Elements of Astronomy in Geography 1900-12EAG

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