Astronomy 1

Undergraduate | 2026

Course page banner
Mode icon
Mode
Mode
Your studies will be on-campus, and may include some online delivery
On campus
area/catalogue icon
Area/Catalogue
PHYS 1003
Course ID icon
Course ID
200530
Campus icon
Campus
Adelaide City Campus East
Level of study
Level of study
Undergraduate
Unit value icon
Unit value
6
Course owner
Course owner
School of Phys, Chem and E Sci
Course coordinator
Course coordinator
Sam Tuttle
Course level icon
Course level
1
Work Integrated Learning course
Work Integrated Learning course
No
Study abroad and student exchange icon
Inbound study abroad and exchange
Inbound study abroad and exchange
The fee you pay will depend on the number and type of courses you study.
Yes
University-wide elective icon
University-wide elective course
Yes
Single course enrollment
Single course enrolment
Yes

Course overview

This course aims to present a survey of astronomical science, including highlights of modern exploration and the open questions in astronomy. Topics include the formation and characteristics of the Solar System, including the planets and minor members of the system; telescopes; the Sun; the birth, life and death of stars; galaxies and dark matter; active galaxies and quasars; Big Bang cosmology.

  • History, Telescopes and the Solar System
  • The Sun and Stars
  • Galaxies and the Universe

Course learning outcomes

  • Describe and explain the Solar System’s structure, formation, and physical behaviour, and compare the major objects within it.
  • Describe and explain the properties and life cycles of stars, and the formation of compact objects.
  • Describe galaxy types and formation and explain the evolution of the Universe using observational evidence.
  • Describe and explain how astronomical data are obtained and used in space science and astronomy, and how they have informed understanding of the Universe.
  • Acquire and record astronomical observations and interpret these or provided astronomical data.

Availability

Census date Icon
Census date
Fri 27/03/2026
Enrol by date
Enrol by date
Fri 13/03/2026
Last day to W
Last day to W
Fri 10/04/2026
Last day to WF
Last day to WF
Fri 08/05/2026

