Objectives and competences
Student gain ability for safe organisation of individual or mass astronomical observations of different astronomical objects or phenomena, in particular focused on astronomical observations in frame of Slovene educational system.
Content (Syllabus outline)
• an overview of development of astronomical observations, some important astronomers and their discoveries, observing methods and instruments in the past
• observations with naked eye, orientation on the day and night sky, constellations, observations of the Moon, Sun and planets, criteria for qualitative astronomical observations
• coordinate systems, moving of Earth (rotation, revolution, precession, parallax, role of observation point on earth’s surface) and apparent movement of the sky
• binoculars, refractors and reflectors, other astronomical instruments (sky maps, astronomical computer programs, astronomy on internet)
• movement of Earth, Moon and Sun, observation of this bodies and correlating phenomena (rotation of Sun, sunspots, Sun’s cycle, Moon’s surface, Moon’s phases, nutation, Sun’s and Moon’s eclipses, aurora borealis, landings on the Moon)
• observations of planets and other objects of Sun system with naked eye and telescopes (gravitation law, Kepler laws, meteors, meteorites, comets, asteroids, moons of other planets, sun system missions)
• observation of Milky way (stars and multiple stars systems, Hertzsprung-Russel diagram, life of stars, extra solar planets and planet systems, open and globular star clusters, nebulae, planetary nebulae...)
• catalogues of observing objects and observations of distant galaxies (Messier catalogue, NGC and other catalogues, observing
• of Andromeda and other galaxies, Hubble’s law)
• evolution and structure of space, movement of objects in space on larger scale (local group, galaxy groups and superclusters, microwave background, big bang and alternative theories of space evolution)
• simple and advance astronomical instruments (spectrography, fotometry, digital detectors, contemporary telescopes, actual activities on the field of astronomical observations)
• astronomy in education system in Slovenia and in Slovenia generally (astronomical subjects and astronomical observations in curriculums on all levels of education, instructions for organisation of astronomical observations) and making of astronomical observing instruments
Learning and teaching methods
Lectures (explanation, discussion, demonstration, use of simulations), experimental lectures
Laboratory, field and seminarexercises (work with text, work with graphic elements, practical work, use of simulations and simulation environments)
Individual work
Elements of flipped learning.
Teaching and learning are done through the didactic use of ICT.
Intended learning outcomes - knowledge and understanding
On completion of this course student:
• summarize the evolution of astronomical
observations
• understands space conception and main
• connects and transfer theoretical knowledge in applicative optics to study phenomena in astronomy,
+
• is able to organize and execute astronomical observations analysesastronomical subjects in Slovene education and uses appropriate didactical approaches.
Intended learning outcomes - transferable/key skills and other attributes
Student gains:
• the ability of critical evaluation of information,
• awarness of limits of observation methods,
• understanding of difference between qualitative and quantitative approaches,
• understanding of applied optics,
• knowledge of digital data processing.
Readings
• Sir Patrick Moore, The Amateur Astronomer (Patrick Moore's Practical Astronomy Series), Springer-Verlag London Ltd; 12Rev Ed edition (Oct 2005)
• Christopher R. Kitchin, Telescopes and Techniques: An Introduction to Practical Astronomy, Springer-Verlag London Ltd; 2Rev Ed edition (Aug 2003)
• James Muirden, Sky Watcher's Handbook: The Expert Reference Source for the Amateur Astronomer, Oxford University Press, USA (January 1, 1993)
• Salaris, Maurizio, Evolution of stars and stellar populations, Chichester : J. Wiley, cop. 2005
• T. Zwitter: Pot skozi vesolje, Modrijan, 2002
• Vrtljiva zvezdna karta nt-BROG, 2011
• učni načrti fizike in drugih predmetov s področja naravoslovja, tehnike in matematike, kjer se astronomija in astronomska opazovanja lahko pojavijo kot možnost medpredmetne povezave
• Druga astronomska periodika: Spika, Sky&Telescope, Weltraum und Sterne, Kmica ter astronomske in astrofizikalne znanstvene revije
• Zaupanja vredni spletni viri, npr.: www.nasa.gov
Additional information on implementation and assessment a) Oral exam 40 %
b) Written exam 30 %
c) done report of laboratory work and field work and the oral avocation of experiments. 30 %
For a successfully finished course, both oral and written exams have to be positive.
Positive grade of laboratory and field report and positive grade of written exam are a prerequisites for access to oral examination.
