 | University of Virginia record February, 1910 |  |
SCHOOL OF PRACTICAL ASTRONOMY.
Professor Stone.
Mr. Smith.
Mr. Wilson.
Required for Admission to the Work of the School: The General
Entrance Examination, and Course 1A in the School of Mathematics
or its equivalent.
For Undergraduates.
Course 1B: General Astronomy: Mathematics 1A prerequisite.—
The primary aim of this course is to give such a knowledge of the
facts, principles, and methods of Astronomy as every well-educated
person should possess.
The instruction is given by oral examinations, by lectures, and
by the assignment of problems. The mental discipline of the student
is kept constantly in view, and an earnest effort is made to
create a habit of clear and logical thinking. Monday, Wednesday,
Friday, 12-1. Cabell Hall.
Text-Book.—Young's General Astronomy.
For Graduates and Undergraduates.
Course 2C: Practical Astronomy: Course 1B and Mathematics 2B
(or its equivalent) prerequisite.—Spherical Astronomy and theory of
astronomical instruments, with practical exercises in making and reducing
astronomical observations. Hours by appointment. McCormick
Observatory.
Course 3C: Theoria Motus: Course 1B and Mathematics 2B (or
its equivalent) prerequisite.—Formation and integration of the differential
equations of motion for an undisturbed body, determination of
the position of a planet from known elements, of an elliptic orbit
from three complete observations, of an orbit from four observations
of which only two are complete, of an orbit from any number of
observations employing the method of least squares. Hours by appointment.
Cabell Hall.
Course 4C: Celestial Mechanics: Course 1B and Mathematics 2B
(or its equivalent) prerequisite.—The principal subjects considered are
rectilinear motion, central forces, potential, problems of two, three
and n bodies, perturbations, determination of a preliminary orbit.
Hours by appointment. Cabell Hall.
Primarily for Graduates.
Course 5D: Spherical and Practical Astronomy: Course 2C prerequisite.—Determination
of the positions of the fixed stars, preparation
of star catalogues, statistical study of the structure of the sidereal
universe. Hours by appointment.
Course 6D: Celestial Mechanics: Course 4C prerequisite.—Problem
of three bodies, and theory of perturbations. Hours by appointment.
Course 7D: Lunar Theory: Course 4C prerequisite.—Hours by
appointment.
Course 8D: Recent Advances in Celestial Mechanics: Course
5D prerequisite.—Researches of Hill, Newcomb, Glydén, Poincaré, and
others. Hours by appointment.
For information in regard to Fellowships in Astronomy application
should be made to the Professor in charge of the School.
The Astronomical Observatory is situated upon an elevation
known as Mount Jefferson, which furnishes an unobstructed horizon.
The principal building is a rotunda forty-five feet in diameter, and
contains the great Clark refractor of twenty-six inches aperture. The
building and instrument are the gift of Leander J. McCormick, Esq.,
of Chicago. The computing rooms are adjoining, and contain clock,
chronograph, etc., and a working library. In a smaller building are
a three-inch Fauth transit and a four-inch Kahler equatorial.
A temporary Students' Observatory has been recently erected in
the rear of Dawson's Row, and is intended more especially for the
use of students in Course 1B.
| University of Virginia record February, 1910 | |