Babes-Bolyai University of Cluj-Napoca
Faculty of Mathematics and Computer Science
Study Cycle: Graduate

SUBJECT

Code
Subject
MMM0002 Astronomy
Section
Semester
Hours: C+S+L
Category
Type
Mathematics
5
2+1+1
speciality
compulsory
Computer Science - in Hungarian
5
2+1+1
speciality
optional
Mathematics-Computer Science - in Romanian
Mathematics-Computer Science - in Hungarian
5
2+1+0
speciality
optional
Teaching Staff in Charge
Assoc.Prof. SZENKOVITS Ferenc, Ph.D.,  fszenkomath.ubbcluj.ro
Assoc.Prof. BLAGA Cristina Olivia, Ph.D.,  cpblagamath.ubbcluj.ro
Aims
The introduction of basic concepts necessary to teach the Astronomy in secondary school, concerning celestial sphere, apparent and real motions of celestial bodies, physical nature of the stars, the structure of the Universe at different scales, origin and evolution of celestial bodies. The appropriation of fundamental topics of the subject necessary to introduce the optional astronomy lectures from VII and VIII semesters, as well as the master lectures.
Content
1. Objects, problems, methods and branches of the Astronomy. The structure of the accessible Universe (the Metagalaxy).
2. Spherical astronomy: the celestial sphere, the daily motion, celestial coordinates, the annual apparent notion of the Sun, basics of the spherical trigonometry and coordinate transformations
3. The time and its measuring: local times, the universal time, legal time, the calendar.
4. Basics of the practical astronomy: astronomical instruments and methods of the geographical and celestial coordinate determination
5. Reduction of the observations: refraction, parallaxes, precession and nutation
6. The Earth: motion, shape and dimensions, geocentric coordinates, the mass and structure of the Earth.
7. Apparent motion and phases of the planets; eclipses: explications in geocentric and heliocentric systems.
8. Problems of the celestial mechanics: the two-body problem, the three-body problem, the n-body problem, perturbations
9. Fundaments of space flight: active and passive motion, artificial satellites.
10. The structure of the Solar System: the Sun, planets, natural satellites, the Moon, asteroids, comets and the interplanetary matter.
11. The theory of radiation and the astronomical photometry: intensity, flux, luminosity, apparent brightness, radiation of the black body, apparent and absolute magnitudes.
12. Applications of the spectral analysis in Astrophysics: spectra, the Harvard classification, shift of spectral lines.
13. Stellar parameters; state equations: determination of the mass, temperature, luminosity, and the H-R diagram.
14. Our galaxy: general structure and rotation.
References
1. BLAGA, C.: Sistemul nostru solar, Editura Albastra, 2001
2. SZENKOVITS F.: Bevezetes a csillagaszatba, Kolozsvari Egyetemi Kiado, Kolozsvar, 2007.
3. PAL, A., POP, V., URECHE, V. - Astronomie, Culegere de probleme, Presa Universitara clujeana, Cluj-Napoca, 1998
4. PAL, A., URECHE, V. - Astronomie, Bucuresti, 1983.
5. POP, V. POP, D. - Trigonometrie plana si trigonometrie sferica, Presa Universitara clujeana, Cluj-Napoca, 2003.
6. URECHE, V. - Universul Vol. I Astronomie, Cluj-Napoca, 1982. Universul Vol. II Astrofizica, Cluj-Napoca, 1987.
7. WEIGERT, C.- WENDKLER, H.: Astronomie und Astrophysik, VCH Verlagsgeselschaft mbH, 1996
8. UNSOLD, A., BASCHEK, B - Der neue Kosmos, Springer, 2002.
9. FREEDMAN R.A.,KAUFMANN W.J., Universe, New-York, 2002.
10.SMITH E.P., JACOBS K.C., Introductory Astronomy and Astrophysics, W.B. Saunders Company, Philadelphia, London, Toronto, 1973.
Assessment
The final mark contains the activity at the seminar (10%), the activity at the laboratory(20%) and the result at the oral exam at the end of semester (70%).
Links: Syllabus for all subjects
Romanian version for this subject
Rtf format for this subject