Welcome to the canvas information page for the course

Dynamical Astronomy, 7.5 credits

given by the Department of Physics.

Note: this page contains general information about the course. If you are a student on the course you have to log in to the canvas portal to the left. The course calendar and course stream on this page are not active.

Contents

The course contains ...

Newtonian gravitation and dynamics
Reference systems and units
Galactic coordinates
Astrometry and the determination of the distances, motions and distribution of stars
The HR diagram and the colours, luminosities and ages of stars
Stellar kinematics
The solar motion and the Local Standard of Rest
The rotation curve, differential galactic rotation and Oort's constants
Non-circular motions
The galactic potential and galactic orbits
The phase space, collisionless Boltzmann equation and Jeans' equations
Dynamical determination of masses and mass densities.

General information

Course codes: ASTM28 and NAS007F (PhD)
Semester: autumn
Study period: 2 (from 2024)
Level: master
Language: English
Form of teaching: The teaching consists of lectures, python sessions and laboratory exercises (done using the programming language Python).
Assessment: In order to pass the course, you have to pass the home exam (details are announced during the course) and hand in acceptable reports for P1, P2 and either P3 or P4.
This is how the grading is done:
- Each of the problems (P1-P4) as well as the exam (E) is graded on a scale from 0 to 100%. The mean grade is calculated as

$LaTeX: M=\frac{2}{9}\left(P1+P2+Pn\right)+\frac{E}{3}$

where Pn = P3 or P4

- You have failed if any of P1, P2, P3 or P4, or E is < 50 (but see below how you can still pass). Otherwise, you get a "Pass" (Godkänd) if M < 75 or a "Pass with Distinction" (Väl godkänd) if M is at least 75.
- As long as you have failed, you are entitled to hand in improved versions of the failed reports, or re-do a failed home exam once.
- If you are close to receiving a "Pass with Distinction", you may also be allowed to improve the reports.
Grading scale: U-G-VG
Course plan:
- ASTM28 course plan in English
- ASTM28 course plan in Swedish

Introductory Meeting

Information about the compulsory introductory meeting can be found on the website of the department of physics.

Contact

Course responsible: Alexander Mustill, alexander.mustill@fysik.lu.se

Application

Apply to the course at antagning.se

Science faculty

Read more about the course and how to apply via below links. Please note: to see if the course is open for application, always check the Swedish web page.

Read about the course ASTM28 on Lund University's central website (in English).
Read about the course ASTM28 on Lund University's central website (in Swedish).

Doctoral studies

Sign up for the course by contacting course responsible and forskarutbildning@fysik.lu.se.

Remember that you need to have the course listed in your individual study plan, ISP, or approved by your supervisor to have it counted towards your exam.

Read more

Master programme in Astrophysics
All courses offered by the Department of Physics (at fysik.lu.se)
Degree project page on Canvas
Course evaluations on Canvas
Canvas page for physics students in Lund

Do you have questions? Please contact the course responsible or studentadministration@fysik.lu.se