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PHYC30100

Academic Year 2026/2027

Stellar Astrophysics & Astronomical Techniques (PHYC30100)

Subject:
Physics
College:
Science
School:
Physics
Level:
3 (Degree)
Credits:
5
Module Coordinator:
Dr Rebeca Garcia Lopez
Trimester:
Autumn
Mode of Delivery:
On Campus
Internship Module:
No
How will I be graded?
Letter grades

Curricular information is subject to change.

The first part of this module is concerned with our understanding of the births, lives and deaths of stars. The starting point is the observational study and classification of stars, arriving at the Hertzsprung-Russell and Mass-Luminosity diagrams. The physics of stars, including the mechanisms by which stars support themselves against gravitational collapse, and how they derive power from nuclear processes and generate elements heavier than Helium, is then examined. The final section of the course is dedicated to astronomical instrumentation where the design of telescopes used in astronomy to detect electromagnetic radiation from radio waves to gamma rays is explored. The module draws on ideas and laws from many different areas of physics and so a reasonable background in physics is expected for students to undertake this course.

About this Module

Learning Outcomes:

On completion of this module students should be able to:
(1) describe the techniques and results of observations of stars
(2) derive/calculate information about stars' physical properties from the measurement data
(3) apply the laws of physics to understand the properties and evolution of stars, and apply models to determine parameters such as central pressure, central temperature, lifetime etc.
(4) describe the processes of stellar nucleosynthesis
(5) describe the compact objects that form at the end of stars' lives, including White Dwarf stars, Neutron stars and Pulsars.
(6) discuss the detection methods and techniques used by astronomical telescopes for operation in different parts of the electromagnetic spectrum, and perform basic calculations of telescope performance and sensitivity



Indicative Module Content:

Indicative Module content

(1) Introduction

Measuring stellar distances
Luminosity and brightness. Magnitudes
Temperature and spectral types
The Hertzsprung-Russell diagram

(2) Stellar Structure

Hydrostatic Equilibrium
Radiative energy transport
Nuclear reactions
Stellar atmospheres. Spectral line formation
Stellar Structure

(3) Stellar Evolution

Time scales
Star Formation
The main sequence
Evolution after the main sequence

(4) Astronomical techniques

The Earth atmosphere
Fundamental concepts
Infrared, Ultraviolet and X-ray telescopes
Radio telescopes
Detectors (CCDs)

The United Nations identified seventeen Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) as core to the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, and UCD contributes in general to SDG 4 Quality Education. Further SDGs explored within this module if relevant are listed below. A scale of 1 - 5 indicates the extent to which the SDG is covered.


 

Student Effort Hours:
Student Effort Type Hours
Lectures

32
Tutorial

4
Seminar (or Webinar)

1
Specified Learning Activities

16
Autonomous Student Learning

62
Total

115

Approaches to Teaching and Learning:
Lectures, in-class problem solving, assignments.

Requirements, Exclusions and Recommendations
Learning Requirements:

Module Dependencies: PHYC 20010, PHYC 20020, PHYC 20030.

Learning Recommendations:

PHYC20040


Module Requisites and Incompatibles
Not applicable to this module.
 

Assessment Strategy
Description Timing Component Scale Must Pass Component % of Final Grade In Module Component Repeat Offered
Assignment(Including Essay): Assignments will be provided through the trimester covering relevant concepts of the module. Week 1, Week 2, Week 3, Week 4, Week 5, Week 6, Week 7, Week 8, Week 9, Week 10, Week 11, Week 12, Week 14, Week 15 Standard conversion grade scale 40% No
20
 No
Exam (In-person): In person exam covering the full teaching material End of trimester
Duration:
2 hr(s)
 Standard conversion grade scale 40% No
80
 No

Carry forward of passed components
Yes
 

Resit In Terminal Exam
Spring Yes - 2 Hour
Please see Student Jargon Buster for more information about remediation types and timing. 

Feedback Strategy/Strategies

• Feedback individually to students, post-assessment
• Group/class feedback, post-assessment

How will my Feedback be Delivered?

The marked problem sheets with comments will be returned to the students and solutions, if relevant, will be done on the board.

Name Role
Professor John Quinn Tutor
Professor Emma Sokell Tutor

Timetabling information is displayed only for guidance purposes, relates to the current Academic Year only and is subject to change.
Autumn Lecture Offering 1 Week(s) - Autumn: All Weeks Mon 13:00 - 13:50
Autumn Lecture Offering 1 Week(s) - Autumn: All Weeks Thurs 10:00 - 10:50
Autumn Lecture Offering 1 Week(s) - Autumn: All Weeks Tues 10:00 - 10:50
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