Lecture Description
According to the "Encyclopedia of Astronomy and Astrophysics", astrodynamics deals with the motion of natural and artificial bodies in gravitational fields.
Beginning with the two-body problem, the course discusses methods for determining initial orbits following the discovery of an object (such as a minor planet, comet, or satellite). After introducing the general equation of motion of a celestial body, the principles of numerical and analytical perturbation theory are briefly presented. This is followed by an in-depth discussion of key problems in astrodynamics, including the motion of a minor planet in the gravitational field of the planetary system and the motion of a satellite in the gravitational field of a flattened Earth.
The lecture is primarily intended for students majoring in astronomy within the Bachelor’s program in Physics/Astronomy, for whom it is compulsory, but it is also open to other interested students. Knowledge of the material covered in the Astronomy I lecture is required.
Homework assignments are integrated into the course. A course script will be provided.
