Discovering the Universe
Duration
- One Semester
Contact hours
- 48
2020 teaching periods
Hawthorn
| Higher Ed. Semester 2 | ||
|---|---|---|
|
Dates: Results: Last self enrolment: Census: Last withdraw without fail: |
Prerequisites
NilCorequisites
NilAims and objectives
1. Describe our place in the Universe using a historical context
2. Use basic physical laws to describe the motion of celestial bodies in the Universe
3. Identify astronomical objects such as stars, planets and galaxies, and current areas of astronomical research
4. Analyse modern observing techniques, and different telescope design for different wavelength regimes
5. Make and interpret measurements from modern astronomical datasets
Unit information in detail
- Teaching methods, assessment, general skills outcomes and content.
Teaching methods
*Scheduled face to face: Lectures (24 hours), Tutorials (12 hours), Laboratory Work (12 hours)
*Scheduled synchronous online learning events
Non-scheduled online learning events and activities (12 hours)
Non-scheduled learning events and activities including independent study (approx. 90 hours)
Assessment
| Types | Individual or Group task | Weighting | Assesses attainment of these ULOs |
| Examination | Individual | 30-40% | 1,2,3,4 |
| Tests | Individual | 10-15% | 1,2,3 |
| Tutorial Assignments | Individual & Group | 15-20% | 1,3,4,5 |
| Laboratory Reports | Individual | 25-35% | 1,2,3,4,5 |
As the minimum requirements of assessment to pass the unit and meet all Unit Learning Outcomes to a minimum standard, a student must achieve:
(i) An aggregate mark of 50% or more, and
(ii) Obtain at least 40% in the final exam, and
(iii) Obtain at least 40% of the possible marks for the laboratory components
Students who do not successfully achieve hurdle requirements (ii) and (iii) will receive a maximum of 44% as the total mark for the unit and will not be eligible for a conceded pass.
General skills outcomes
- Problem solving skills,
- Communications skills,
- Ability to tackle unfamiliar problems
- Ability to work independently and in a group.
Content
- Our place in the Cosmos: History of astronomy, observing the night sky, the scale of the Universe, basic laws of physics.
- Observational Astronomy: The electromagnetic spectrum, telescopes and observing techniques.
- The Solar Neighbourhood and beyond: The Sun and the planets, minor planets asteroids and comets, other worlds.
- The Birth, Life and Death of Stars: Stellar nurseries, the evolution of stars, creation of the elements, the end products of stars, black holes, neutron stars.
- Galaxies and cosmology: Our galaxy the Milky Way, the early Universe, growth of structure, galaxy formation and evolution, the Big Bang and the fate of the Universe
- Life in the Universe: Life on Earth and in the Solar System, conditions for life, the search for life in the Universe, SETI.
Study resources
- Reading materials.
Reading materials
A list of reading materials and/or required texts will be made available in the Unit Outline.