James Cook University Subject Handbook - 2004

Offerings
View how AS5012 is offered in 2004

(Also shows pre-requisites and inadmissible combinations if applicable)

AS5012:06

Astronomy Instrumentation

External

HECS Band 2

Semester 1 (February to May) and Semester 2 (September to December).
This subject is delivered via the Internet using Blackboard through Learn JCU. Each week the student will be given lecture material, assignment material, readings and self learning. Assessment will be on a week-by-week basis and there will be a final "open-book" examination.
The material in this subject is presented via the Internet. It is equivalent to four hours of lectures, four hours of tutorials and four hours of workshops/seminars per week.

Available only to students enrolled in the Graduate Certificate of Astronomy, Graduate Diploma of Astronomy, Master of Astronomy and Doctor of Astronomy.

Staff:

Assoc. Professor G White.

This subject concentrates on ground-based optical and radio observational and remote sensing techniques; on spacecraft (for planetary exploration) and space telescopes. Topics include optical telescope types, photography, CCD imaging, image processing, time measurement, astrometry, spectrographs and spectroscopy, radio telescopes, radio interferometry, radio spectroscopy. It also studies space astronomy techniques and instrumentation, the Hubble Space Telescope, orbiting infrared, X-ray, gamma ray telescopes, space VLBI, planetary probes, remote sensing, robotic and human exploration of the Moon and Mars and the economics of commercial spacecraft.

Learning Objectives:

introduction to the way in which the Universe is studied at an advanced level;

introduction to advanced measurement techniques;

learn the limitations in experimental work, and the sources of error that are present, and how error is eliminated in experimental work;

learn to fully utilise the Internet for learning and research;

learn the vocabulary of science and the thinking processes of scientists;

develop verbal and written presentation skills.

Assessment by three essays (10% each) (30%); three assignments (10% each) (30%); end-of-semester examination (open book) (40%).