2020 Faculty Courses School of Science Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences Graduate major in Earth and Planetary Sciences
Advanced Earth and Space Sciences C
- Academic unit or major
- Graduate major in Earth and Planetary Sciences
- Instructor(s)
- Bunei Sato
- Class Format
- Lecture (Zoom)
- Media-enhanced courses
- -
- Day of week/Period
(Classrooms) - 3-4 Mon (Zoom) / 3-4 Thu (Zoom)
- Class
- -
- Course Code
- EPS.A413
- Number of credits
- 200
- Course offered
- 2020
- Offered quarter
- 3Q
- Syllabus updated
- Jul 10, 2025
- Language
- English
Syllabus
Course overview and goals
We know properties of celestial objects mainly through observations of their radiation. Especially their spectra obtained via spectroscopy covey to us rich information on their physical and chemical properties. This course will provide an overview of stellar and planetary spectra, and basics on spectroscopic observations. Topics include radiative processes, stellar atmospheres, chemical analysis, stellar motion, internal structure of stars, stellar pulsation, instruments for observations, and observations of extrasolar planets. Basics on radiative process and stellar spectra are introduced, together with how to know physical and chemical properties of stars from stellar spectra. Finally observations of extrasolar planets are introduced as advanced topics.
Course description and aims
By the end of this course, students will be able to:
1) Understand basics of radiative processes, formation of stellar spectra, and spectroscopic observations.
2) Apply these knowledge to obtain physical and chemical properties of stars and planets.
Keywords
stellar spectrum, radiative process, stellar atmosphere, spectroscopy, extrasolar planet
Competencies
- Specialist skills
- Intercultural skills
- Communication skills
- Critical thinking skills
- Practical and/or problem-solving skills
Class flow
At the beginning of the class, a summary of the previous lecture is given. Then the main points of the day's lecuture are given, and students are asked to provide solutions to some of the questiones as necessary.
Course schedule/Objectives
| Course schedule | Objectives | |
|---|---|---|
| Class 1 | Introduction: stellar and planetary spectra | Understand general properties of stellar and planetary spectra. |
| Class 2 | Radiation and spectra: radiative transfer | Understand basics of radiative transfer. |
| Class 3 | Radiation and spectra: continuous absorption and line absorption | Understand origins of continuous and line absorption in stellar photosphere, |
| Class 4 | Radiation and spectra: model photosphere | Understand basics of model photosphere. |
| Class 5 | Radiation and spectra: stellar continua | Understand measurement and behavior of stellar continua. |
| Class 6 | Radiation and spectra: emission and absorption line | Understand measurement and behavior of spectral lines. |
| Class 7 | Radiation and spectra: emission and absorption line | Understand measurement and behavior of spectral lines. |
| Class 8 | Stars: chemical abundance | Understand basics of chemical analysis of stellar atmospheres. |
| Class 9 | Stars: velocity fields in stellar photosphere | Understand stellar rotation, convection, spots and their effects to spectral lines. |
| Class 10 | Observations: spectrograph | Understand basics of spectrograph. |
| Class 11 | Observations: radial velocity measurements | Understand basics of radial velocity measurements |
| Class 12 | Observations: time series analysis | Understand basics of time series analysis |
| Class 13 | Extrasolar planets: radial-velocity method | Understand basics of radial-velocity method to detect and characterize exoplanets |
| Class 14 | Extrasolar planets: transit method | Understand basics of transit method to detect and characterize exoplanets |
Study advice (preparation and review)
To enhance effective learning, students are encouraged to spend approximately 100 minutes preparing for class and another 100 minutes reviewing class content afterwards (including assignments) for each class.
They should do so by referring to textbooks and other course material.
Textbook(s)
None
Reference books, course materials, etc.
Reference books and course materials are introduced during the course.
Evaluation methods and criteria
Student's knowledge of basics of stellar spectra and spectroscopic observations, and the application will be assessed by reports posed a few times (100%).
Related courses
- EPS.A410 ： Earth and Space Sciences A
- EPS.A411 ： Earth and Space Sciences B
Prerequisites
None