12.5 Dr. Rachel Webster First semester 39 lectures (three a week) and 12 x 3-hour practical sessions By the completion of the course the student should:

• have acquired a broad comprehension of the structure and scale of the universe
• appreciate the scientific methods used to investigate and understand the solar system and the cosmos.

Basic planetary science, exploration of the solar system, historical ideas of the cosmos. Solar system: structure and possible origin of the solar system, the terrestrial and Jovian planets, comets and asteroids. Basic ideas in special and general relativity, space-time, curved space. Cosmology: the big bang models, Olbers' paradox, missing mass, galaxy formation, the early universe, extraterrestrial life. a 3-hour end-of-semester written examination (75 per cent); continuously assessed practical work (25 per cent). Abell Morrison and Wolff, Exploration of the Universe, 6th Ed 12.5 1st year Dr. Rachel Webster. First semester 39 lectures (three a week) and 12 x 3-hour practical sessions By the completion of the subject the student should:

• have acquired a broad comprehension of the structure and scale of the universe
• appreciate the scientific methods used to investigate and understand the solar system and the cosmos.

Basic planetary science, exploration of the solar system, historical ideas of the cosmos. Solar system: structure and possible origin of the solar system, the terrestrial and Jovian planets, comets and asteroids. Basic ideas in special and general relativity, space-time, curved space. Cosmology: the big bang models, Olbers' paradox, missing mass, galaxy formation, the early universe, extraterrestrial life. a 3-hour end-of-semester written examination (75 per cent); continuously assessed practical work (25 per cent). Abell Morrison and Wolff, Exploration of the Universe, 6th Ed