Elements of Astronomy in Geography

General data

Course ID:	1900-12EAG
Erasmus code / ISCED:	13.7 Kod klasyfikacyjny przedmiotu składa się z trzech do pięciu cyfr, przy czym trzy pierwsze oznaczają klasyfikację dziedziny wg. Listy kodów dziedzin obowiązującej w programie Socrates/Erasmus, czwarta (dotąd na ogół 0) – ewentualne uszczegółowienie informacji o dyscyplinie, piąta – stopień zaawansowania przedmiotu ustalony na podstawie roku studiów, dla którego przedmiot jest przeznaczony. / (0533) Physics The ISCED (International Standard Classification of Education) code has been designed by UNESCO.
Course title:	Elements of Astronomy in Geography
Name in Polish:	Elementy astronomii w geografii
Organizational unit:	Faculty of Physics
Course groups:
ECTS credit allocation (and other scores):	(not available) Basic information on ECTS credits allocation principles: the annual hourly workload of the student’s work required to achieve the expected learning outcomes for a given stage is 1500-1800h, corresponding to 60 ECTS; the student’s weekly hourly workload is 45 h; 1 ECTS point corresponds to 25-30 hours of student work needed to achieve the assumed learning outcomes; weekly student workload necessary to achieve the assumed learning outcomes allows to obtain 1.5 ECTS; work required to pass the course, which has been assigned 3 ECTS, constitutes 10% of the semester student load. view allocation of credits
Language:	Polish
Type of course:	obligatory courses
Mode:	Classroom
Short description:	An introductory course of astronomy include subjects useful for geography students. Simple description of main objects and phenomena in the Universe is also presented.
Full description:	We introduce basic conceptions necessary for description of geographical coordinates and time measurements. We point attention to astronomical factors defining conditions on the Earth, our home planet. We also describe the main objects and phenomena in the Universe. Program: 1. The Celestial sphere a) apparent rotation of the celestial sphere b) annual motion of the Sun on the celestial sphere c) description of most important points and great circles on the celestial sphere d) astronomical coordinates and geographical coordinates e) celestial sphere at different geographical latitudes 2. Time measurement: local times, universal time, zonal time. 3. Astonomical observations: a) electromagnetic radiation b) how atmosphere affects our observations c) optical telescopes, radiotelescopes, satellite observatories 4. Setting the geographical coordinates of the observer. a) upper and lower culmination b) geographical longitude and local time 5. Spherical triangle and equations of spherical trygonometry. 6. The Earth: a) figure and dimensions b) rotation and flattening, Coriolis acceleration. c) internal structure, atmosphere, magnetic field, d) orbital motion around the Sun (heliocentric parallax, annual aberration), e) lunar and solar tides and related phenomena. 7. The Moon: lunar phases, orbital motion, librations, solar and lunar eclipses, physical characteristics. 8. The Sun: size, mass, internal structure, chemical composition, solar atmosphere (photosphere, chromosphere, corona), solar wind, solar activity 9. The Solar System: Kepler Laws, Newton theory of gravitation, planetary orbits, basic informations about planets and their moons, asteroids, comets, meteoroids, origin of the Solar System. 10. Stars: distances, spectral types, Hertzsprung-Russell diagram, stellar masses (binary stars), variable stars, stellar birth and evolution, star clusters. 11. Brown dwarfs and extrasolar planets. 12. The Galaxy: structure, dimensions and age of the Galaxy, stellar populations. 13. The Galaxies: morfological types, distances, active galactic nuclei, quasars, groups and clusters of galaxies. 14. Cosmology: Big Bang, expansion of the Universe, Cosmic Microwave Background, pri-modial nucleosynthesis. No prerequisities Examination form: written test, oral exam if necessary. Description by Marcin Kiraga, June 2008
Bibliography:	1. Jan Mietelski, "Astronomia w Geografii", PWN Warszawa, (dowolne wydanie). 2. Antoni Opolski, "Elementy Astronomii w Geografii", PWN Warszawa. 3. Eugeniusz Rybka, "Astronomia Ogólna", PWN Warszawa.

This course is not currently offered.

Course descriptions are protected by copyright.
Copyright by University of Warsaw.