Astronomy & Astrophotography Courses

[jakerich154]

Hi everybody,

Im currently doing year 12 in melbourne, and I am very interested in astronomy and astrophotography, I have posted a few of my images on here previously. Anyway, I have been trying to research some courses for tertiary education in the the mentioned fields, however I have only seen ones that are post-grad, like the ones at Swinburne. If anyone has any ideas on a direction I should look it would be greatly appreciated. Even if anyone knows of any lessons or 'tutor' type things that I could attend to ask questions and learn more in depth about astrophotography methods and how I can improve my strategies, I think I have reached my limit as to what I can learn from the internet and videos, I need some hands on experience to learn from.

Sorry for being long winded, but any advice would be excellent!

Cheers,
Jake :) :thanx:

[pfitzgerald]

Hi Jake

La Trobe University has a second semester unit in Astronomy as part of their first year physics course. The lecturer is my 'old' physics teacher and he knows his stuff. Although I'm not certain I think that Melbourne Uni has Astrophysics as part of their undergraduate degree course. It would pay to give them a call and find out the details - I've just had one of my Yr 10 students complete a weeks work experience there doing astronomy at the end of last term.

Failing that you may need to look at going to ANU.

Kind regards.

Paul

PS Feel free to send me a PM if you wish to discuss it further.

[jakerich154]

Hi Paul

Thanks for your input, I take from your advice that there may not be any purely astronomy courses, only ones that involve astronomy as a subject, in a broader field such as physics. Ill give Melbourne Uni a ring, although I'm reluctant to go there because of there undergraduate thing, I've heard it is like re-doing Yr 12 VCE and I'm not to keen on doing that :P Anyway thanks very much for the reply and advice, I may send you a PM to discuss further if I get stuck at some point :) Also, You mentioned one of your students doing work experience, what do you teach at your school?

Thanks,
Jake

[rmuhlack]

I just had a look at the Adelaide Uni website (where I studied), and they now have an undergraduate course in:

Bachelor of Science (Space Sc & Astrophysics)
(http://www.adelaide.edu.au/degree-finder/2013/bsc_bscssap.html)
Might be worth a look :thumbsup:

[jakerich154]

That looks interesting, definitely worth a look. Thanks :) :thanx:

[pfitzgerald]

Physics, science and mathematics Jake. :)

Paul

PS This site might help you find some of the answers you're after.

http://asa.astronomy.org.au/become.html

[Hans Tucker]

Have you thought about attending the Australian Astro Imaging Conference (AAIC) ?


http://www.aaic2013.com/

[Ralph Davey]

Sorry to pipe in late here Jake,

Monash University offers Astronomy as a straight major degree option. They have a great Astro department and their own observatory. They are also second to Melbourne Uni regarding statewide rankings for Universities (not that that really matters). Nonetheless, you most certainly can study a Bachelor of Science (Astronomy) in Melbourne at Monash University.

http://www.monash.edu.au/pubs/handbooks/aos/astronomy-and-astrophysics/

I looked into everything that was offered some time ago when I was thinking of returning to uni to studying Astronomy. I wish Monash offered off-campus options, then I would be set :)

Hope that helps.
Ralph