Evolution and Dynamics of the Planetary System

Timetable

Module aim (aims)

1. Presenting astronomy as a liberal art, encompassing religion, philosophy, history, mathematics, and science
2. Explaining to students the motions of celestial bodies, and how they were used in determining time, date, and directions
3. Introducing students to night sky observations of the Moon and brightest planets
4. Making students aware of the role of astronomy in modern society

Pre-requisites in terms of knowledge, skills and social competences (where relevant)

Syllabus

1. Periodic phenomena on the sky and their simulation with Stellarium.
2. The beginning of astronomy in ancient European civilizations: the sky as a clock, calendar, and compass.
3. Greek astronomy and the model of the Universe.
4. Copernican revolution, the works of Tycho Brahe, Galilei, Kepler and Newton. Explaining the origin and current views on astrology.
5. Birth of astrophysics: a spectroscope, classification of stars and stellar evolution.
6. Astronomy and Art, History and Literature: using astronomical phenomena to explain the place and time of various events described in books or presented on canvas.
7. Role of astronomy for modern society: protecting the Earth from cosmic threats.
8. Great Debates in Astronomy: "The Nature of the Universe" and "Life in the Universe".
9. Moon and planets observations in the Observatory park (depending on the weather).

Reading list

Obligatory

1. Lecture notes provided by the lecturer: https://vesta.astro.amu.edu.pl/wiki55/pmwiki.php (requires a password due to copyright restrictions).
2. Rogers E.M., Physics for the Inquiring Mind, Princeton University Press, 1960.
3. Stellarium Astronomy Software: https://stellarium.org/ (last accessed: 2023-03-17).

Optional

1. Lodge O., Pioneers of Science. Macmillan and co, London 1893.
2. Olson D.W., Celestial Sleuth: Using Astronomy to Solve Mysteries in Art, History and Literature, Springer Praxis Book, 2014.