Aim of the course is an introduction to astronomical techniques and especially to optical telescopes and astronomical spectroscopy. Astrophysical issues, instrumental techniques and data analysis will be described. A complete observational project will be carried out, starting from target selection trough observations and to data reduction. Observations will be performed at the observatories of Loiano and Asiago and at the Galileo national telescope (TNG).
Knowledge acquired: the bases of astrophysical techniques: optical telescopes, CCDs and spectroscopy.
Competence acquired: use of a telescope and of focal plane instrumentation. Image data reduction (both photometric and spectral images).
Skills acquired: use of astronomical instrumentation and astronomical data analysis.
Prerequisites
Astronomy
Laboratory of Optics
Introduction to astrophysics
Teaching Methods
Lectures
Observations at a telescope facility
Data analysis in a computation facility
Further information
Pending the pandemic emergency, the possibility of visiting and performing dedicated observations at the observatories of Loiano (Bo) and Asiago (Vi) and travel to La Palma, Canaries, is planned, to visit the astronomical facilities and to perform dedicated observations at the TNG.
Type of Assessment
Oral test, lasting approximately 45 minutes. The exam consists of an exposition and discussion of at least a subset of the observational campaign (target choice, observations, data reduction, results obtained), followed by the discussion of one of the subjects discussed in the classroom. The answers will be evaluated according to: understanding of fundamental physical aspects, ability to use a precise and appropriate language, adequate understanding of the basis of how the used instruments work, understanding of the observational and data reduction techniques, ability to estimate the uncertainties on the obtained results.
Course program
Optical Astronomical telescope: fundamentals, diffraction from an aperture and seeing. Astronomical spectroscopy: instrumentation, solid state
detectors, spectrum formation. Astronomical images data analysis. Introduction to Fourier optics.
Laboratory activity (observing campaign with imaging and spectroscopy of galaxies): choice of the targets and preparation of the observations. Execution of the observations. Data reduction: calibration of images and spectra, estimation of the distance of the galaxies by measuring their apparent diameter, measure of the redshift, estimation of the Hubble constant, estimation of the central black hole mass (in the case of active galaxies) or of the star formation rate (for the other galaxies).