Astronomical Observation Lab

Course manual 2025/2026

Course content

During this practicum the students will obtain spectroscopic data using the telescopes and instrumentation of the Anton Pannekoek Observatorium. The students will get familiar with the techniques and methods and will understand the importance of spectroscopy for astronomy and astrophysics. The students will choice a target (from a list of targets) and they will write a proposal to observe this target to obtain the desired (astro-)physical information from it. The proposal will be evaluated and graded by their fellow students using a peer review system. The students will perform their proposed observations themselves (under guidance of a teaching assistant) using the available telescopes and spectrographs of the observatory. After the observations have been completed successfully, the students will reduce and analyze the obtained data themselves using the available software packages. The students will present their results during a presentation in front of the class, in which they also will interpret the results and draw conclusions about the scientific questions they wanted to address with their observations.

Study materials

Practical training material

• Manuals on how to observe with the difference instruments

Software

• Data analysis software; partly in Python

Other

• College slides via Canvas. Additional literature (also via Canvas).

Objectives

• Gain a fundamental understanding of the principles of spectroscopy, including the physics of light-matter interactions, the basic types of spectroscopic techniques, and the relationship between spectral features and physical properties of matter.
• Develop the ability to create a comprehensive observing plan that includes specific observing targets, instrument settings, observing conditions, and data acquisition parameters.
• Gain practical experience in executing an observing plan using the equipment available at the Anton Pannekoek Observatory, including telescope operation, data acquisition, and instrument calibration.
• Acquire proficiency in using Python to reduce spectroscopic data, including the ability to preprocess and clean data, apply relevant calibrations, and extract relevant scientific information.
• Develop the skills necessary to analyze reduced spectroscopic data, including the ability to interpret spectral features, identify physical properties of observed objects, and estimate measurement uncertainties.
• Establish the ability to interpret the physical significance of observed spectral features and link them to existing literature, including the ability to compare and contrast observational results with theoretical predictions and empirical data.
• Develop effective oral communication skills, including the ability to clearly and concisely present scientific results, justify scientific conclusions, and respond to questions from a knowledgeable audience.

Teaching methods

• (Computer)practicum
• Zelfstudie
• Zelfstandig werken aan bijv. project/scriptie
• Begeleiding/feedbackmoment
• Hoorcollege
• Presentatie/symposium
• Lecture
• Self-study
• Presentation/symposium
• Working independently on e.g. a project or thesis

- The lectures are needed to learn the basic concepts of spectroscopy, observing, and planning observations. The students are expected to attend the lectures, watch and study the associated online video's, and to perform self study with the given lecture notes.

- Using a practice observing run during daytime (of the day time sky, either blue or cloudy sky) the students will take observations using the same instruments as during the night time. With this observations the students will practice taken data and reducting and analysing the obtained data so that they are well prepared for the night time observation run. The daytime observations are performed betweein mid-September and mid-October.

- The night observations will start around mid-October and can last until Christmas. The students will observe in groups of 3 to 4 students and will be assisted by a teaching assistant (TA) throughout the night. After the basic introduction by the TAs in combination with the obtained experience during the daytime observing run, the students are expected to perform the observations mostly by themselves with only the basic guidance by the TAs.  The TAs will judge the quality of the observing the students performed (as well as the data reduction and analysis, see next point).

- After the observations, the students (with basic help and input of the TAs) will reduce, analyze and interpret their obtained data so that at the end of block 3 the students can present their results during a presentation in front of all students. Mostly this work will be done by the students themselves. The presentation will be judge by the lecturer and the TAs.

Learning activities

Attendance

Programme's requirements concerning attendance (TER-B):

• Each student is expected to participate actively in each component of the programme that he/she signed up for. A student that does not attend the first two seminars of a course, will be administratively removed from the seminar group. A request for reregistration for the seminars can be applied to the programme coordinator.
• If a student cannot attend an obligatory component of a programme's component due to circumstances beyond his control, he must report in writing to the relevant teacher as soon as possible. The teacher, if necessary after consulting the study adviser, may decide to issue the student a replacing assignment.
• It is not allowed to miss obligatory commponents of the programme if there is no case of circumstances beyond one's control.
• In case of participating qualitatively or quantitatively insufficiently, the examiner can expel a student from further participation in the programme's component or a part of that component. Conditions for sufficient participation are set down in advance in the course manual.

Additional requirements for this course:

• Absence needs to be communicated to the course coordinator before the lecture. 
• Physical presence is mandatory for all lectures.
• All members of the group have to participate during the observing runs. 
• All groups have to give a presentation during the final meeting at the end of block 3. All students of the group have to be present during the presentation.

Assessment

Inspection of assessed work

Contact the course coordinator to make an appointment for inspection.

Assignments

Homework and observing log - 30%

Presentation and discussion in december (group grade) - 40% 

Final presentation (group grade) - 30%

Fraud and plagiarism

The 'Regulations governing fraud and plagiarism for UvA students' applies to this course. This will be monitored carefully. Upon suspicion of fraud or plagiarism the Examinations Board of the programme will be informed. For the 'Regulations governing fraud and plagiarism for UvA students' see: www.student.uva.nl

Course structure

Additional information

Recommended prior knowledge: Elementary knowledge of Optics, and first and second year astrophysics and physics courses.

Max. participants: 20 students. Students work in groups of typically 3 students.

Contact information

Coordinator

• prof. dr. Rudy Wijnands

Docenten

• Alicia Rouco Escorial, head TA
• Kelly Gourdji
• Deniz Aksulu

Technical support

• Rudy Wijnands
• Rasjied Sloot
• Esther Hanko