AST 443: Observational Techniques
General Information

Fall 2007

meeting time: Tuesdays 6:50 - 9:40 PM
meeting place: initially ESS 450
Lab: Thursdays 5:30-6:30 or Fridays 1-2 (choose one), usually at the Math SINC site. Check the schedule.

page updated 9/17/07

Instructor: Prof. Fred Walter (ESS 459; 632-8232; fwalter (at) mail.astro.sunysb.edu)

Office Hours: Tuesday and Thursday 2-3, Wednesday 9-11 (send an e-mail or call to make sure I'm in), or by appointment.

Prerequisite: AST 203 or permission of instructor.

Go here for the current syllabus. Links to the course notes are available here.

Go here for the project descriptions.

This course involves computing on workstations at the Math SINC site running the LINUX (UNIX) operating system. For a general introduction to UNIX computing, check out the course notes from AST277 Computation for Physics.

Textbooks

A.) Required Textbook

Bradt, H.V. Astronomy Methods (Cambridge).
Wall and Jenkins: Practical Statistics for Astronomers (Cambridge)
Howell, S.B. Handbook of CCD Astronomy (Cambridge)

B.) Recommended Book

Bevington and Robinson: Data Reduction and Error Analysis for the Physical Sciences, second edition. This is stocked for the PHY 445/515 labs.

C.) Supplemental Book

Kitchin, C.R. Astrophysical Techniques (Institute of Physics Publishing). This covers some of the material in Bradt's text

The required and recommended books should be on reserve in the Math-Physics library.

Grading

There will be 1 midterm, 4 projects, and about 4 homework assignments. There will not be a final examination. The projects are worth 50% of your grade; the midterm is worth 20%; the homework assignments account for the other 30% of your grade.

Policy on Academic Dishonesty

Academic dishonesty, which includes cheating, plagiarism, and falsifying of data, will not be tolerated. Students who are suspected of engaging in academic dishonesty will be reported to the Academic Judiciary.

The following statement on academic dishonesty has been adopted by the University Senate:
"Each student must pursue his or her academic goals honestly and be personally accountable for all submitted work. Representing another person's work as your own is always wrong. Any suspected instance of academic dishonesty will be reported to the Academic Judiciary. For more comprehensive information on academic integrity, including categories of academic dishonesty, please refer to the academic judiciary website at http://www.stonybrook.edu/uaa/academicjudiciary/"

Americans with Disability Act:

If you have a physical, psychological, medical or learning disability that may impact your course work, please contact Disability Support Services, ECC (Educational Communications Center) Building, room 128, (631) 632-6748. They will determine with you what accommodations are necessary and appropriate. All information and documentation is confidential.

Students requiring emergency evacuation are encouraged to discuss their needs with their professors and Disability Support Services. For procedures and information, go to the following web site.

http://www.ehs.sunysb.edu/fire/disabilities/asp

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AST 443: Observational Techniques General Information