Observational Techniques
Ph 629 --- Fall 2004

Revised September 8, 2004

This course provides an introduction to the tools and techniques of modern observational astronomy. It surveys instruments and capabilities at current telescope sites around the world and in space. It also introduces modern data reduction methods. Students will get practical experience by using the 0.5 m optical telescope and the 3.0 m radio telescope on the roof of the Serin Physics Lab; by reducing archival data from larger telescopes; and by preparing a mock observing proposal. Prerequisite: Physics 541 - Introductory Astrophysics or equivalent. Professor: Tad Pryor, Serin 302W, 445-5462, pryor@physics.rutgers.edu Lectures: MW period 4 (1:10 - 2:30 PM) Location: 401 Serin Physics Lab, Busch Campus Office Hours: Call, email, or stop by. Text: Astrophysical Techniques (4th edition); C.R. Kitchin, 2003, Institute of Physics Publishing, ISBN 0750309466. This book is on sale for 15% off at the publisher's website for the month of August. I got the order in late to the bookstore, so it probably won't be there until the first week of class.

Lecture Topics

Image Reduction and Analysis Facility (IRAF)

• WWW Homepage
• IRAF Beginners Guide This guide is somewhat obsolete.
• Download the IRAF tutorials: exer211.readme and exer211.tar.gz

CCDs

• Observational Mishaps: This page give examples of common and uncommon problems in CCD images. Everything from focus problems to bad electronics, to a dead ladybug on the R filter.
• In situ CCD Testing by T.M.C. Abbott describes methods for thoroughly testing the properties of a CCD. Aimed at observatory staff checking out facility instrumentation, but useful for anyone who wants to know about the measured properties of CCDs.
• Lunar and Planetary Observation and CCD Imaging The website of a portuguese amateur with some remarkable CCD images of the moon and planets. Note in particular the animations and the discussion of how he obtains high angular resolution.

Handouts

• Syllabus 

• Exercise 1  The Sky
  Complete by: Wednesday, September 15, 2004

• Lab 1  The SRT Beam and Calibration
  Now Due: Wednesday, September 29, 2004
  • The Small Radio Telescope (SRT) home page
  • SRT Instruction Manual

• Lab 2  CCD Characteristics
  Due: Monday, October 18, 2004
  • Operating the Schommer Observatory 0.5m Telescope
  • Operating the Schommer Observatory Direct CCD System
  • Do the IRAF tutorial exercise 1, available from the IRAF links above, before starting the analysis of the data taken for this lab.

• Lab 3  Surface Photometry of M31
  Due: Monday, November 8, 2004
  • Observing Opportunities To add your name to an open time or to remove your name from a time for which you have signed up, send email or call me at 5-5462.
  • Do the IRAF tutorial exercise 2, available from the IRAF links above, before starting the analysis of the data taken for this lab.
  • Published surface photometry profile for M31. The first column is the semi-major axis of the ellipse in arcseconds and the second is the V-band surface brightness in magnitudes per square arcsecond along that ellipse. These data are taken from Table III of Kent 1987, AJ, 92, 306. However, that profile was measured in the R band (approximately). So I added 0.44 mag to the surface brightnesses, which is the average difference at four radii (1 arcmin - 5 arcmin) between the Kent profile and the V-band profile of Walterbos et al. 1987, A&AS, 69, 311. The Kent and Walterbos et al. photometry show that the color of M31 is constant to at least +-0.05 mag over the radial extent of our image, so that is one estimate of the possible errors involved in using an R-band profile instead on a V-band profile.
  • Images that can be used by those who observed last Thursday. The weather was much clearer when these data were taken. On the Suns it is probably simpler to copy the images from /home/pryor/public_html/ph629/lab3data.

• Assignment:  NOAO/SALT Observing Proposal
  Due: Wednesday, December 15, 2004
  • Kobulnicky et al.,  The Prime Focus Imaging Spectrograph for the Southern African Large Telescope: Operational Modes
  • observingprop.tar
  • Burgh,  The Prime Focus Imaging Spectrograph: Design and Capabilities
  • AB magnitude calculator

• Lab 4  Multi-Object Spectroscopy: The Systemic Velocity and Line-of-Sight Velocity Dispersion of M56
  Due: Wednesday, December 8, 2004
  • Do the IRAF tutorial exercise 5, available from the IRAF links above, before starting the analysis of the data taken for this lab.
  • lab4.tar  The tar file containing the Hydra data.
  • Hydra Manual
  • spectra_guide.ps  (pdf)
  • KPNO Spectral Atlas