The essentials of astronomy

Aims of the course

This course aims to:
1. Give you an overview of modern observational astronomy.
2. Provide you with an understanding of the astrophysics of the various objects and systems studied by astronomers (from stars and galaxies to black holes and cosmology).
3. Develop knowledge of the multifarious observational techniques used across the electromagnetic spectrum.

Content

Astronomy is the oldest science. For thousands of years, human beings have studied the lights in the night sky and tried to understand the workings of the cosmos. But for most of our history, our view has been limited. By observing the night sky with our eyes, we are only able to see the Universe in the wavelengths of light visible to our eyes. But visible light is only a small part of the entire electromagnetic spectrum.

Over the past century astronomy has become a 'multi-wavelength' science as astronomers have begun to study the sky using other regions of the electromagnetic spectrum. And the results have been astounding. Each new type of light, from radio waves to the infra-red, has provided a whole new window to the cosmos revealing a Universe weirder and more wonderful than we had ever imagined.

In this course we will look at the science of modern multi-wavelength astronomy. We will begin with long wavelength radio waves, move on to submillimetre and then infra-red light, and finally on to optical astronomy. Along the way we will encounter rapidly spinning neutron stars, hidden distant galaxies, stellar nurseries, violent supermassive black holes, and much more.

Presentation of the course

The course will consist of 5 lectures, each 90 minutes long. Each lecture will feature taught material, and allow time for questions and group discussion.

Class sessions

1. Astronomy at the longest wavelengths
The discovery of radio waves from space was a turning point for the history of astronomy. It was the first-time astronomers received information from the Universe using something other than optical light. This first class will cover the history of radio astronomy, and the physics behind the detection of radio waves.

2. What is in the radio sky? Black holes to the Big Bang
There are all kinds of astrophysical phenomena which only reveal themselves in the radio: this class will cover what astronomers see in the radio sky. We will also cover microwave radiation and discuss how these long wavelengths led to the discovery of the Big Bang.

3. The hidden submillimetre Universe
Shorter than radio waves, but longer than infra-red, the ‘submillimetre’ is a relatively new frontier for astronomy. We will discuss the way astronomers used superconductors to build the first detectors for submillimetre radiation, and the hidden galaxies that were revealed using these new instruments.

4. Seeing Heat: the infrared Universe
Looking at the Universe with infrared eyes, we see a very alien place. This class will cover the cold and dusty Universe that is revealed in the infrared. We will cover infrared astrophysics – from brown dwarf stars to cosmic dust – and discuss the space-based instruments that allow us to see them, including the new James Webb Space Telescope.

5. Visual astronomy, and a new gravitational frontier
This final class will briefly discuss the technology astronomers use to observe the Universe using visual light, from CCDs to adaptive optics. We will finish by leaving the electromagnetic spectrum behind, and discussing the new science of gravitational wave astronomy, which promises to revolutionise our understanding of the cosmos.

Learning outcomes

The learning outcomes for this course are:
1. To gain a deeper understanding of the methods of modern astronomy;
2. To understand how and why astronomers use different regions of the spectrum;
3. To gain an understanding of the types of astronomical objects we can see using different wavelengths

Required reading

There are no required readings for this course.

Typical week: Monday to Friday

Courses run from Monday to Friday. For each week of study, you select a morning (Am) course and an afternoon (Pm) course. The maximum class size is 25 students. 

Courses are complemented by a series of daily plenary lectures, exploring new ideas in a wide range of disciplines. To add to the learning experience, we are also planning additional evening talks and events.

Evaluation and Academic Credit 

If you are seeking to enhance your own study experience, or earn academic credit from your Cambridge Summer Programme studies at your home institution, you can submit written work for assessment for one or more of your courses. 

Essay questions are set and assessed against the University of Cambridge standard by your Course Director, a list of essay questions can be found in the Course Materials. Essays are submitted two weeks after the end of each course, so those studying for multiple weeks need to plan their time accordingly. There is an evaluation fee of £75 per essay.

For more information about writing essays see Evaluation and Academic Credit.

Certificate of attendance

A certificate of attendance will be sent to you electronically after the programme.