Duration
15h Th, 5h Pr
Number of credits
| Master in space sciences (120 ECTS) | 3 crédits |
Lecturer
Language(s) of instruction
English language
Organisation and examination
Teaching in the second semester
Schedule
Units courses prerequisite and corequisite
Prerequisite or corequisite units are presented within each program
Learning unit contents
Small solar system bodies (asteroids , comets and meteors ) are an important source of information to understand the origin and evolution of the Solar System. These bodies, mostly intact since the formation of the solar system 4.6 billion years ago , deliver, through their study (dynamics, composition, etc. ) important informations about the physical and chemicals conditions that were prevailing at those early times. This is a very active area of ¿¿research that had in recent years many important advances thanks to, among others things, space missions.
The course aims to make an overview of the various small bodies, from tiny interplanetary dust particules of the zodiacal light to the recently discovered dwarf planets, through comets and asteroids, the leftover of the primitive accretion disk, and by establishing many links between the different classes.
Table of Contents :
1 . asteroids
2 . Meteors and meteorites
3 . comets
4 . Trans-Neptunian Objects (TNO )
TP
Observations of comets and asteroids with the TRAPPIST robotic telescope installed in Chile.
Learning outcomes of the learning unit
The aims of the lecture are:
(1) to provide the student with basic information on the different categories of small bodies;
(2) to illustrate different physical problems related to the study of small bodies;
(3) to present the different observational approaches of small bodies;
(4) to help the student to get the big picture that emerges from the study of small bodies for the understanding of the solar system;
(5) to promote interest in research across a range of exciting topics and many open questions ;
(6) to generate interest for observational astronomy through the use of the TRAPPIST robotic telescope (discovery of new asteroids)
Prerequisite knowledge and skills
Basic knowledge of physics, at the level of bachelor in science.
Planned learning activities and teaching methods
The student will prepare a presentation of about 1/2 hour to resume a paper related to the lecture.
The student will learn during the laboratory the observing techniques of asteroids and comets, realize his own observations, learn the basic techniques for dealing with CCD data. The student will learn to calculate the orbital parameters from the observations.
Mode of delivery (face to face, distance learning, hybrid learning)
Theoretical lectures of two hours (projection of slides and discussions). Laboratory of two hours (with laptops) Second semester.
Recommended or required readings
Any session :
- In-person
oral exam
- Remote
oral exam
- If evaluation in "hybrid"
preferred remote
Additional information:
Oral examination. The student will prepare a presentation of about 1/2 hour on a paper related to the lecture.
Series of questions related to the lecture and linked to the paper.
By Visio-conference with Lifesize or face to face if it is allowed again
Work placement(s)
Organisational remarks and main changes to the course
Contacts
Contacts Emmanuel Jehin Institut d'Astrophysique et de Géophysique, Bât. B5c, allée du 6 Août, 4000 Liège 1 (SartTilman). Tél.: 04/366.97.26 E-mail : ejehin@ulg.ac.be