What educational institutions in the North East are the most effective for Astronomy and Planetary Sciences?
by Joel Overseas
Issue by jawshoewaa: What schools in the North East are the best for Astronomy and Planetary Sciences?
I’m really interested in Astronomy and Planetary Sciences but im not certain what college in the North east are the very best for these majors.
Ideal reply:
Reply by me
Cornell is not undesirable, I believe.
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Query by belle: What type of mathematics does 1 offer with when understanding astronomy (or equivalent fields) at university?
I’m likely to utilize at a college to analyze astronomy, ideally starting future calendar year (fingers crossed).
As I am what would be regarded as “mature aged”, lol- 24, I want to brush up on my maths.
Any suggestions as to what I really should revise/discover till I commence my courses? 
Thanks in advance!
Finest reply:
Remedy by eri
Introductory astronomy classes only involve algebra and a minor trig, so hopefully you can start out with that. The up coming stage up necessitates calculus and calculus-dependent physics you’ll almost certainly end up taking at the least calc I, II, III, and differential equations. If you also do a physics significant (really suggested – you’d need to have it for grad college, and there definitely are not many jobs in astronomy if you really don’t have a PhD in the discipline) you’d also take two semesters of math for physicists, plus linear algebra. A programming course is also extremely encouraged, as are summer exploration internships at your school or some others.
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September 14th, 2011 at 3:04 pm
Cornell is the place I’d go. Steve Squyres and Jim Bell of Mars Exploration Rovers fame are both at Cornell.
September 14th, 2011 at 3:09 pm
eri is either forgetting or has never realized that Europeans already have the equivalent of two years of USA college when they graduate from the equivalent level of USA high school. That means that in Britain you should already have had the equivalent of calculus 1, 2, and 3. Conic sections and derivative calculus is what you need to review, and it would not hurt to review some integral calculus.
September 14th, 2011 at 3:17 pm
Well, right off the bat you might take a conceptual course which would require algebra or non at all. After the first few classes algebra-differential equations. Basically every math that is not theoretical will be used, and depending on how far you take it you will get into number theory and other theoretical math classes.
September 14th, 2011 at 3:59 pm
1. Unlike in other branches of Science, in Astronomy you deal in extremes of ranges. Normally you will be dealing with numbers like
9.45 bX 10^12
& so on; operations on such numbers. Though it is not at all difficult you need to not falter on such numbers that might give you ridiculous results. Thinking out the problem in exponential level (domain) will reduce the effort. i am very familiar with ‘decibel’ (dB)’ notation and work problems with it, as an engineer. I find it (‘decibel’ (dB)’ or even ‘Bel’ notation) quite adaptable in Astronomy too as ‘ratio & proportion’ are the usual methods employed there, particularly dealing with energy & power output levels of Stars, requirements for launching Communications from Earth based Radio stations (now the exclusive domain of Communications Engineers like Penzias & Wilson).
2. Being associated with Physics intensely, you must meticulously observe using dimensions and units. No number should be ‘orphaned’ without units or dimensions. Mostly length (distance) units are in Parsecs, Light years or Astronomical Units all of which need to be converted to ‘metres’ for basic operations to be in tune with the SI units of metre, kg, second, joule & watt.
3. Spherical Trigonometry needs to be mastered; which (almost) no other branch of Science uses.
4. Angles, before being entered into an equation must be converted to and expressed in Radians. (easy: convert the quantity in degrees by multiplying with ‘TT/180′). In it there is convenience too, diameter or the dimension across, of a stellar object and the distance to it are simply in the ratio that is the Radian (angular) measure of it. Put this permanently (Radian setting) in your calculator & al.convert it to degrees if needed by multiplying with ’180/TT’. One must be very calculator savvy as calculator is easy to carry and simple to operate compared to Computer.
5. A course in Classical mechanics (Goldstein’s Classical mechanics) is essential.
6. If you are stepping onto a higher level of Cosmogony and all that that deals with extreme ranges of physical quantities like pressure (a million atmospheres to a millionth of an atmosphere; a range of 10^12), you must be armed with a sound grounding in Thermodynamics. The future of Cosmology is in ‘Thermodynamics’ and we may need to add a lot to what we are familiar with.
September 14th, 2011 at 4:33 pm
For all that the space is open for you.