ASTR212-06S2 (U) Semester Two 2006 (University Campus)

The Solar System and Dynamical Astronomy

11 points

Details:
Start Date: Monday, 10 July 2006
End Date: Sunday, 12 November 2006
Withdrawal Dates
Last Day to withdraw from this course:
  • Without financial penalty (full fee refund): Sunday, 23 July 2006
  • Without academic penalty (including no fee refund): Sunday, 8 October 2006

Description

Orbital dynamics, the solar system and planetary exploration.

This course is taught only in even-numbered years. It alternates with ASTR211 (Exploring the sky), which is taught in the odd years.
Together, ASTR211 and ASTR212 cover fundamental aspects of astronomy, including positional and dynamical astronomy, measurement techniques, coordinates and time and the exploration of the solar system by spacecraft. The dynamical motions of solar system bodies (planets, comets, asteroids) and of binary stars are among the topics covered and there is some emphasis on historical aspects of the subject.
It is assumed that students will have elementary mathematical skills, at least to Bursary level, but preferably to MATH 100 level.

The course comprises lectures on the following topics:
• Solar system and dynamical astronomy
• Dynamics of binary stars
• The solar system and planetary exploration

Prerequisites

18 points of MATH 100 or PHYS100-PHYS106, PHYS111-PHYS116 or ASTR112. This prerequisite may be replaced by a high level of achievement in NCEA (Bursary prior to 2004) Physics and Mathematics with Calculus, or
an equivalent background to be determined in each case by the Head of Department.

Course Coordinator

John Hearnshaw

Lecturers

John Hearnshaw and Jack Baggaley

Assessment

Assessment Due Date Percentage 
Homework assignments x 2 15%
Final Examination 65%
Test 20%

Course links

Library portal

Notes

LABORATORIES:
Laboratories are an integral part of the course and a pass in the laboratory work is required in order to pass the course as a whole.

Indicative Fees

Domestic fee $400.00

International fee $1,770.00

* All fees are inclusive of NZ GST or any equivalent overseas tax, and do not include any programme level discount or additional course-related expenses.

For further information see Physics and Astronomy .

All ASTR212 Occurrences

  • ASTR212-06S2 (U) Semester Two 2006 (University Campus)
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