Plan observations using celestial coordinates and instrument constraints
Physical Sciences & Engineering · Physics & Astronomy
ASTR-210Observational Astronomy
Develops astronomical observation, coordinate systems, imaging, spectroscopy, data reduction, and interpretation of celestial phenomena.
Course outcomes
What students develop
Acquire and reduce astronomical data
Interpret images, spectra, and time-series measurements
Document observational uncertainty and conditions
Course content
Topics and questions
- Celestial sphere and time
- Telescopes and detectors
- Imaging and photometry
- Spectroscopy
- Solar, stellar, galactic, and planetary observation
Methods & resources
Tools and environments
- Telescope and imaging systems
- Astronomical software and catalogs
- Data-reduction tools
Evaluation
Demonstration of learning
- Observation plan
- Data-reduction notebook
- Astronomical analysis report
Program relationships
Where this course fits
Course inquiry
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