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Jodrell Bank Centre for Astrophysics

Jodrell outbuildings and telescope

Undergraduate

Physics with Astrophysics is ideal if you want to obtain a solid grounding in physics, but are also fascinated by astronomy.

What you study

The Department of Physics and Astronomy runs two undergraduate degree courses in Physics with Astrophysics.

You will learn about our Sun and Solar System, the stars and our Galaxy, distant galaxies and quasars and the beginning of the Universe in the Big Bang.

What is astrophysics?

Astrophysics involves the application of the laws of physics to distant regions that cannot directly be accessed by man-made apparatus, and in which the physical conditions can only be inferred from the electromagnetic radiation that is emitted.

Most staff members teaching astrophysics course units are members of the Jodrell Bank Centre for Astrophysics, which also encompasses the world-famous Jodrell Bank Observatory. Our expertise in radio astronomy has led to a series of astronomical experiments that are particularly well suited for student work.

Students can perform observations at the observatory and in Manchester observing the sky at radio and optical wavelengths. Some examples are: using a solar telescope to observe the sun in the first year; imaging the moon in the second year; and using optical telescopes to analyse the light from stars in your third and fourth years. You will also run a number of experiments on the seven-metre telescope of the dedicated undergraduate radio observatory.