(Approximately 13 weeks ~ 32 Lectures & 7 Tutorials)
Astrophysical conditions, typical physical scales, Order of magnitude estimation, The Celestial Sphere, The Ecliptic. Astrometry: Different Co-ordinate systems – RA/DEC, Galactic Co-ordinates, Sideral Time, Reference Epochs Recap of Kepler Laws, Parallax and Proper Motion. Catalouge References – NGC, Messeier, 3C, Vizier, 2MASS.
Modes of Energy Transfer, Blackbody Radiation and Thermal Equilibrium, Continuum emission, spectral lines and non-thermal emission. Photometry: Magnitude Scale, Concept of Color Index, Seeing, Extinction and Reddening, Multi-wavelength Observatories, Optical Telescopes: Reflecting and Refracting
Interiors of a star: Hydrostatic Equilibrium, Viral Theorem, Kelvin Helmholtz Time scales, sound crossing time scales, Accretion times. Classification of Stellar Spectra, Formation of a single star – Jeans Mass, Accretion disk, Jets, Binary system : Estimating Mass, Stellar Evolution using HR Diagram, Ultimate Fate of Stars: Supernova Types and Remnants. Compact Objects: White Dwarf, Neutron Stars and Black Holes.
Planets in our solar system: Retrograde Motion, Extra-solar Planets and their detection techniques.
Classification of Galaxies based on morphology and luminosity, The Milky Way Galaxy, Galactic Center and Supermassive Black Hole, Differential Rotation and Evidence of Dark Matter, Active Galaxies: Unified Model – Blazars, Quasars, Seyfert Galaxies.
Expansion of Universe and Hubble’s Law : Concept of Redshift, Standard Candles, Cepheid Variables. Cosmic Microwave Background, Composition of Universe & Galaxy Clusters.