Certificate Of Professional Development In Astronomy

Exoplanets

Qualifications required:

School science or maths (UK GCSE equivalent)

Qualification gained:

A Certificate of Professional Development in Astronomy will be awarded for the successful completion of this module. This module is assigned 12 credit points which can be used to build up credits towards other academic qualifications at Liverpool John Moores University and other Universities.

We provide:

CD-ROM and necessary course software, course video, astronomy support for the duration of the course (by post, email, telephone, internet telephone and fax) , news group for student discussion, and a course website.

You need:

Good access to a computer with CD-ROM player. The computer needs to be able to run an internet browser which we can supply though it is not essential for it to be connected the internet.

Commitment:

The course lasts for four months. We expect that during a typical week you will need to spend 30 minutes watching course video material, 1 to 2 hours on computer exercises, 45 minutes reviewing the relevant material on the CD-ROM and in your textbook and doing multiple choice questions and 10 mins in correspondence with tutor. Overall we expect that you will put around 120 hours of time into the course.

Assessment:

You need to email, post or fax us your work for the course. The weighting for the marking will be as follows: Coursework assignments (80%), End of module test (20%). The usual rate for the submission of assignments will be approximately one per month.

Cost for module:

Exoplanets is a single module course, and hence is worth 12 level one credits. Please see the main page here for the current prices.

Textbook:

The course is self-contained and there is no need to purchase additional books.

The following is an outline of the course. Contents are subject to change.

This module gives an overview of the ongoing search for and study of Extra-Solar Planets. As well as describing the history of the field, the techniques used to hunt for planets, and the current status of research, the possible future advances will be discussed.

This course is an excellent opportunity to learn about one of the most cutting edge topics in modern astronomy and the course is designed to give a broad overview of the field of Exoplanets including the history of the field, the relevant background physics and the methods by which we discover new exoplanets and their limitations. It is structured as follows:

1.The Formation of Planetary Systems
How do planets form? What mechanisms determine the number and type of planets that a star will have? Which type of planetary systems are most common and why?

2.Historical Background
Which Explanets were discovered first? What questions were raised by these discoveries?

3.Exoplanet Discovery
What are the techniques used for exoplanet discovery? What are their advantages and limitations and how does this lead to the current state of knowledge?

4.Modification to the Formation Theory
What are the recent modifications to the theory of planetary formation? How do exoplanets evolve over the lifetime of their solar system and what are the remaining unanswered questions?

5.The Future
What will the future developments in exoplanet research bring? How will they help the search for life in the universe?

Enrolment:

Please print out, fill in and return this enrolment form to the address below. Please either include a cheque payable to Liverpool John Moores University (only UK pounds accepted) or you may use your credit/debit card to pay online. If you wish to pay online we will send you the required student number on submission of your application form.  If you are unable to print the enrolment form please contact the address below or send us an email and we will send out a form to you via the mail. 

For more information on the course and any potential problems, please consult the Frequently Asked Questions.

Contact Distance Learning

Distance Learning,
Astrophysics Research Institute,
Liverpool John Moores University,
Twelve Quays House,
Egerton Wharf,
Birkenhead,
CH41 1LD,
United Kingdom.

Tel - +44 (0)151 231 2900
Fax - +44 (0)151 231 2926
Web - http://www.astro.livjm.ac.uk/courses/distance.shtml

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