640-176 The Solar System and the Cosmos

Credit Points:

Coordinator:

Timetable:

Contact:

Objectives:

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;

• appreciate that astronomy is one of the most rapidly changing branches of science.

Content:

Discussion of the latest results from telescopes such as the Hubble Space Telescope, and how they affect understanding of a range of topics, such as black holes, other planets, comets and extraterrestrial life. Introduction of the basic physical concepts required to understand the formation and evolution of our solar system, and also the structure of the Universe on the largest scales. Topics in cosmology will include 'Big Bang' models, the 'missing mass' problem, and our understanding of the first few seconds of the universe.

Assessment:

Prescribed Texts:

• Morrison, Wolff and Fraknoi, Abell's Exploration of the Universe, 7th Ed.