AST3722 Techniques of Observational Astronomy

John Oliver: Associate Professor of Astronomy
211D BRT oliver@astro.ufl.edu 392-2052 x206

Roger Cohen: Teaching Assistant
315 BRT cohenr@astro.ufl.edu 392-2052 x257

Course Organization- Fall 2004

Approximate division of credits

• 1.5 credit lecture (meets one or two days per week)
• 1.5 credit lab (up to 4-5 hours per week)
• Observing Labs evenings at about sunset(we will need to create several groups, sometimes meeting on different nights)

Fall semester (details)

• Coordinates and Time
• Star Catalogs and Atlases
• Planning Observations
• Effect of the Atmosphere
• Astronomical Optics
• Telescopes
• Detector Basics
• CCDs and CCD Imaging
• Working at the Telescope
• Introduction to Statistics and Methods of Data Analysis
• Basic Photometry and Spectroscopy

Spring Semester

• Research techniques:astrometry,photometry
• Modern ground-based telescopes
• Optical Interferometers
• The Great (orbital) Observatories
• Infrared, X-ray, gamma ray observing
• Modern Astronomical Instruments
• Gravity wave observing

Grading

• quizes and midterm exam 25%
• lab reports 75%
• Grading scale: A 90; B+ 85; B 80; C+ 75; C 70; D+ 65; D 60

Mailing List

An active e-mail mailing list is important in the organization of this course. All students will be automatically enrolled in the class list. In addition, e-mail must be read on a regular basis. It is especially important that e-mail to the list be checked 1 or 2 days before the meeting dates of the class and the lab.

This page was last edited August 24, 2004 11:13 AM