Astronomical Telescopes, Techniques, and Data Analysis

Catalog description

Properties and use of optical telescopes, imaging and spectroscopy, multi-wavelength techniques, data analysis and statistics, practical research methods. ASTRO 402 Astronomical Telescopes, Techniques, and Data Analysis (3) This course will provide practical experience and understanding of the telescopes and techniques by which astronomers obtain data and conduct research. The study of telescopes will include optical, infrared, radio, ultraviolet, X-ray, and gamma ray observations, and students will learn to set up and use optical telescopes. In-depth coverage of the instruments used for imaging and spectroscopic observations of a variety of astronomical objects will be provided. Applications will include topics in planets, stars, galaxies, and cosmology. Detailed examples of data analysis will be given, including the relevant statistical techniques. Finally, the process by which research in astronomy is conducted will be reviewed, from proposing observations, to obtaining them, to analyzing and interpreting them, to writing up the results. This course is a requirement for students in the Planetary Science and Astronomy major and minor. It may be taken by any students with the needed pre-requisites, but cannot be counted towards the required 400 level courses for the Astronomy and Astrophysics major or minor.