PX2139: Observational Techniques in Astronomy
| School | Cardiff School of Physics & Astronomy |
| Department Code | PHYSX |
| Module Code | PX2139 |
| External Subject Code | 100414 |
| Number of Credits | 10 |
| Level | L5 |
| Language of Delivery | English |
| Module Leader | Dr Rodney Smith |
| Semester | Autumn Semester |
| Academic Year | 2017/8 |
Outline Description of Module
- To introduce the student to basic observational techniques in multi-waveband astronomy.
- To introduce the student to basic techniques of data reduction, including measurements of signal-to-noise, testing for correlations and fitting curves and data sets.
- To give the student practical experience of carrying out an observing project – in this module, writing a proposal for a project to be carried out on one of the telescopes in Las Cumbres Observatory (the observations will be carried out between the two semesters).
On completion of the module a student should be able to
The student will be able to:
- Take, reduce and analyse astronomical data from telescopes operating in several wavebands.
- Demonstrate the working knowledge that an observer would need of telescopes and detectors, for example CCDs, spectrometers, interferometers, bolometers, optical telescopes.
- Demonstrate the other working knowledge that an observer would need, including magnitudes, filters, spectral lines, the point spread function, angular resolution, the celestial sphere, right ascension and declination, instrumental noise, sky noise, atmospheric transmission.
- Demonstrate the knowledge of statistics needed by an observer, including how to calculate exposure times and signal-to-noise, measure correlations, fit models to data.
- Use basic astronomical software, including display and photometry software (e.g. Gaia).
- Write an observing proposal.
How the module will be delivered
Laboratory sessions, marked exercises and practical work.
Skills that will be practised and developed
Experimental physics. Communications skills. Personal skills. Problem solving. Investigative skills. Mathematics. Computing skills. Analytical skills. Ethical behaviour.
How the module will be assessed
Marked continual assessment based on lecture content, write-up of practical sessions, one observing proposal.
Assessment Breakdown
| Type | % | Title | Duration(hrs) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Written Assessment | 100 | Observational Techniques In Astronomy | N/A |
Syllabus content
Telescopes: Electromagnetic telescopes from X-rays to the radio waveband, interferometers, angular resolution and the point spread function, Wien’s law, the transmission of the atmosphere and telescopes in space, gravitational-wave telescopes.
Instruments: Cameras, including CCDs; spectrometers; bolometers.
Other basic astronomical techniques: Magnitudes, filters, flux density (the Jansky) and luminosity, spectral lines, 21-cm radiation, the Doppler shift.
The sky: Precession and time. Right ascension and declination. Altitude and azimuth. Hour angle. Epoch and equinox, solid angle.
Statistics of detection: Gaussian and Poisson statistics, the different sources of noise, basic signal-to-noise calculations.
Other statistical methods: measuring correlations, goodness of fit, Chi-squared.
Background Reading and Resource List
Astrophysical Techniques, C R Kitchin (IOP 4th Edn.)
Observational Astrophysics, R C Smith (Cambridge University Press)