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The document is an introduction to Astronomy and Astrophysics by Kaushar Vaidya, detailing research interests in star formation and evolution, and the impact of their environments. It includes references to key texts, ancient astronomical practices, and significant historical figures and models in astronomy. The document also poses fundamental questions about the universe and its origins, highlighting the extreme scales and applications of physics in the field.

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2 views

MODULE1

The document is an introduction to Astronomy and Astrophysics by Kaushar Vaidya, detailing research interests in star formation and evolution, and the impact of their environments. It includes references to key texts, ancient astronomical practices, and significant historical figures and models in astronomy. The document also poses fundamental questions about the universe and its origins, highlighting the extreme scales and applications of physics in the field.

Uploaded by

rishithvulli3
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Introduction to Astronomy & Astrophysics

Kaushar Vaidya
Ph.D. (Astronomy)
Kaushar Vaidya
Ph.D. (Astronomy)

National Central University, Taiwan

Postdoctoral Researcher

University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Email: kaushar@pilani.bits-pilani.ac.in

Research Interests: Formation and Evolution of Stars


Questions:

● How do stars form?

● How do they evolve when they are in their earliest


stages? (invisible in optical)

● How do the environments in which they form affect


their formation?

● How do they affect these environments in turn?


Bloom’s Taxonomy - Learning about how we learn
Text and Reference Books
❏ An Introduction to Modern Astrophysics by Bradley Carroll & Dale Ostlie
❏ The Physical Universe by Frank Shu
❏ Astrophysics for Physicists by Arnab Rai Choudhuri
Textbook
Content

● Chapters 3, 6, 8, 9, 10, 11, 13, 15, 16, 17 (topics as per


the handout)

Handout (https://classroom.google.com/c/NjQ2OTQxMDIyMjI4)
Why Astronomy?
❏ Grandest questions
❏ Extreme Scales
❏ Applications of Physics
Questions
❏ How did everything come into being?
❏ How old is the Universe?
❏ What is the geometry of the Universe?
❏ What is the ultimate fate of the Universe?
❏ Are we alone?
❏ If there is any other form of life, can we find it? How?
Extreme Scales
Molecular Clouds

Temperature ~ 10K Temperature ~ 10,000,000 K


Comparison of densities
Application of Physics
Quiz0
Module 1
A site related to ancient Astronomy

Stonehenge, England (2000-3000 BC)


Mayan Scripts (300 - 900 AD)
Chichen Itza on Spring equinox

Rays of the setting


Sun creating an
image of a serpent
climbing down!
Pythagoras
Pythagoras (570—490 BC) study
of music intervals and geometry of
right angle demonstrated for the
first time the relationship between
nature and numbers.
What were the big questions of
ancient astronomers?
To understand the motions of the Sun, the moon, and the stars!
Plato
Plato (427—347 BC) proposed that
celestial bodies should move about
Earth with a uniform speed and
Follow a circular motion with Earth
at the center of that motion.
The Geocentric Model
Wanderers

Can the Geocentric


model of the Universe
explain this backward
(retrograde) motion?

Retrograde Motion of Mars (Image Source:


APOD - Tunc Tezel)
The Heliocentric Model (Aristarchus 310 - 230 BC)
Hipparchus (190-120 BC)

Wanderers go around circles


which go around the Earth!
The Ptolemaic System
Almagest - Ptolemy’s 13 volumes
Nicolaus Copernicus (1473-1543)
Retrograde Motion Explained
Tycho Brahe (1546 - 1601)
Tycho Brahe (1546 - 1601)
Johannes Kepler (1571 - 1630)
Kepler’s Laws
Kepler’s Laws
Galileo Galilei (1564 - 1642)
Galileo Galilei (1564 - 1642)
Isaac Newton (1642 - 1727)
Quiz 1

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