Physics 681: Introduction to Astronomy – Lecture 1
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Physics 681: Introduction to Astronomy – Lecture 1 Carsten Denker NJIT Physics Department Center for Solar–Terrestrial Research
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Physics 681: Introduction to Astronomy – Lecture 1. Carsten Denker NJIT Physics Department Center for Solar–Terrestrial Research. Class Organization. Textbook: Astronomy - A Beginner's Guide to the Universe, Chaisson and McMillan, Prentice Hall, 2004 - PowerPoint PPT Presentation
Transcript of Physics 681: Introduction to Astronomy – Lecture 1
Physics 681: Introduction to Astronomy – Lecture 1
Carsten Denker
NJIT Physics DepartmentCenter for Solar–Terrestrial
Research
January 18, 2006 Center for Solar-Terrestrial Research
Class Organization Textbook: Astronomy - A Beginner's Guide to the
Universe, Chaisson and McMillan, Prentice Hall, 2004 Time: Wednesday and Friday, 11:30 am - 12:55 am,
Room KUPF 108 Office Hours: Open-door policy, 9:00 am - 5:00 pm,
Room Tiernan Hall T101D E-Mail: [email protected] No homework assignments! Grades: Two in-class exams (30% each) and final
exam (40%) Syllabus:
http://solar.njit.edu/~cdenker/physics202.html Two optional Observing Sessions (TBA) Attendance: No more than three missed classes!
January 18, 2006 Center for Solar-Terrestrial Research
Group Problems Three to four students per group 5–10 minutes for group discussion and 5
minutes for the presentation of the results One student will take notes of the problem
solving strategy, different steps in tackling the problem and the final solution.
The other students should be prepared to explain their results to the class or another group.
January 18, 2006 Center for Solar-Terrestrial Research
A Pictorial IntroductionWhere are we in the Universe?The size of Earth, the Sun, the solar
system, the “Milky Way”, and the entire universe
Is life on Earth unique?The universe is the totality of space,
time, matter, and energy.Astronomy is the study of the
universe.Astronomical tools and techniques
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Comet Hale-Bopp above New York
January 18, 2006 Center for Solar-Terrestrial Research
Earth and Moon
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Sun
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Solar System
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Milky Way
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Andromeda Galaxy
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Group Problem If you traveled to the outermost planet
in our solar system, do you think the constellations would appear to change their shapes?
What would happen, if you traveled to the next nearest star?
If you traveled to the center of our Galaxy, could you still see familiar constellations found in Earth’s night Sky?
January 18, 2006 Center for Solar-Terrestrial Research
HCG 87: A Small Group of Galaxies
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Flight through the Local Supercluster by Brent Tully
(IfA)
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Hubble Space Telescope Deep Field
January 18, 2006 Center for Solar-Terrestrial Research
2dF Galaxy Redshift Survey
January 18, 2006 Center for Solar-Terrestrial Research
Group Problem Imagine you would like to invite an
alien from the Orion Nebula to visit you at NJIT, how much information would you have to provide for the alien to find you?
What would be your complete address?
