Astronomie [SMATB213]
- 2 credits
- 15h
- 1st and 2nd quarter
Learning outcomes
This course aims at giving students general knowledge of modern astronomy, by inviting them to discover the architecture of the Universe, from the night sky to the cosmological landscape. It will provide students with minimal knowledge in astronomy for every scientist as well as glimpsing at present research topics. The course will also make the future researcher or teacher with the wonders of the night sky and its mysteries that she/he will study or share with others. This lecture also ambitions at giving students the passion and the basic tools of stargazing and amateur astronomy.
Content
The composition and architecture of the Universe form the guidelines of the lecture, accompanied by a reflexion on the notion of space and geometry that will eventually give rise to Big Bang theory. This quest takes the form of a journey toward the infinitely large, along the following topics: basic astronomy (celestial sphere, reference systems, Moon phases, seasons, apparent motions, etc.), the structure of the Universe, the Solar system and exoplanets, stars and Milky Way structures, galaxies and clusters, cosmology: cosmic expansion, the Hot Big Bang scenario, the concordance model.
The lecture's motto is the sentence of Arthur C. Clarke (paraphrasing Haldane): "The Universe is not only stranger than we imagine. It is stranger than we can imagine."
Table of contents
Structure of the theoretical talks:
- Basic astronomy, the night sky and structure of the Universe
- Solar systems and extra-solar planets
- Stars and various Milky Way structures
- Galaxies, clusters & far-away objects like quasars
- Modern cosmology (cosmic expansion, Hot Big Bang scenario and concordance model)
Teaching methods
Astronomy must be practiced and the sky certainly deserves to be discovered.
Therefore, the lecture will be given in about 10 sessions all along the academic year (first and second semester) according to a schedule communicated to the students. If the sky is clear, the theoretical session will be followed by observations at our pedagogical astronomical observatory on the campus, in parallel with scientific animations on astronomy.
The University of Namur possess a pedagogical astronomical observatory on the campus (https://www.facebook.com/astrocampus ) that is specifically equipped for the discovery of astronomy under urban skies.
Our equipment under the dome includes:
- a pair of giant binoculars (120mm diameter, 660mm focal length, double apochromatic doublet) for visual observing
- a DirectDrive magnetic equatorial mount carrying four instruments : (1) a 152mm-diameter Halpha telescope with high-res camera, (2) a 30cm-diameter Newtonian reflector at f/D=2.8 with scientific CCD chip or f/D=4 with large sensor for astrophotography, both options with filters for imaging and photometry under light-polluted skies, (3) a Maksutov telescope with 2.7m focal length (with possibility of spectroscopy set-up) and (4) a wide-field apochromat for imaging covering a 4 square degrees field of view.
The observatory is fully remote-controllable for use in amphitheatres in real-time during lectures.
For use "in the field", we also have the following:
- a 40cm-diameter Newtonian reflector on Dobson mount with GoTo system
- a 30cm-diameter Newtonian reflector on Dobson mount
- a 20cm Schmidt-Cassegrain on azimuthal automated forked mount
- a portable Halpha telescope
- several pair of small binoculars
A spring camp devoted to the discovery of space sector will be organised in April or May. This comprises a series of broad conferences on rocketry, space medecine, space law and economics, (cyber-)security in space, New Space, astronaut training activities and planetarium sessions. The Space Spring Camp will be given in English, in collaboration with the English course.
Evaluations
The participation to the lectures, and the observing sessions is mandatory and will be accounted for in the final mark.
Evaluation will be made through continuous assessment activities (quiz, preparation of night-sessions and animations, etc.). The final mark will be a compilation of all assessment activities. In case of failure, retake exams will be organised in June and August.
Recommended readings
Any book about elementary astronomy available at the university library. Scientific and acknowledged reviews as well (Scientific american, Sky & Telescope, etc.). Websites of national agencies (NASA, ESA, ESO, STScI, etc.) will be favoured while others should be used carefully, with appropriate cross-checking. Videos should only be considered as a complement and not as an exhaustive single source.
Language of instruction
French / FrançaisLocation for course
NAMUROrganizer
Faculté des sciencesRue de Bruxelles, 61
5000 NAMUR
