Astronomy Course Review: Intro to Radio Astronomy from Jodrell Bank

Discussion in 'General Distance Learning Discussions' started by Mark A. Sykes, Dec 17, 2008.

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  1. Mark A. Sykes

    Mark A. Sykes Member

    From the Jodrell Bank Centre for Astrophysics (University of Manchester):
    Introduction to Radio Astronomy - 10-credit Level 1 although that does not correspond to 10 quarter or semester hours.

    This 12-week course cost about $300USD. Jodrell supplied a small textbook, a CD-ROM containing the course content and provided an account on their Web controlled 7-meter radio telescope. The course is taught by Dr. Tim O'Brien (who is frequently heard on the terrific Jodcast) at a first-year undergraduate level and it is assumed the student has studied college-preparatory science and math prior to enrolling. None of the math is beyond algebra and although there is considerable physics discussed through the course the text and supplementary readings explain the principles well. Jodrell offers several distance study astronomy courses and close to thirty more are offered through a consortium of UK universities - see here.

    The course is organized into units each of which takes most of the week to read and then study, particularly if the supplementary material Web links provided at the end of each unit are utilized. The titles of the eleven weekly units are How the Course Operates, Introduction, Excitement of Science, Emission Mechanisms, Radio Telescopes, Sources I, Sources II, Anatomy of Two Radio Telescopes, Assessment, Observations, and Observing Report. It is expected the student regularly log onto the course Blackboard website and participate in discussions. The instructor frequently reads the posts and answers questions, and about two dozen students were in the class.

    The units provided a broad, introductory overview of radio astronomy with enough background physics and general astronomy that the student comes away with a good understanding of what can be observed using a radio telescope. Course evaluation was through a written assessment, a report on observations made on the 7-meter, and an online quiz. The evaluation material was covered in the course and was non-trivial. The student will interpret radio telescope data, estimate telescope beam widths and side lobes, calculate the dispersion measure of pulsars and more.

    I plan to take more courses from Jodrell and the other two UK institutions once time and budget allows. I would recommend this course to those who have had algebra-based physics and some astronomy in secondary school or community college.
     

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