Page 40 - CatalogNEP-PS

The solar family (Solar System: Facts and Figures, Origin of the Solar System: The Nebular
Model, Tidal Forces and Planetary Rings, Extra-Solar Planets.
Stellar spectra and classification Structure (Atomic Spectra Revisited, Stellar Spectra, Spectral
Types and Their Temperature Dependence, Black Body Approximation, H R Diagram,
Luminosity Classification)
Cosmology and Astrobiology: Standard Candles (Cepheids and SNe Type1a), Cosmic distance
ladder, Olber‘s paradox, Hubble‘s expansion, History of the Universe, Chemistry of life, Origin of
life, Chances of life in the solar system

UNIT3 (15 Hours)
The milky way: Basic Structure and Properties of the Milky Way, Nature of Rotation of the Milky
Way (Differential Rotation of the Galaxy and Oort Constant, Rotation Curve of the Galaxy and
the Dark Matter, Nature of the Spiral Arms), Stars and Star Clusters of the Milky Way, Properties
of and around the Galactic Nucleus.
Galaxies: Galaxy Morphology, Hubble‘s Classification of Galaxies, Elliptical Galaxies (The
Intrinsic Shapes of Elliptical, de Vaucouleurs Law, Stars and Gas). Spiral and Lenticular Galaxies
(Bulges, Disks, Galactic Halo) The Milky Way Galaxy, Gas and Dust in the Galaxy, Spiral Arms.
Active galaxies: ‗Activities‘ of Active Galaxies, How ‗Active‘ are the Active Galaxies?
Classification of the Active Galaxies,
Large scale structure & expanding universe: Cosmic Distance Ladder (An Example from
Terrestrial Physics, Distance Measurement using Cepheid Variables), Hubble‘s Law (Distance-
Velocity Relation), Clusters of Galaxies (Virial theorem and Dark Matter).
Astronomy in India: Astronomy in ancient, medieval and early telescopic era of India, current
Indian observatories (Hanle-Indian Astronomical Observatory, Devasthal Observatory, Vainu
Bappu Observatory, Mount Abu Infrared Observatory, Gauribidanur Radio Observatory, Giant
Metre-wave Radio Telescope, Udaipur Solar Observatory, LIGO -India) (qualitative discussion),
Indian astronomy missions (Astrosat, Aditya)

PRACTICALS(30 Hours)

List of Experiments
1. To become familiar with the astronomical objects visible to naked eye in the night sky
using the software Stellarium. Go For The Experiment...
2. To become familiar with the Constellations in the night sky using the software
Stellarium. Go For The Experiment...
3. To identify the retrograde motion of Mars with respect to the Background stars. Go For
The Experiment...
4. To identify some of the prominent spectral lines in the spectrum of our sun. Go For The
Experiment...
5. To get familiar with the spectra of different stars. Go For The Experiment...
6. To extract coordinates of a star assuming a telescope in equatorial mount. You will also
learn the concept of sidereal time. Go For The Experiment...
7. To measure astronomical distances using Cepheid variables. Go For The Experiment...
8. To measure the Proper Motion of Barnard's Star. Go For The Experiment...
9. To identify a Circumpolar Star. Go For The Experiment...
10. To determine the distance and age of cluster using Colour Magnitude Diagram. Go For
The Experiment...
11. To determine Orbital Inclination of the planet Mars. Go For The Experiment...
12. To measure planetary distances Go For The Experiment...
13. To measure distance to the Moon Go For The Experiment...
14. To determine observer's location by means of the stars Go For The Experiment...

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