Topic outline

  • General

  • Course Schedule

    Important: 

    We have the following four mandatory practise sessions in this course: 1) Friday January 21 10-12 or Friday 28 10-12 (you can choose one of these!) in Metsähovi; 2) Friday February 18 10-12 in Zoom; 3) Friday March 4 10-12 in Otaniemi. 4) Additionally, there will be mandatory observing shifts of 12 hours, from 18-06 (over night!) at the observatory in small student groups during weeks 10-12 (March 7 - March 26), one night per group; the groups will be formed and exact dates scheduled in February. Exception: If you are feeling unwell on the day of the live practise session, do not attend, but  contact the lecturers for making alternative arrangements!

    Rapidly changing Covid-19 instructions complicate some arrangements. We will update information here when/if something changes. The Zoom link can be found at the end of this page.

    Note: The lecture time & location information appearing in MyCourses on the "Upcoming Events" is automatically generated from Oodi, do not rely on that information but the information given on this page! 

    Weekly schedule

    Mon 10.1. 14-16 Remote lecture (zoom link at the end of this page!):  Introduction to the course, and practicalities. Overview of the radio universe. History of radio astronomy. Recap of astronomy fundamentals (from Introduction to Space). (MT)

    Mon 17.1. 14-16 Remote lecture (zoom link at the end of this page!): Emission mechanisms. Radio Milky Way. (AL)

    Fri 21.1. 10-12 First mandatory practise session at the observatory, Group 1/2 (you can book your group during the first lecture), transportation will be arranged. Exception: If you are feeling unwell on the day of the live practise session, do not attend, but  contact the lecturers for making alternative arrangements! Topics: Radio astronomy instrumentation. Antennas. RFI. (MT, JK, PK) Prework: Read & calculate!

    Mon 24.1. 14-16 Remote lecture (zoom link at the end of this page!): Radio Sun. Space weather. (MT)

    Fri 28.1. 10-12 First mandatory practise session at the observatory, Group 2/2 (you can book your group during the first lecture), transportation will be arranged. Exception: If you are feeling unwell on the day of the live practise session, do not attend, but  contact the lecturers for making alternative arrangements! Topics: Radio astronomy instrumentation. Antennas. RFI. (MT, JK, PK) Prework: Read & calculate! 

    Mon 31.1. 14-16  Remote lecture (zoom link at the end of this page!): Extragalactic radio astronomy. Quasars and other Active Galactic Nuclei. (MT)

    Mon 7.2. 14-16 Remote lecture (zoom link at the end of this page!): Single dish observations. (MT)

    Mon 14.2. 14-16 Remote lecture (zoom link at the end of this page!): Introduction to interferometry. (TS)

    Fri 18.2. 10-12 Second mandatory practise session: Single dish observations. This will be a remote session, zoom link is at the end of this page. (MT) Prework: Read material, make observability calculations. 

    Mon 28.2. 14-16  Lecture (on campus TU3 Wärtsilä - 1171-72, Maarintie 8) : Very Long Baseline Interferometry, VLBI. (TS)

    Fri 4.3. 10-12 Third mandatory practise session: exercises in VLBI, on campus. Prework: Install sw on your laptop. (MX)

    Week 10-12. A 12-h observing night at the observatory in small groups. Groups will be defined and the exact dates allocated in February. This is the fourth mandatory practise session! (Car pooling recommended to get to Metsähovi!) Prework: plan the observing night's schedule with your team.

    Mon 14.3. 14-16  Lecture (on campus TU3 Wärtsilä - 1171-72, Maarintie 8) : Cosmology and cosmic microwave background. (Visiting lecturer Hannu Kurki-Suonio, University of Helsinki)

    Mon 21.3. 14-16 Lecture (on campus A136 - T6, Computer Science building): Life in the universe. Search for extraterrestrial intelligence. (MT)

    Mon 28.3. 14-16 Lecture (on campus A136 - T6, Computer Science building): Future of radio astronomy. Recapitulation of the course. (MT)

    Wed 13.4. 14-16 Course exam.

    Mon 18.4. 24:00 Deadline for submitting the study diary. Absolutely strict DL!

    Mon 9.5. 16:30 Retake exam (room TU2)

  • Lecture slides and other material

    Not available unless: Your Email address ends with aalto.fi

  • Evaluation and grading

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    Grading policy

    In order to pass, the student must
    1. Pass the exam (grade > 0). 45% of the final grade.
    2. Attend all the mandatory practise sessions (Exception: If you are feeling unwell on the day of the live practise session, contact us for making alternative arrangements.)
    3. Submit the study diary by 18.4. and get a passing grade ( > 0). 55% of the final grade.

    • Slightly more emphasis on the study diary, to reward individual work on the various topics of this course. Note: absolutely strict deadline!
    • Bonus points may be assigned for showing exceptional level of activity and understanding during the sessions.
    • Note: if you work hard already during the practise sessions and when writing the study diary, the exam will also feel easy. If you don’t, you probably fail.

  • Assignments: Instructions, material and submission

    Not available unless: Your Email address ends with aalto.fi