ASTR 3510 -- Astronomical Observations and
Instrumentation I: Imaging (Spring 2005)

TA: Brian Keeney

NEW:

• Planetary Transit Applet
  • Note that you may need to install the JAVA JRE plug-in. If you cannot get the applet to load, then follow this link and download and install "J2SE v1.4.2_07 JRE" for your home OS. Then try running the applet again.
• CCD Photometry Applet
• Lab 2a: Measuring the Proper Motion of the Crab Nebula
• Lab 2b: Finding and Measuring the Proper Motion of an Asteroid
• Observing Signup Page

Lab Handouts:

• How to Setup IRAF
• An Introduction to UNIX
• An Introduction to IRAF
• A Guide to Error Propagation
• Handy Things to Know for Lab 2
• Flat Fielding Guide

Home Basketball Schedule (Feb-March):

Links:

• IRAF Tutorial by Josh Walawender

• Observing Tools
  • To use these tools you'll need information on SBO that Josh Walawender has assembled here...
  • Airmass Calculator
    • This program calculates the airmass as a function of time for a given object during the night.
  • Astronomical Sky Calendar
    • This returns basic data on sunrise and sunset times, LST at midnight, moonrise and moon set times and illumination.
  • Daily Almanac
    • This gives basic data similar to the above, but in more detail; however, it only returns data for one day.
  • Object Seasonal Observability
    • Calculates the amount of available observing time each night for a given object over the course of a few months.
• Weather:
  • Weather Forecast for Boulder
  • Current Weather Conditions in Boulder
    • Click on the link at the bottom of the menu on the left to get current conditions in Boulder.
  • Clear Sky Clock for SBO
    • This last link is a computer model designed to predict cloud cover over the next 48 hours at SBO.

• The STScI Digitized Sky Survey
• International Dark Sky Association (IDA)

• Apache Point Observatory
• A List of Standard Stars (from APO)

• SEDS
• IRAF Project Home Page
• SIMBAD Astronomical Database
• USNO Finding Chart Program
• ADS Astronomy Abstract Service

• Images (from SBO and other places):
  • Images from SBO
  • The Advanced Observing Program (AOP) at Kitt Peak (click on the images link)
    • The AOP uses instruments similar to what we have at SBO, but with much better conditions (darker skies and better seeing). Compare images from the SBO gallery and the AOP gallery and you'll see how improved conditions and some additional effort can make a dramatic difference in image quality.

• APS Department Web Page

written by: Brian Keeney
last modified: February 4, 2005