanding. The theory sessions are on Mondays and the practice sessions on the following Tuesdays, with the deadline for returning assignments on Tuesdays a week after, at the start of the next practice session at 12.15. Most of the theory and practice sessions are live lectures via Zoom, unless otherwise instructed in the schedule below.

  
  

  Theory sessions on Mondays at 10-12
  

  • First theory session 13.9.2021.

  
  

  Practice sessions on Tuesdays at 12-14
  

  • First practice session 21.9.2021.
    

  
  

  Assignment deadlines

  • Tuesdays a week after, at the start of the next practice session at 12.15.

  
  

  Exam

  The exam will be held online on Tuesday 14.12.2021 at 13 - 16. The retake exam is scheduled for 31.1.2022.

  
  

  Course schedule
  

  
  

  This is the current schedule for the teaching sessions. Most theory and practice sessions take place via Zoom (marked in blue), and some of them may include preliminary work (marked in yellow). Some sessions include only self-study materials (marked in green), with no live Zoom session.
  

  
  

  Lecture slides and self-study materials, and any other lecture materials, will be posted in Lecture slides and other materials.

  Assignments and preliminary work will be posted in Assignments and preliminary work.
  

  
  

  
  

  Theory session	Practice session	Topic
  13.9. Zoom session	(14.9. no teaching)	Course introduction & information
  20.9. Zoom session	21.9. Zoom session	Solar system, planets & space environment
  27.9. Zoom session	28.9. Zoom session	Plasma 1: Observations
  4.10. Zoom session	5.10. Zoom session	Plasma 2: Modelling
  11.10. Preliminary work + Zoom session	12.10. Zoom session	Coordinate systems & time
  18.10. Zoom session	19.10. Zoom session	Orbits & celestial mechanics
  (25.10.)	(26.10.)	Exam week, no teaching
  1.11. Zoom session	2.11. Zoom session	Space technology and history
  8.11. Self-study	9.11. Zoom session	Emission mechanisms 1
  15.11. Self-study	16.11. Zoom session	Emission mechanisms 2
  22.11. Zoom session	23.11. Zoom session	Galactic astronomy 1
  29.11. Zoom session	30.11. Zoom session	Galactic astronomy 2
  (6.12. no teaching)	7.12. Zoom session	Extragalactic astronomy & cosmology (theory session only)
  	14.12. Exam	Exam week, exam on 14.12.

  
  

  Course topics

  
  

  13.9. 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. & 21.9. Solar system, planets & space environment (EK)
  

  • Solar system structure and bodies, such as planets.
  • Space as an environment for satellites.
    

  
  

  27. & 28.9. Plasma 1: Observations (EK)
  

  • Space plasma missions and instruments.
    

  
  

  4. & 5.10. Plasma 2: Modelling (EK)
  

  • Interpretation of observations by models and simulations.

  
  

  11 & 12.10. Coordinate systems & time (MTT)

  • Celestial coordinate systems.

  • Time. Time standards.

  
  

  18 & 19.10. Orbits & celestial mechanics (JP)
  

  • Kepler's laws.

  • Types of orbits, orbital elements, trajectories.

  • Effect of gravity.

  
  

  1. & 2.11. Space technology & history (JP)

  • Overview of space exploration.

  • History of space technology.

  
  

  8. & 9.11. Emission mechanisms 1 (JT)
  

  • Basics of emission mechanisms: black body radiation, synchrotron emission etc.
  • Significance in space sciences and technology.

  
  

  15. & 16.11. Emission mechanisms 2 (JT)
  

  • Basics of emission mechanisms continued.
    

  
  

  
  

  22. & 23.11. Galactic astronomy 1 (AL, IB)
  

  • Building blocks of the Milky Way: evolution & origin, structure, physics, and rotation.
  • The Galactic center.
    

  
  

  29. & 30.11. Galactic astronomy 2 (AL, IB)
  

  • Stars.
    
  • Interstellar medium: dust, neutral and ionized hydrogen, molecules.

  
  

  7.12. 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.
    

  
  

  14.12. Exam

  • See page Exam 14.12.2021 for more details

  
  

  • Zoom room for live teaching sessions