PAP313 Variable Stars

1. Course title

Muuttuvat tähdet
Variabla stjärnor
Variable Stars

2. Course code

PAP313

Aikaisemmat leikkaavat opintojaksot 53932 Muuttuvat tähdet, 5 op

3. Course status: optional

-Which degree programme is responsible for the course?
Master’s Programme in Particle Physics and Astrophysical Sciences

-Which module does the course belong to?
PAP300 Advanced Studies in Particle Physics and Astrophysical Sciences (optional for Study Track in Astrophysical Sciences)

-Is the course available to students from other degree programmes?
Yes

4. Course level (first-, second-, third-cycle/EQF levels 6, 7 and 8)

Master’s level, degree programmes in medicine, dentistry and veterinary medicine = secondcycle
degree/EQF level 7
Doctoral level = third-cycle (doctoral) degree/EQF level 8

-Does the course belong to basic, intermediate or advanced studies (cf. Government Decree
on University Degrees)?
Advanced studies

5. Recommended time/stage of studies for completion

-There is no recommended time for completion.

6. Term/teaching period when the course will be offered

-The course may be offered in the autumn term. It is held once in every two years.

7. Scope of the course in credits

5 cr

8. Teacher coordinating the course

Lauri Jetsu

9. Course learning outcomes

Previously unpublished photometry of a chromospherically active star is analysed with different period analysis methods. Detailed modelling of the light curves is performed. The following phenomena are studied: activity cycles, active longitudes and differential rotation. Basic scientific writing and reading is practiced, as well as the use of references and databases. The aim is to report the results in a refereed paper, where the authors will be all the students that pass the course. The best student will be the main author.
-Description of the learning outcomes provided to students by the course
- See the competence map (https://flamma.helsinki.fi/content/res/pri/HY350274).

10. Course completion methods

There will be 2x45 minutes of lectures, i.e. contact teaching, during every week. There are no exams. The students will perform group and personal assignments. The number of assignments completed by the student determines the grade received of this course. The attendance to lectures is voluntary. However, the assingments must be returned in the time given to complete them.
-Will the course be offered in the form of contact teaching, or can it be taken as a distance
learning course?
-Description of attendance requirements (e.g., X% attendance during the entire course or
during parts of it)
-Methods of completion

11. Prerequisites

The methods taught in the course "Time Series Analysis in Astronomy" (code:  53850) are applied in this course. Previous programming experience is useful (e.g. Scientific Computing I), because the assignments are performed with IDL or python programming languages.

-Description of the courses or modules that must be completed before taking this course or
what other prior learning is required

12. Recommended optional studies

"Time Series Analysis in Astronomy" (code:  53850)
-What other courses are recommended to be taken in addition to this course?
-Which other courses support the further development of the competence provided by this
course?

13. Course content

Studying the presence of activity cycles, active longitudes and differential rotation in real unpublished photometric data. Learning basic scientific writing, reading and use of references, as well as databases. The aim is to report the results in a refereed paper, where the authors will be all the students that pass the course. The best student will be the main author.

-Description of the course content

14. Recommended and required literature

All neceassary material can be found in the lecture notes at course home-page. Supplementary material can be found in the publications listed on the same home-page.

-What kind of literature and other materials are read during the course (reading list)?
-Which works are set reading and which are recommended as supplementary reading?

15. Activities and teaching methods in support of learning

Weekly lectures and independent work in completing the given assingments. Personal advice from the lecturer and assistant of the course.

-See the competence map (https://flamma.helsinki.fi/content/res/pri/HY350274).
-Student activities
-Description of how the teacher’s activities are documented

16. Assessment practices and criteria, grading scale

There are no exams. The students will perform group and/or personal assignments. The number of assignments completed by the student determines the grade received of this course.

-See the competence map (https://flamma.helsinki.fi/content/res/pri/HY350274).
-The assessment practices used are directly linked to the learning outcomes and teaching
methods of the course.

17. Teaching language

English