ASTRO 4410 - Experimental Astronomy

(PBS)

Fall. 4 credits.

Prerequisite: PHYS 2214/PHYS 2218 or PHYS 3310 or PHYS 3360, PHYS 3323/PHYS 3327 (or co-registration).

J. Cordes, staff.

Observational astrophysics. Major experiments involve techniques in CCD (charge-coupled-device) imaging, optical photometry, optical spectroscopy, radiometry, radio spectroscopy and radio astronomy. The experiments involve use of the Hartung-Boothroyd Observatory’s 24-inch telescope, a laboratory two-element radio interferometer, and a radio telescope mounted on top of the Space Sciences Building. The laboratory covers the fundamentals of using astronomical instrumentation and data analysis as applied to celestial phenomena: asteroids, normal stars, supernova remnants, globular clusters, planetary nebulae, the interstellar medium, OH masers, and galaxies.