Course schedule
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.
- 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.
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