Class details

Adelaide City Campus East

Class number
Class number 24191
Section
Section FR01
Size
Size 150
Available
Available 148
Dates Days Time Campus Location Instructor
23 Feb - 23 Mar Monday 12:10pm - 1pm Adelaide City Campus East Basil Hetzel, H2-02
24 Feb - 24 Mar Tuesday 1:10pm - 2pm Adelaide City Campus East Physics, 103
6 Apr - 13 Apr Monday 12:10pm - 1pm Adelaide City Campus East Basil Hetzel, H2-02
7 Apr - 14 Apr Tuesday 1:10pm - 2pm Adelaide City Campus East Physics, 103
11 May - 25 May Monday 12:10pm - 1pm Adelaide City Campus East Basil Hetzel, H2-02
12 May - 26 May Tuesday 1:10pm - 2pm Adelaide City Campus East Physics, 103
Class number
Class number 24195
Section
Section PR01
Size
Size 40
Available
Available 39
Dates Days Time Campus Location Instructor
17 Mar - 17 Mar Tuesday 6:10pm - 9pm Adelaide City Campus East Mawson, G12
25 Mar - 25 Mar Wednesday 6:10pm - 7:30pm Adelaide City Campus East Darling West, G14
7 Apr - 7 Apr Tuesday 6:10pm - 9pm Adelaide City Campus East Building P, P2-04
19 May - 19 May Tuesday 6:10pm - 9pm Adelaide City Campus East Mawson, G12
Class number
Class number 24194
Section
Section PR02
Size
Size 40
Available
Available 39
Dates Days Time Campus Location Instructor
18 Mar - 18 Mar Wednesday 6:10pm - 9pm Adelaide City Campus East Mawson, G12
25 Mar - 25 Mar Wednesday 7:40pm - 9pm Adelaide City Campus East Darling West, G14
8 Apr - 8 Apr Wednesday 6:10pm - 9pm Adelaide City Campus East Building P, P2-04
15 Apr - 15 Apr Wednesday 6:10pm - 9pm Adelaide City Campus East Mawson, G12
13 May - 27 May Wednesday 6:10pm - 9pm Adelaide City Campus East Mawson, G12
Class number
Class number 24193
Section
Section PR03
Size
Size 40
Available
Available 40
Dates Days Time Campus Location Instructor
19 Mar - 19 Mar Thursday 6:10pm - 9pm Adelaide City Campus East Mawson, G12
26 Mar - 26 Mar Thursday 6:10pm - 7:30pm Adelaide City Campus East Darling West, G14
9 Apr - 9 Apr Thursday 6:10pm - 9pm Adelaide City Campus East Building P, P2-04
16 Apr - 16 Apr Thursday 6:10pm - 9pm Adelaide City Campus East Mawson, G12
14 May - 28 May Thursday 6:10pm - 9pm Adelaide City Campus East Mawson, G12
Class number
Class number 24203
Section
Section WS01
Size
Size 20
Available
Available 20
Dates Days Time Campus Location Instructor
25 Feb - 25 Mar Wednesday 9:10am - 11am Adelaide City Campus East Napier, LG18
8 Apr - 15 Apr Wednesday 9:10am - 11am Adelaide City Campus East Napier, LG18
13 May - 27 May Wednesday 9:10am - 11am Adelaide City Campus East Napier, LG18
Class number
Class number 24202
Section
Section WS02
Size
Size 20
Available
Available 19
Dates Days Time Campus Location Instructor
25 Feb - 25 Mar Wednesday 2:10pm - 4pm Adelaide City Campus East Napier, LG19
8 Apr - 15 Apr Wednesday 2:10pm - 4pm Adelaide City Campus East Napier, LG19
13 May - 27 May Wednesday 2:10pm - 4pm Adelaide City Campus East Napier, LG19
Class number
Class number 24201
Section
Section WS03
Size
Size 20
Available
Available 20
Dates Days Time Campus Location Instructor
27 Feb - 27 Mar Friday 10:10am - 12pm Adelaide City Campus East Napier, LG18
10 Apr - 17 Apr Friday 10:10am - 12pm Adelaide City Campus East Napier, LG18
15 May - 29 May Friday 10:10am - 12pm Adelaide City Campus East Napier, LG18
Class number
Class number 24200
Section
Section WS04
Size
Size 20
Available
Available 20
Dates Days Time Campus Location Instructor
27 Feb - 27 Mar Friday 2:10pm - 4pm Adelaide City Campus East Napier, LG18
10 Apr - 17 Apr Friday 2:10pm - 4pm Adelaide City Campus East Napier, LG18
15 May - 29 May Friday 2:10pm - 4pm Adelaide City Campus East Napier, LG18
Class number
Class number 24199
Section
Section WS05
Size
Size 20
Available
Available 20
Dates Days Time Campus Location Instructor
25 Feb - 25 Mar Wednesday 11:10am - 1pm Adelaide City Campus East Napier, LG18
8 Apr - 15 Apr Wednesday 11:10am - 1pm Adelaide City Campus East Napier, LG18
13 May - 27 May Wednesday 11:10am - 1pm Adelaide City Campus East Napier, LG18
Class number
Class number 24198
Section
Section WS06
Size
Size 20
Available
Available 19
Dates Days Time Campus Location Instructor
24 Feb - 24 Mar Tuesday 2:10pm - 4pm Adelaide City Campus East Napier, LG18
7 Apr - 14 Apr Tuesday 2:10pm - 4pm Adelaide City Campus East Napier, LG18
12 May - 26 May Tuesday 2:10pm - 4pm Adelaide City Campus East Napier, LG18
Class number
Class number 24197
Section
Section WS07
Size
Size 20
Available
Available 20
Dates Days Time Campus Location Instructor
26 Feb - 26 Mar Thursday 2:10pm - 4pm Adelaide City Campus East Napier, LG19
9 Apr - 16 Apr Thursday 2:10pm - 4pm Adelaide City Campus East Napier, LG19
14 May - 28 May Thursday 2:10pm - 4pm Adelaide City Campus East Napier, LG19
Class number
Class number 24196
Section
Section WS08
Size
Size 20
Available
Available 20
Dates Days Time Campus Location Instructor
26 Feb - 26 Mar Thursday 11:10am - 1pm Adelaide City Campus East Napier, LG18
9 Apr - 16 Apr Thursday 11:10am - 1pm Adelaide City Campus East Napier, LG18
14 May - 28 May Thursday 11:10am - 1pm Adelaide City Campus East Napier, LG18

Prerequisite(s)

N/A

Corequisite(s)

N/A

Antirequisite(s)

N/A

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