syllabus

---

the celestial sphere

2.  spherical geometry
   
   1. introduction
   2. the geometry of the sphere
   3. spherical trigonometry
   4. position on the earth's surface
   5. example problems
   
   
3.   the celestial sphere
   
   1. introduction
      
   2. coordinate systems
      1. the horizontal coordinate system
      2. the equatorial coordinate system
      3. the ecliptic coordinate system
      4. the galactic coordinate system
   3. timekeeping systems
      1. sidereal time
      2. solar time
      3. universal time
      4. the calendar
   4. example problems
   
   
4.   celestial mechanics
   
   1. ptolemy, copernicus and galileo
      
   2. kepler's laws
      1. planetary distances
      2. kepler's first law
      3. kepler's second law
      4. kepler's third law
   3. newton's laws
      1. newton's laws of motion
      2. newton's law of gravitation
      3. newton's derivation of kepler's laws
      4. orbital motion
   4. example problems

telescopes

1.  introduction
   
   
2.   telescope optics
   
   1. basic principles
      
   2. refractors
   3. reflectors
   4. catadioptric telescopes
   5. visual use of telescopes
   6. example problems
   
   
3.   telescope mountings
   
   1. equatorial mountings
      
   2. alt-azimuth mountings
   3. coudé and nasmyth
   4. tubes and trusses
   5. mirror mountings
   
   
4.   domes and sites
   
   1. seeing, transparency and extinction
      
   2. observatory sites
   3. dome design

---

©Vik Dhillon, 30th September 2009