Astronomical Observation Lab

Course manual 2017/2018

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

Other

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

Objectives

• Learn how to work with the telescopes and spectroscopic instruments of the Anton Pannekoek Observatory
• Learn how to propose for and plan observations
• Learn the basic concepts with respect to spectroscopy and the power of this technique for astronomy and astrophysics
• Learn how to perform the planned observations and how to reduce the obtained data.
• Learn how to interpret the observations and obtain physical properties of the selected targets.

Teaching methods

• (Computer)practicum
• Zelfstudie
• Zelfstandig werken aan bijv. project/scriptie
• Begeleiding/feedbackmoment
• Hoorcollege
• Presentatie/symposium
• Writing and judging of observing proposals

- The lectures are needed to learn the basic concepts of spectroscopy, observing, and proposing 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 give lecture notes.

- The students will write an observing proposals that will be judged by their fellow students during a peer-review meeting (so-called 'time-allocation meeting'). The grade obtained will be part of the final grade.

- The observations will start around mid-October and can last until Christmas. The students will observe in groups of 2 to 3 students and will be assisted by a teaching assistant (TA) throughout the night. The students will learn the basis of observing with a telescope and with a spectrograph. It is expected that the students come well prepared during the observing night so that the TA has minimal work to do in explaining the basic concepts. After the basic introduction by the TAs, 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 January 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

Academic skills

Not applicable.

Attendance

Aanwezigheidseisen opleiding (OER-B):

• Van elke student wordt actieve deelname verwacht aan het onderwijsonderdeel waarvoor hij staat ingeschreven. Een student die de eerste twee werkcolleges van een lesblok geen gebruik maakt van de werkcolleges, zal administratief uit de werkcollegegroep verwijderd worden. Een verzoek opnieuw ingeschreven te worden bij de werkcolleges kan ingediend worden bij de opleidingscoördinator.
• Als een student door overmacht niet aanwezig kan zijn bij een verplicht onderdeel van het onderdeel, dient hij dit zo snel mogelijk schriftelijk te melden bij de betreffende docent. De docent kan, eventueel na overleg met de studieadviseur, besluiten om de student een vervangende opdracht op te leggen.
• Het is niet toegestaan om verplichte onderdelen van een onderdeel te missen als er geen sprake is van overmacht.
• Bij kwalitatief of kwantitatief onvoldoende deelname, kan de examinator de student uitsluiten van verdere deelname aan het onderdeel of een gedeelte daarvan. Voorwaarden voor voldoende deelname worden van te voren vastgelegd in de studiewijzer.
• Ter uitbreiding van de bovenstaande regels geldt in het eerste semester van het eerste jaar dat een student bij minimaal 80% van de werkcolleges aanwezig dient te zijn. Bovendien moet worden deelgenomen aan eventuele tussentoetsen en verplicht gesteld huiswerk. Als niet aan deze verplichting is voldaan, wordt de student uitgesloten voor de herkansing van het bijbehorende vak. Studenten in het Dubbele Bachelor programma Wis- en Natuurkunde zijn vrijgesteld van deze plicht.

Aanvullende eisen voor dit vak:

Additional requirements for this course:

- It is highly desirable that the students are present during the lectures and the proposal feedback moment. If unable to be present, the students are expected to study the lecture notes of the miss lecture and to discuss the missed lecture with the other group members of the group they are assigned.

- Participation during peer-review meeting  is mandatory. The students have to be present else they will not get a grade for this part of the course and therefore cannot pass the course.

- All members of the group have to participate during the observing run. If one group member cannot come, the group should not observe during that night and should wait until the next observing opportunity arises *and* all group members can attend.

- All groups have to give a presentation during the final meeting in January. All students of the group have to be present during the presentation.

Assessment

Assignments

Onderstaande opdrachten komen aan bod in deze cursus:

•    Naam opdracht 1 : beschrijving 2
•    Naam opdracht 2 : beschrijving 1
•    ....

Fraud and plagiarism

Dit vak hanteert de algemene 'Fraude- en plagiaatregeling' van de UvA. Hier wordt nauwkeurig op gecontroleerd. Bij verdenking van fraude of plagiaat wordt de examencommissie van de opleiding ingeschakeld. Zie de Fraude- en plagiaatregeling van de UvA: www.uva.nl/plagiaat

Course structure

Timetable

Het rooster van dit vak is in te zien op DataNose.

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 2 to 3 students.

Contact information

Coördinator

• Rudy Wijnands

Docenten

• Alicia Rouco Escorial, head TA
• Kelly Gourdji
• Martijn de Vries

Technical assistant

• Stephen Skocpol BSc