Future Students

Astronomy

You do not need a science background to be interested in finding your place in the universe!

These units will take you from the birth of the universe to the black holes that are the invisible tombstones of dead stars.

They will take you from the fiery birth of our solar system to the emergence of life and to the final fiery death of our planet. 

If you wish to pursue astronomy as a career you are advised to complete a major in physics in a Bachelor of Science program. If your interest is in having a broad understanding of our physical universe then you should consider studying the two Level 1 astronomy units that are available to you as part of many degrees.

You will need to meet the entry requirements for whichever degree program you are studying in. There are no prerequisites for the Level 1 astronomy units. They are available to all students whose degree program will allow their inclusion.

What do you study?

SEMESTER 1 - OUR UNIVERSE

Numbers, Particles, Geometry and Space

• The Universe of Numbers and the Scales of Measurement 
• Space Time and Geometry 
• Logic and Fundamental Laws

The Origin of the Universe

• We, the Observers: the Nature and Structure of Matter
• Views of the Ancient Universe
• Unravelling the Big Bang
• The Expanding Universe
• The Cosmic Background

The Era of Galaxy Formation

•  The Early Galaxies 
• Quasars and Black Holes 
• Mergers and the Birth of the Old Galaxies 
• The Milky Way

Stars and the Synthesis of the Elements

• Star Formation 
• Classifying the Stars and Unravelling Their Life Histories 
• Nucleosynthesis
• Supernovae
• End Points of Stellar Evolution

The Future of the Universe

• The Death of Stars
• Life in the Old Cold Universe

The course includes lectures, group projects, and a field trip to the Southern Cross Cosmos Centre at Gingin.

SEMESTER 2: OUR SOLAR SYSTEM

Planetary Systems 

• Extrasolar Planets 
• Our Solar System 
• Birth of the Earth-Moon System 
• Dating the Solar System

Habitable Planets

• Chance and Probability 
• Comets, Meteorites and Giant Impacts 
• Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence 
• Habitable Zones

Third Rock from the Sun 

• Structure of the Earth
• Plate Tectonics
• Fossils and the History of Life

The Emergence of Life

• Available Elements and Molecules
• Requirements for Life 
• Self-assembly
• Self-replication 
• Self-protection from a Changing Environment

The Future of Our Planet

• Human Impacts 
• The End of Mountain Building 
• The Red Giant Furnace

The course consists of lectures, group projects and a field trip to the Gingin chalk fossil deposits followed by an astronomy night.

Career opportunities

By the end of this course you will have an understanding of the origins, evolution and structure of the universe, with an emphasis on planet Earth. You will have experienced the benefits of multi-disciplinary teaching, as your course is co-ordinated by staff from Physics, Chemistry, Geology and Geophysics, and Mathematics and Statistics. This is a course that will benefit you, whatever your future career.