ASTROPHYSICS

Celestial sphere, spherical geometry – spherical triangles, astronomical cordinate systems, coordinate conversions, Measurement of time, sidereal time, mean solar time, equation of time, calendars (lunar, Julian, solar).

Basic stellar parameters, stellar magnitude scale (apparent, absolute), distance modulus, stellar distance determination using parallax method, determination of temeperature and radius of a star, determination of stellar masses from binary orbits, stellar spectral classification, effective temperature, H-R diagram.

Optical telescopes – different types, mountings, detectors and their use (astrometry, photometry, spectroscopy), magnification and light gathering power, resolving power and diffraction limit, limiting magnitude, atmospheric windows.

The Sun: photosphere, chromosphere, corona, prominences, sunspots, sunspot cycle, solar flares, solar wind, solar terrestrial relations (space weather), energy transport from the core to surface, basic stellar structure (hydrostatic equilibrium, equation of state), basics of solar magneto-hydro dynamics, helio-seismology.

Solar system: planets, satellites, asteroids & comets, Titus-Bode law. Extra-solar planets. Are we alone ?

Milkyway: size & shape of our galaxy, star count analysis, star clusters (open, globular), Shapley's model, structure, nature of rotation, missing mass problem.