Techniques of Optical and Infrared Astronomy

337H
With lab. An introduction to the techniques of gathering and analyzing astronomical data, with an emphasis on observations related to determining the size scale of the universe. Telescope design and optics. Instrumentation for imaging, photometry, and spectroscopy. Astronomical detectors. Computer graphics and image processing. Error analysis and curve fitting. Astron 337H will involve extensive student participation. Students will access online astronomical databases, retrieve and analyze images and spectra, write computer programs, and perform statistical analyses. They will give class presentations and will have frequent written assignments. Course format will be about 50% lecture, 50% hands-on, experimental learning.

Prerequisites: 

ASTRON 224 or 225, 2 semesters of physics, and 2 semesters of calculus.

Credits: 

4

Level: 

Undergraduate

Availability: 

Occasional