ASTRONOMY

*Branch of astronomy
*Field of astronomy
 ASTRONOMY

• Studies the universe beyond Earth, including its

formation and development, and the evolution,
physics, chemistry, meteorology, and motion of
celestial objects, and phenomena that originate
outside the atmosphere of Earth.
 BRANCH OF ASTRONOMY

Observation Astronomy Theoretical Astronomy

• Field of astronomy that • The branch of astronomy

focuses on the direct study that allows to analyze the
of stars, planets, galaxies, way in which the system
and any type of celestial have evolved.
body of the universe.
 BRANCHES OF ASTRONOMY
(SUB FIELDSOF ASTRONOMY)

ASTROBIOLOGY – studies the advent and evolution of

biological systems in the universe.
ASTROPHYSICS – branch of astronomy that deals with
the physics of the universe, including the physical
properties of celestial objects as well as the
interactions and behaviors.
 SUB DISCIPLINE OF ASTROPHYSICS

• COMPACT OBJECTS – studies very dense of matter in white

dwarfs neutron stars and their effects on environments and
their accretion.
• PHYSICAL COSMOLOGY – origin and evolution of the
universe as a whole.
• COMPUTATIONAL ASTROPHYSICS - study of astrophysics
using computation methods and tools to develop
computational models.
• GALACTIC ASTRONOMY – deals with the structure and
components of our galaxy and of other galaxies.
 SUB DISCIPLINE OF ASTROPHYSICS
• HIGH ENERGY ASTROPHYSICS – studies phenomena occurring
at high energies including active galactic nuclei, supernovae,
gamma ray bursts, quasars, and shocks.
• EXTRAGALACTIC ASTRONOMY – study of objects(mainly
galaxies) outside our galaxy, including Galaxy formation and
evolution.
• INTERSTELLAR ASTROPHYSICS – study of the Interstellar medium.
Intergalactic medium and dust.
• STELLAR ASTRONOMY – concerned with star formation ,
physical properties, main sequence life span , variability, stellar
evolution and extinction.
• PLASMA ASTROPHYSICS – studies properties of plasma in outer
space.
SOLAR PHYSICS – sun and its interaction with the reminder of the
solar system and interstellar space.

PLANETARY SCIENCE – study of planets, moons and

planetary systems
Atmospheric science- study of atmosphere and weather.
Exoplanetology – various planets outside the solar system.
Planetary formation – formation of planets and moons in
the context of the formation and evolution of the solar
system.
Planetary ring – dynamics , stability, and compositions of
planetary rings.
Magnetosphere – magnetic field of planet and moons .
Planetary surface – surface geology of planets and
moons.
planetary interiors – interior composition of
planets and moon.
Small solar system bodies – smallest
gravitational bound bodies, including
asteroids, comets, and Kuiper belt objects.
 GENERAL TECHNIQUE USED FOR ASTRONOMICAL RESEARCH

• ASTROMETRY – study of the position of objects in the

sky and their changes of position.
• Photometry – study of how bright celestial objects
are when passed through different filters.
• Spectroscopy – study of the spectra of astronomical
objects.
OBSERVATIONAL ASTRONOMY MADE BY SPECIFICATION OF
THE DETECTORS.

Gamma ray Radio astronomy

X-ray astronomy Optical astronomy
Ultra violet astronomy Gravitational astronomy
Neutrino astronomy Cosmic ray astronomy
Submillimetre astronomy Infrared astronomy