58273 - Astronomical Data Analysis Techniques

Academic Year 2013/2014

  • Docente: Paola Focardi
  • Credits: 6
  • SSD: FIS/05
  • Language: Italian
  • Teaching Mode: Traditional lectures
  • Campus: Bologna
  • Corso: First cycle degree programme (L) in Astronomy (cod. 8004)

Learning outcomes

To become acquainted with basic and fundamental knowledge concerning astronomical data acquisition, handling and reduction.

Course contents

Basics of statistics concerning astronomical quantities estimates and associated errors.
Basics of astronomy concerning: magnitude, surface brightness, S/N, limiting magnitude.CCD standard calibrations.
Detection and photometry of isolated stars,  stars in crowded fields, galaxies, faint stars and galaxies.
Single and multi object spectroscopy. Long slit spectroscopy. Spectrophotometric calibrations.

Readings/Bibliography

Howell S.B.: Handbook of CCD Astronomy, Cambridge Univ. Press.
Lecture slides  are made available at the teacher personal home page (http://gbm.bo.astro.it/paola/didattica/did.html)

Teaching methods

The concepts are made clear through practical exemplifications. Several
problems are proposed and solved together.  Using astronomical data reduction software (IRAF)  simple image and spectra reduction is performed.

Assessment methods

Oral examination.

Teaching tools

Video Projector and PC.

Office hours

See the website of Paola Focardi