Introduction and Objectives
In this class you will learn the all of the steps involved in a successful observing run, including taking observations on an actual research telescope! In addition, you will:
- Use sky charts and catalogs to write observing proposals
- Learn the best practises for reducing and working with CCD data
- Handle larger volumes of data in Python
- Perform standard star photometry
- Analyze photometric time-series
- Perhaps perform a spectroscopy lab (stretch goal!)
Because this summer must be online, we won't be able to use the UW’s Manastash Ridge Observatory. Although we'll miss that aspect of the class, I realized that this is a wonderful opportunity to focus on the skills and techniques that previous 481 students found so valuable. And we have three half-nights of time on the APO 3.5m, a telescope so much larger than MRO's 30-incher, we could collect 16 times more photons than 481 gets all summer!
Just like in previous 481s we'll also to emphasize teamwork, splitting the class into three teams. Students found this valuable for support and help problem solving, and because this quarter is online I think it'll be incredibly important to have these closer connections with your classmates.
We’ll use the best practices for online learning developed in Astro 480 and other upper division Astronomy classes spring quarter. For the most part we will save class time for team meetings & problem solving. Lectures will be pre-recorded when possible
Things to Know
- Required Materials: The same textbooks you used in 480 (both are available for free! online! through the UW Libraries). Computer access both during class time and for one night of remote observing. We will use a UW hosted JupyterHub for computing, just like in 480.
- Late assignments: If you have a special situation, talk to me. I do not grade work submitted late without prior communication.
-
Academic honesty: I hope and expect that you will work closely with other people while completing the assignments for this class. However, I expect that you will use your own words when writing up your work. The examples of academic misconduct in the statement of Student Academic Responsibility are useful for understanding how to avoid plagiarism. In addition:
- I use the SimCheck tool to automatically check lab assignments for originality and appropriate references for material that is quoted, paraphrased, or summarized.
- If I suspect academic misconduct then I will withhold your grade and report the suspected activity to Community Standards & Student Conduct.
-
The University of Washington Department of Astronomy does not tolerate harassment of any kind: Harassment is any behavior by an individual or group that contributes to a hostile, intimidating, unwelcoming, and/or inaccessible work environment. Anyone can experience harassment. If you believe that you are being harassed, the Astronomy Department's Statement on Harassment lists resources where you can find support.
- When we use tools like Zoom, we will not record or take any screen-shots of other members of the class without their explicit permission.
Assignments and Grading
Given the new format for the class, we're going to keep it simple. Homework & lab assignments for each lesson will compose the entirely of your grade. There are no planned quizzes or exams (but you gotta be prepared for APO!). I expect that students will spend sufficient time and effort to produce high quality work, so that this will be a high scoring class. However, unexcused missing assignments will reduce your grade. A score of 95% (corresponding to approximately one unexcused missing assignment) will correspond to a score of 3.8, a 90% to a 3.7, etc. The lowest score to receive credit is 60%.
Accommodations & Support
This class provides accommodations for temporary health conditions and permanent disabilities through UW DRS. Support is available to discuss safety and well-being 24 hours / 7 days a week through SafeCampus.
Washington state law requires that UW develop a policy for accommodation of student absences or significant hardship due to reasons of faith or conscience, or for organized religious activities. The UW’s policy, including more information about how to request an accommodation, is available at Religious Accommodations Policy. Accommodations must be requested within the first two weeks of this course using the Religious Accommodations Request form.