2024 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
- Media-enhanced courses
- -
- Day of week/Period
(Classrooms) - 3-4 Mon / 3-4 Thu
- Class
- -
- Course Code
- EPS.A413
- Number of credits
- 100
- Course offered
- 2024
- Offered quarter
- 2Q
- Syllabus updated
- Mar 14, 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, instruments for observations, and observations of extrasolar planets.
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, 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 spectra | Understand general properties of stellar spectra. |
| Class 2 | Radiation and spectra: radiative transfer, continuous absorption and line absorption | Understand basics of radiative transfer, origins of continuous and line absorption in stellar photosphere, |
| Class 3 | Star: spectral analysis | Understand measurement and behavior of spectral lines. |
| Class 4 | Star: spectral analysis | Understand measurement and behavior of spectral lines. |
| Class 5 | Observations: spectrograph | Understand basics of spectrograph. |
| Class 6 | Observations: radial velocity measurements | Understand basics of radial velocity measurements |
| Class 7 | Extrasolar planets: radial-velocity method | Understand basics of radial-velocity 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 exercise problems, assignments, and reports (100%).
Related courses
- EPS.A410 ： Earth and Space Sciences A
- EPS.A411 ： Earth and Space Sciences B
Prerequisites
None
Other
This course will begin on July 4th (July 4,8,11,18,22,25,29)