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 for each part of the unit. They will be approximately evenly distributed across the unit.

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.

The unit's assessment includes two hurdle assessment tasks (a project and the final examination); see the descriptions of all assessment tasks below for detailed information, including for policies in place in case a student fails these assessment tasks. To achieve a pass grade, students must achieve a total mark equal to or greater than 50%, and obtain a mark of at least 40% for both the final exam and the project. If your mark in the final examination is between 30% and 39% inclusive, you may be a given a second and final chance to attain the required level of performance; the mark awarded for the second exam towards your final unit mark will be capped at 40%, and you will be allowed to sit the second exam only if this mark would be sufficient to pass the unit overall. 

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: Monday Week 11. Weighting: 20%  Given that computational analysis of stellar structure equations is an essential aspect of this unit, this is a hurdle assessment task, requiring students to achieve a mark of at least 40% (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. 

Failure of this hurdle assessment will require the student to retake the unit when it is next offered. Alternatively, opportunities may be offered to amend aspects of this task in order to pass the hurdle.

Observational Analysis Task

Assessment Type ¹: Lab report Indicative Time on Task ²: 0 hours Due: Monday Week 8 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: A#1 Mon W6; A#2 Mon W8; A#3 Mon W10; A#4 Mon 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: As per MQ Examination timetable. Weighting: 40%  Given that the examination will assess a student's understanding of the entire subject matter covered in this unit (that is, covering learning objectives 1 through 5), 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. 

Students who fail the final examination or have valid reasons for non-attendance will be offered the option to take a supplementary examination during the supplementary examination period.

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 recorded 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 lab preparation needed.

Individual teaching staff will advise the student cohort how they can best be reached and how they plan to communicate with the student cohort in relation to their own teaching component(s). Staff emails are available on the unit's iLearn page (which contains a section titled "Unit information and communication") and iLearn discussion forum are one of the options students and staff have for their communication needs.

Unit content: No changes

For current teaching staff, consult the unit's iLearn page.