Coordinators: Associate Professor Paul Cally (School of Mathematical Sciences), Ms Susan Feteris (School of Physics and Materials Engineering)
Studies in astronomy and astrophysics are available to students commencing at level one. The first-level units provide a descriptive overview of the universe, our place in it, and prospects for the developments of extra-terrestrial life. These units are particularly recommended for those interested in the philosophy or history of science, understanding the necessary precursors to the development of life, or amateur astronomy.
It is also possible for students to commence their astrophysics studies at
second or third level, as the first and second-level ASP units are not
prerequisites for entry into the following levels. The second-level astronomy
units are aimed at students who have completed at least first- level astronomy
or physics, and their purpose is to introduce astronomy from a more practical
and quantitative perspective. They will therefore provide a useful contextual
background to prospective physicists in general and to future astronomers and
astrophysicists in particular.
Astrophysics is the application of known physical laws to the study of the
objects that make up the universe - planets and stars, comets, pulsars and
quasars, black holes and galaxies. The third and fourth-level astrophysics
units will provide education in modern astrophysics, and are primarily aimed at
those intending a professional career in astronomy or astrophysics. However,
because modern astrophysics draws heavily on physics, mathematics, computation
and numerical analysis, these units provide excellent training in modern
science and problem solving.
The astronomy and astrophysics program is presented jointly by the School of
Mathematical Sciences and the School of Physics and Materials Engineering, in
collaboration with the Mt Stromlo and Siding Springs Observatories.
Minor sequence in astronomy (24 points):
Major sequence in astrophysics (48 points):
Details of the MTH and PHS units, and some related sequences, are described in the `Mathematics' and `Physics' entries in this section of the handbook.
In addition to these requirements, students completing a major sequence in astrophysics are required to have completed at least MTH1030, PHS1011 and PHS1022 at level one and MTH2010, MTH2032 and PHS2011 at level two. MTH2051 or MTH3051 is also strongly recommended.
The two first-level astronomy units ASP1010 and ASP1022 are descriptive and introductory, and are accessible to students with no prerequisites.
Students considering taking a major sequence in astrophysics should complete PHS1011 and PHS1022 and at least 12 points of mathematics units at level one, normally MTH1020 and MTH1030 or equivalent. Students may also find it advantageous to include some chemistry, computer science or geosciences units, depending on their particular interests.
The units ASP2011 and ASP2022 are presented by the School of Physics and Materials Engineering, which operates its own observatories at Mount Burnett and at the Clayton campus. The units cover both theoretical and observational astronomy.
ASP2051 (also available as ASP3051) is presented by the School of
Mathematical Sciences. ASP2011 and ASP2051 are prerequisites or corequisites
for the major sequence in astrophysics and it is recommended that students
intending to complete a major sequence in astrophysics should take ASP2051
rather than ASP2022 in their second year. It is not normally recommended that
both ASP2022 and ASP2051 be taken.
Students intending to take 24 points of astrophysics in level three must have
completed at least 12 points of mathematics and at least six points of physics
at level two. The mathematics units completed must include MTH2010 and MTH2032,
but MTH2051 or MTH3051 is also strongly recommended. The minimum physics
requirement is PHS2011, which is a modern physics unit built around quantum
physics taught in the context of atomic, molecular and solid state physics.
However, it is preferable for students to take 12 points of physics comprising
PHS2011 and PHS2022, especially if they are more interested in the
observational or instrumental aspects of astrophysics. This is because this
combination of units provides a good grounding in both quantum concepts and
electronics principles, both of which are important in astronomy and
astrophysics. Further, it may be an advantage to those without a background in
astronomy to take the astronomy units ASP2011 and ASP2022 in their second year
of studies.
It is expected that students taking astrophysics at level three will combine the sequence primarily with either 24 points of mathematics (for those intending to follow theoretical astrophysics) or with 24 points of physics units (for those intending to follow a more observational or instrumentational approach) at level three. In either case, there is a core of 18 points at level three comprised the three units ASP3012, ASP3051 (if ASP2051 has not already been completed) and MTH3362. Those taking 24 points of physics will be required to make up their final six points of astrophysics with MTH3011. Students taking 24 points of mathematics units (including MTH3011) in combination with astrophysics units will normally be required to take ASP3222. Students are not normally permitted to enrol in ASP2022 in their third year in combination with ASP3011 and ASP3051.
If neither mathematics nor physics is being taken at level three, or if the
enrolment contains a combination of both, an astrophysics student wishing to
take the whole sequence would be required to enrol in ASP3012 and ASP3051, and
at least one of MTH3362 and ASP3222 for their enrolment to be approved by the
coordinator.
Students at third-year level and wishing to take astrophysics, but who lack the
appropriate physics prerequisites, may be able to enrol in some of the ASP core
units as part of their mathematics sequence; see the level three entry under
`Mathematics' in this handbook. However, they should discuss this with the
astrophysics coordinator at the earliest opportunity.
Further study in astrophysics is available within the honours program offered by the School of Mathematical Sciences. Inclusion of components from the School of Physics and Materials Engineering is possible. The minimum requirement to apply for entry into honours in astrophysics is an average grade of distinction in 24 points of level-three astrophysics units, or equivalent.
Previous page | Next page | Section contents | Title and contents