Project: a computational project based on calculating and analysing the structure and evolution of a given star. The Project report will be due one week after the last PC Lab class.

Assignments: there will be 4 assignments, 2 per each part of the unit. They will be approximately evenly scattered.

Observational task: Students will observe a number of targets using MQ Observatory. They will also analyse their observational data (in case of bad weather, data will be provided). A small component of this observational task will be conducted in the laboratory. The students will have to carry out some tasks related to constructing an astronomical spectrograph. A report of this activity will be due after the semester break.

A standard, 3-hour, written exam (plus 10 min reading time) will be given in the university examination period.

Late Assessment Submission Penalty 

From 1 July 2022, Students enrolled in Session based units with written assessments will have the following late penalty applied. Please see https://students.mq.edu.au/study/assessment-exams/assessments for more information. 

Unless a Special Consideration request has been submitted and approved, a 5% penalty (of the total possible mark) will be applied each day a written assessment is not submitted, up until the 7th day (including weekends). After the 7th day, a grade of '0' will be awarded even if the assessment is submitted. Submission time for all written assessments is set at 11:55 pm. A 1-hour grace period is provided to students who experience a technical concern. 

For any late submission of time-sensitive tasks, such as scheduled tests/exams, performance assessments/presentations, and/or scheduled practical assessments/labs, students need to submit an application for Special Consideration.  

In this unit, late submissions will accepted as follows: 

• Assignments – YES, Standard Late Penalty applies 

• Observational Analysis Task – YES, Standard Late Penalty applies 

• Project – YES, Standard Late Penalty applies 

Project

Assessment Type ¹: Project Indicative Time on Task ²: 10 hours Due: 07/05/22 Weighting: 20%  This is a hurdle assessment task (see assessment policy for more information on hurdle assessment tasks)

Project involving computer programming, astrophysical interpretation, report and presentation

On successful completion you will be able to:

• apply computational techniques to model physical phenomena in different astrophysical environments using the Unix environment and elements of the python computing language. 

Observational Analysis Task

Assessment Type ¹: Lab report Indicative Time on Task ²: 0 hours Due: Mon W8 Weighting: 20%

A report on the outcomes of collection and analysis of observational data.

On successful completion you will be able to:

• apply computational techniques to model physical phenomena in different astrophysical environments using the Unix environment and elements of the python computing language. 
• design, conduct, analyse and report on observational experiments related to measuring the radiation from stars, galaxies and other astronomical objects in order to determine their properties.

Assignments

Assessment Type ¹: Problem set Indicative Time on Task ²: 18 hours Due: Ass 1 Thu W4; Ass 2 Thu W7; Ass 3 Thu W10. Ass 4 Thu W13. Weighting: 20%

A series of assignments throughout the session

On successful completion you will be able to:

• discuss principles and difficulties of observational methods that allow us to interpret the physical characteristics of an astronomical object based on the light we receive from it. 
• demonstrate knowledge of the way radiation interacts with matter in different astrophysical environments through solving radiative transfer problems. 
• describe the internal structure of our Sun and stars other than the Sun, and explain the key observational properties of different types of stars. 
• apply the equations of stellar structure and the simplifications that lead to polytropic stellar models. 
• explain the processes and physics involved in stellar evolution, including the processes that bring about stellar death. 

Final examination

Assessment Type ¹: Examination Indicative Time on Task ²: 20 hours Due: MQ Examination timetable. Weighting: 40%  This is a hurdle assessment task (see assessment policy for more information on hurdle assessment tasks)

Examination during the exam period covering all content from the unit.

On successful completion you will be able to:

• discuss principles and difficulties of observational methods that allow us to interpret the physical characteristics of an astronomical object based on the light we receive from it. 
• demonstrate knowledge of the way radiation interacts with matter in different astrophysical environments through solving radiative transfer problems. 
• describe the internal structure of our Sun and stars other than the Sun, and explain the key observational properties of different types of stars. 
• apply the equations of stellar structure and the simplifications that lead to polytropic stellar models. 
• explain the processes and physics involved in stellar evolution, including the processes that bring about stellar death. 

¹ If you need help with your assignment, please contact:

• the academic teaching staff in your unit for guidance in understanding or completing this type of assessment
• the Writing Centre for academic skills support.

² Indicative time-on-task is an estimate of the time required for completion of the assessment task and is subject to individual variation

Two hours per week lectures will be live/in-person and recodred on Echo360. 

One hour per week SGTA will be class based problems done in groups and alone.

Weeks 1–6: a series of observing sessions, computer lab sessions and laboratory sessions.

Weeks 7–13: 3 hours per week computer lab. Some in between labs preparation needed.