Astronomical Instrumentation and Data Analysis

Catalog description

Studies a range of optical astronomical hardware including telescopes, digital detectors and instrument design and theory. Focuses on the use of CCDs in terms of operation, calibration, use, measurement, limitations, noise and signal, statistics, and preliminary understanding prior to data reduction. Discusses practical optical astronomical observing: the choice of filters and their design, planning your observing run, bringing your data home and the types of data you will need. Final class project requires the reduction and measurement of data using computers.