Observational Astrophysics
Course Code: B72002Y
Course Name: Observational Astrophysics
Credits: 3.0
Level: Undergraduate
Pre-requisite: Basic astronomy
Lecture Time: 60 periods
Course Description
Topics and Schedule:
Astrophysics is an observational science. This course introduces the basic observation equipments, observation methods and so on.
1 Introduction (3 periods)
2 Optical telescope (9 periods)
2.1. Introduction
2.2 Physical quantities to characterize the optical properties of telescopes
2.3 Aberration of practical optical systems
2.4 Classification of optical astronomical telescopes
2.5 Characteristics and uses of various telescopes
2.6 Telescope mountings
2.7 The breakthrough of optical telescope
2.8 Astronomical dome
2.9 Site of astronomical observatory
2.10 Introductions to the observatories
3 Detectors (6 periods)
3.1 Parameters reflecting the performance of radiation detectors
3.2 Photography
3.3 Photoelectric device
3.4 Image intensifier
3.5 Silicon arrays
3.6 CCD
4. Data required by Astrophysics (3 periods)
4.1 Position of celestial bodies
4.2 Motions of celestial bodies
4.3 Distribution of matter, physical state and internal motion of celestial bodies
4.4 Physical parameters of celestial bodies
5. Photometry (9 periods)
5.1 Introduction
5.2 Photometric systems
5.3 Methods of photometry
5.4 Correction of atmospheric extinction
5.5 Standardization of UBV system
5.6 Physical information from UBV system
5.7 UBV photometric system and MK spectral classification
5.8 Interstellar extinction and correction of UBV system
5.9 Physical information from uvby system
5.10 Bolometric magnitude and Bolometric correction
6. Spectroscopy (9 periods)
6.1 Introduction
6.2 Spectroscopic instruments
6.3 Common-used spectrograph
6.4 Multi-object spectrograph
6.5 Spectrographs of 2.16 meter telescope
6.6 Spectral classification
6.7 Stellar spectral analysis
6.8 Measurement of radial velocity
7. Infrared astronomical observation (3 periods)
7.1 Introduction
7.2 Characteristics of Infrared Observations and Countermeasures
7.3 Ground infrared observation
7.4 High altitude and space infrared observation
7.5 Ground infrared sky survey
8. Radio astronomical observation (1.5 periods)
8.1 Introduction to radio astronomical observation
8.2 Basic knowledge of radio telescope
8.3 Radio astronomical observation
9. High energy astronomical observation (1.5 periods)
9.1 Research scope and characteristics of high energy astronomical observation
9.2 High energy device
9.3 High energy satellite
Practice part (15 periods)
Textbook
Self courseware
References
[1] Huang Youran et al., Observational astrophysics, Science Press, 1984
[2] Hu Jingyao, Astrophysical method, Science Press, 1990
[3] Liu, Xuefu, Observational astrophysics, Beijing normal university Press, 1997
[4] Pierre Lena et al., Observational astrophysics, China Science and Technology Press, 2015
[5] C.R. Kitchin, Astrophysical Techniques, Science Press, 2009
