CFU
8
Length
14 Weeks
Semester DD
Second
Introduction: The observable objects in Astrophysics
Spherical Astronomy and Coordinate Systems: Spherical Trigonometry - Geographic coordinates - The celestial sphere - Coordinate systems - The Horizontal system - The local equatorial system - The absolute equatorial system - Diurnal motion of the stars - The ecliptic system - Diurnal motion of the Sun - Sidereal time - Solar time - Astronomical timings and seasons - Axial precession - Nutation - Galactic system - Calendar - Universal time - Julian day - Notes on Archaeoastronomy
The Earth's atmosphere: Structure of the atmosphere - Effects on astronomical observations - Atmospheric turbulence - Observing sites and Astronomical Observatories
Measurements in Astronomy: Electromagnetic spectrum - Photometry - Flux and Luminosity - Magnitudes - Photometric filters - Light curve - Color index - Interstellar medium - Extinction - Spectroscopy - Astronomical spectra - Fraunhofer lines - Spectral lines - Absorption - Emission - Ionization - Recombination - Bremsstrahlung radiation - Synchrotron radiation - Doppler effect - Redshift
Mirrors and lenses: Reflective surfaces - Refractive surfaces - Thin lenses - Fermat's principle - Conic sections
Telescopes: Focal length - Focal ratio - Aperture - Magnification - Resolving power - Diffraction limit - Refracting telescopes - Chromatic aberration - Spherical aberration - Astigmatism - Coma - Reflecting telescopes: Newton, Cassegrain, Ritchey – Chrétien, Nasmyth, Coudé, Schmidt - Equatorial mount - Altazimuth mount - Active optics - Adaptive optics - Infrared observations - Chopping and Nodding - Radio Telescopes - Radio interferometry - Space Telescopes and Detectors for X and Gamma rays - Cerenkov-light telescopes - Orbits of Space Telescopes
Data acquisition and reduction: CCD camera - Properties of a CCD - Photoelectric effect - Image scale - Pixel scale - Field of view - Saturation - Noise - Noise sources in astronomy - Poisson's noise - Readout noise - Bias frame - Dark frame - Flat-field frame - Defringing - Signal to noise ratio - Absolute photometry - Differential photometry - Spectrometers - Spectral resolution - Resolving power - Interferential filter - Fabry-Perot spectrometer - Michelson spectrometer - Diffraction grating - Grism - Echelle grating - Calibrating a spectra
LEARNING OUTCOMES: The course focuses on astrophysical techniques, addressing the every-day problems encountered by observers when acquiring data from astrophysical source, introducing some techniques for the calibration of the instrumentation and the enhancement of the signal. The course also aims to provide laboratory skills by hands-on experiences.
KNOWLEDGE AND UNDERSTANDING: Deep understanding of techniques for data acquisition and calibration. - Good knowledge of the state of the art of the instrumentation in use in present-day astrophysics.
APPLYING KNOWLEDGE AND UNDERSTANDING: Understanding the limits of the instrumentation. - Ability to unassistedly analyze astrophysical data-sets. Ability to apply basic calibration techniques to astrophysical data set.
MAKING JUDGEMENTS: Ability to perform bibliographic research on astrophysical techniques and instrumentation, selecting interesting materials and evaluating the main results. Ability to understand which is the best approach to perform an astrophysical measure.
COMMUNICATION SKILLS: Ability to present and organize the exposition of a specialized topic of astrophysical methods and instrumentation.
LEARNING SKILLS: To be able to approach new fields through independent study.