Post Graduate Diploma Course

in  

Astronomy & Planetarium Science

 

ADMISSION QUALIFICATION for P.G. Diploma Course in Astronomy & Planetarium Science 

Graduates or M.Sc ’s in any branch of Physical Sciences having any two of the following subjects in the Pass Course : Physics, Chemistry, Mathematics, Statistics, Computer Science and Geology.

  

SYLLABUS

 

PAPER – I : History of Astronomy; Astronomical Tools; Techniques and sources of Error.

Brief History of Astronomy : Oriental and Occidental

Celestial Coordinates, Refraction, Scintillation, Parallax, Aberration

Luminosity and magnitude of stars, distance modulus, different types of telescopes, resolving power, limiting magnitude, magnification, spectroscopes, spectro-helioscope, coronagraph, occultation technique, interferometers, recording devices (photographic plate, photoelectric photometry, CCD); Tools and Techniques used in Radio astronomy.

 

PAPER – II  :  The Sun and the Solar System

The Earth-Moon system, planets and their satellites, asteroids, meteors and comets, space probing of the solar system, Oort cloud, Kepler’s Laws, precession and nutation, eclipses, occultations and transits. 

Sun as a star, solar constant, slar spectrum, inside structure and the atmosphere, core to corona, general features of the quiet and the disturbed sun, sunspot cycle, Maunder minimum, solar magnetic field, mechanism of energy production, solar wind, solar terrestrial relations, sun observed at radio wavelengths.

 

PAPER – III  :  Stars and the Milky Way

Stellar parameters, HR Diagram, stellar classification, cluster of stars, variable stars, binary stars, Cepheid variables & the distance scale, stellar populations, mass-luminosity relation, stellar radii, thermodynamic equilibrium, pressure ionization, Saha’s equation, energy generation in stars, life cycles of stars, old age and ultimate end of stars, Chandrasekhar  Limit, white dwarfs, supernova, neutron stars and black holes., physics of compact objects.  

Dimension, size and shape of the Milky Way, halo, galactic rotation, spiral structure, rotation curve, mass of the galaxy, open and globular clusters, molecular clouds, nebu;ae, interstellar matter.  

 

PAPER – IV : Extragalactic & Multi-wavelength Astronomy.

The local group, clusters of galaxies, Hubble’s classification, redshift distance relationship, Hubble’s law, normal galaxies, Active Galactic Nuclei.

 Elementary ideas on multi-wavelength astronomy, electromagnetic spectrum.  

Radio astronomy, historical background, emission mechanisms, the radio universe, different types of radio sources, 21 cm line radiation, galactic structure, pulsars, double galaxies, Quasars, molecular clouds, probable existence of life in the Universe, SETI, radio astronomy in India.  

Microwave, Infra-red, Ultraviolet, X-ray and Gamma Ray astronomy, satellites and space missions, emission mechanisms, types of objects.  

 

PAPER – V : Cosmology  

Early ideas, cosmological principles, brief introduction to General Relativity, Einstein’s universe, de Sitter & Friedmann models, expanding universe – Big Bang, Steady State and Oscillatory models of the Universe, cosmic microwave background radiation and it’s implication, Jean’s mass, interaction of radiation with matter, radiation and matter dominated era, dark matter, intergalactic and primordial hydrogen, nucleosynthesis.  

Observational cosmology, magnitude redshift relation, luminosity function of galaxies and quasars, source counts, angular diameter – redshift relation.  

Determination of Hubble’s constant.  

Microwave background fluctuations measurements, large scale structure observations, supercluster chains and voids. 

Problems with Standard Big Bang Model, Inflation, The Early Universe, the accelerating Universe

 

PAPER – VI : Planetarium Science  

Astronomy under the planetarium skies, identification of constellations, IAU classification, brightstars, nomenclature, Ephemeris and its uses, astronomical clocks, seasons, concepts of time, sidereal time, synodic period, sidereal, typical, anomalistic and eclipse years, precession and nutation, Olber’s paradox, various methods of distance determination.  

Brief history of development of Planetarium, various types of planetarium equipments, special effects and projection techniques, communication techniques, techniques of programme production, participatory programmes, programmes for students at various levels.  

Automation & computer applications in modern planetaria, generation of educational aids such as sundials, star clocks and star charts.

 

PAPER – VII : Projects on Planetarium 

Detailed study and writing of a project report on topics related to planetarium shows.

PAPER – VIII : Projects on Astronomy 

Detailed study and preparation of a dissertation on topics related to astronomy and cosmology, to be done under the supervision of faculty members.

 

PAPER – IX : Astronomy Practical 

Basic usage of a telescope, observations of planets and their satellites, stars and constellations.  

Handling of the Planetarium equipment, identifying constellations and stars under the planetarium skies.  

 

PAPER – X : Viva Voce

** Students having at least 60 per cent attendance will only be allowed to sit for the examination.  

** All Papers are of 100 marks each.

 

EXAMINATION RESULTS 

Candidates securing at least 50% marks shall be awarded the Diploma. Rankings shall be as follows :  Second Class : 50% and above, First Class : 65% and above and First Class with Distinction : 75% and above. Exceptionally brilliant students may be awarded prizes.