ASTR 3030/3031 Methods & Instrumentation in Astronomy

1. ASTR 3030/3031Methods & Instrumentation in Astronomy Instructor: Dr. J. Allyn Smith Office: SSC B-329 Office Hours: MRF 1230 – 1330; MW 1530-1630 or by appointment Class Meeting Time: Tuesday & Thursday 6:35 – 9:35pm; B310 SSC

2. To Measure the Sky, F.R. Chromey, Cambridge Press Suggested References: All by Cambridge Press Handbook of CCD Astronomy 2nd Ed. S.B. Howell Practical Statistics for Astronomers, JJ Wall & CR Jenkins Textbook

3. Expectations This class should be hands-on, project oriented. It will concentrate on imaging and photometry. Generally, we’ll meet on Tuesdays to talk about techniques and background and perform a “traditional” lab. Thursdays will generally be image reduction exercises.

4. Observing Log • You are required keep a logbook of your observations and data gathered. The logbook will be useful for data reductions as you get to them during the semester. You should have entries for each observing lab as well as any observations you make outside of class • Every log entry should include • Date and time of observation • Instrument used (gain and read noise) • Filter, exposure, start time of exposure, airmass • Description of the object (type, RA, Dec) and sky • You will also need a flashlight

5. Observing Labs • There will be several small observing projects throughout the semester – some weather permitting. These are designed to practice the techniques we learn about in class. There will also be three “major” projects: • Learning image reductions; • Writing an observing proposal; and • Collection and reduction of an set of imaging data. • Naked-eye projects include: • Meteor shower observations • Algol light curve

6. Homework Homework will be assigned from the Review Questions at the back of each chapter. Additional problems from other sources may also be assigned to supplement the back-of-chapter questions. They will be due as assigned.

7. Project The semester project is to observe and properly reduce and extract data for a variable star or star cluster. The primary part of this lab will be done differentially with a second part (weather permitting) to complete the transformations to the standard star network for the filters used. You will be requires to give a short (7 – 10 minutes) oral presentation on the objects you observed during the final exam period Tuesday December 14.

8. 2nd Project During this semester, you will develop and write an observing proposal. This is a competitive process. We will concentrate on stellar imaging and photometry but don’t discount galactic projects or spectroscopy. While the easiest telescope to write for is the WIYN 0.9m and one of the imagers, feel free to consider any of the “smaller” telescopes at KPNO, CTIO, or MKO. The winner(s) will get taken … to Kitt Peak to perform their project(s) [weather permitting]. If you write a proposal for a telescope other than the 0.9m and it is good, we’ll submit it to the TAC and see if we get time.

9. Part of the requirements for the introductory astronomy classes is to attend a 1st Quarter Observing Night. You will serve as set-up and take-down for those nights. The eight nights are • Tuesday September 6 @ 8:00pm • Wednesday September 7 @ 8:00pm • Monday October 3 @ 7:00pm • Tuesday October 4 @ 7:00pm • Wednesday November 2 @ 7:00pm • Thursday November 3 @ 7:00pm • Thursday December 1 @ 7:00pm • Monday December 5 @ 7:00pm • We will meet at the astronomy equipment storage room approximately 45 minutes prior to the start time. Observing Nights

10. Image Processing We will use IRAF and AstroImageJ for image processing this semester (IRAF – Linux based; AstroImageJ works in both Linux and Winders). Topcat will be available as a 3D plotting package, but if you know others, you’re welcome to use them.

11. The Celestial Sphere A useful fiction but it has its limitations

12. Spherical Coordinates On the Earth, the angle f is the latitude while the angle l is the longitude. A third quantity, the altitude, is needed to describe the position in 3D

13. Alt-Az Coordinates The Alt-Az coordinates are tied to your locale. Azimuth is the angle around from due north (0°) and altitude is the angle above the horizon.

14. Celestial Equatorial Coordinates • (Right Ascention) is the angle around from the Vernal Equinox • (Declination) is the angle above (+) or below (-) the celestial equator • The celestial equator is the projection of the Earth’s equator onto the celestial sphere. The Vernal equinox is the point where the Sun crosses the celestial equator moving northward

15. Ecliptic Coordinates Useful for specifying the positions and orbits of objects within the solar system

16. Galactic Coordinates Useful for galactic orbit calculations. Many sky survey star maps use galactic coordinates

17. Measuring Celestial Coordinates The Meridian Telescope Measure when an object crosses the meridian and you have its Right Ascension

18. Measuring Celestial Coordinates II Find the angle between the object and the North (or South) Celestial Pole and you have the compliment of its declination