Observational Astrophysics
This is a lecture and laboratory course covering techniques in modern observational astrophysics, at an advanced level. Students will be trained to operate the telescope in the Mittelman observatory on campus and will gain expertise in the acquisition and analysis of digital images. Students will design and conduct a variety of observational projects from canonical experiments that illuminate the nature of stars and galaxies to originally conceived projects such as photometric studies in the time domain. Skills in computer-based data reduction, analysis, and presentation will be developed and emphasized. The course may also include theoretical modeling techniques that would make use of advanced computation and data mining methods. Students will write up their observing projects and results in comprehensive reports to satisfy the College writing requirement. Nighttime attendance at the observatory outside of formal class meeting time will be required.