This course is an introduction to two related-but not identical-disciplines of physics: space physics and astrophysics. Space physics is concerned with understanding the environment between the sun and the Earth's upper atmosphere. Coronal mass ejections, the solar wind, magnetospheric storms, and auroral precipitation are among the many phenomena studied in the context of space physics. Astrophysics is a study of stellar structure and evolution, galactic structure, and cosmology. Phenomena of interest include quasars, black holes, supernovas, and the cosmic microwave background radiation. The relative emphasis given to the two disciplines varies depending on the background of the instructor.
This course is an introduction to two related-but not identical-disciplines of physics: space physics and astrophysics. Space physics is concerned with understanding the environment between the sun and the Earth's upper atmosphere. Coronal mass ejections, the solar wind, magnetospheric storms, and auroral precipitation are among the many phenomena studied in the context of space physics. Astrophysics is a study of stellar structure and evolution, galactic structure, and cosmology. Phenomena of interest include quasars, black holes, supernovas, and the cosmic microwave background radiation. The relative emphasis given to the two disciplines varies depending on the background of the instructor.
This course covers the dynamics of the space environment. Coverage includes orbital mechanics, the dynamics of the Earth, the Earth-Moon system, the planets and satellites of the Solar System, telescopes and detectors, blackbody radiation laws, stellar spectra, stellar structure, stellar evolution, stellar deaths, galactic structure and evolution, active galaxies and cosmology. Topics of current interest are surveyed including neutron pulsars, black holes, supernovas, quasars, and the cosmic background radiation.
