1B23: Modern Physics, Astronomy & Cosmology: Astronomy Home Page

Timetable

• 2005	Tues 10:00	Weds 12:00	Fri 12:00
  Oct 4 5 7	P	P	P
  Oct 11 12 14	P	P	P
  Oct 18 19 21	P	P	P(p1)
  Oct 25 26 28	A	A	A(d1)
  Nov 1 2 4	A	A	A
  Nov 8 9 11	Reading Week
  Nov 15 16 18	A	A	A(p2)
  Nov 22 23 25	P	P	P(d2)
  Nov 29 30 Dec 2	P	P	P(p3)
  Dec 6 7 9	A	A	A(d3)
  Dec 13 14 16	A	A	A(p4)
  P=Physics, A=Astro, (p)=problem sheet issued, (d)=problem sheet deadline (d4=2006 Jan 13)

Astro Lecture Notes

• Lecture Notes – Stars (113k pdf)
• Lecture Notes – Galaxies (87k pdf)
• Lecture Notes – Cosmology (75k pdf)
   
• Lecture Slides – Stars (10Mb PowerPoint)
• Lecture Slides – Galaxies (16Mb PowerPoint)
• Lecture Slides – Cosmology (5Mb PowerPoint)

AstroLinks

• 1B23 Link Farm to all sorts of astronomical resources.
   
• Astronomy Picture of the Day
   
• Astronomy Notes  (a useful on-line introductory astronomy textbook)
   
• Some links related to lecture topics – stars:
  • Spectral Types and Black Bodies – a nice java applet from the University of Manchester illustrating how energy distribution (temperature) varies with spectral type, and how well (or badly) black bodies approximate stellar spectra.
  • The Hertzsprung-Russell Diagram
  • Proton-proton chain (with links to CNO cycle, triple-alpha process, and neutrinos).
  • The (self-styled) "Ultimate Neutrino Page"
  • Solving the Mystery of the Missing Neutrinos – a historical review by John Bahcall, one of the key players. (He also has a number of other articles available on-line).
  • Stellar Evolution – from NASA's Observatorium.
  • Stellar Evolution – java applet showing the evolution of stars in the H-R diagram from main-sequence to the red giant phase (java enabled browser required!).
• Some links related to lecture topics – galaxies:
  • Hubble Tuning Fork Diagram – a simple version
  • Hubble Tuning Fork Diagram – attractively illustrated by images of real galaxies
  • Galaxy Crash! – an interactive java applet which allows you to model galaxy collisions
  • Our Galaxy – from Strobel's Astronomy Notes
  • Active Galaxies – a basic introduction from GSFC
  • Clusters of Galaxies – also from GSFC
  • Gravitational Lensing – one important method for 'weighing' clusters of galaxies, and some java applets for those interested to play with.
• Some links related to lecture topics – cosmology:
  • The WMAP paper that elevated cosmology to a set of precisely 'known' numbers
  • The Supernova Cosmology Project
  • Ned Wright'sCosmology Tutorial – not the most polished appearance, but these web pages are a goldmine of up-to-date information presenting complex ideas with exceptional clarity, written by an expert cosmologist.

  Course Links

  • Prof. Laricchia's 1B23 pages ('Modern Physics'), including:
    
    • Timetable
    • Assessment
    • Suggested Reading
      
    • Syllabus
    • Exam papers
  • UCL:
    • UCL home page
    • Physics & Astronomy home page
    • ULO (Mill Hill) home page
    • Astronomy-group home page
    • Asteroid computers

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