ASTRONOMY 392G

Observing Techniques in Astronomy

Preliminary Syllabus

• Two meetings per week: 1.5-2 hours each
• One week at McDonald Observatory
• Two evenings using campus instruments (one at RLM, one at Painter)

• One observing proposal: 25% of course grade
• One special topic presentation: 20% of course grade
• Five homework assignments: 8% of course grade each (total 40%) (assignments will be flexible, and for participants involved in observing runs or observational research during the semester, can be tailored to their own techniques in place of class material missed)
• Class participation, observing effort, etc.: 15%
  

Recommended texts:

Dan Schroeder: Astronomical Optics (recommended you buy)

G. H. Rieke: Detecting from Ultraviolet to Submillimeter (optional: Péridier will have this on reserve)

General proposed course layout: special topic presentations will be of roughly 30 minutes time and will be interleaved throughout the semester depending on one's interests and its fit with the general schedule.

Grouped roughly by weeks, with the proposed emphasis of each of the two weekly sessions given:

Telescope design principles and disassembly/assembly of a small telescope
Principles of optical measurement and alignment: the Foucault test

Detectors Survey: CCD, photomultipliers, IR, comparison with film, reticon
Basic statistics and the theory of noise

Imaging I
IR I

Spectroscopy I (instrument design, s/n, efficiency, resolution)
Spectroscopy II (dispersion correction, calibration, repeatability)

Misc. optical instrumental methods: (e.g., optical interferometry)
Radio and sub/mm techniques (guest lecture)

Introduction to IRAF I (methodology, imaging reductions)
Introduction to IRAF II (spectroscopic reductions, misc. tools)

Observing week at McDonald

Followup and analysis I (starting to make sense of data)
Followup and analysis II (more reductions, first look at results)