Chapter 1
Introduction
Abstract During the course of your astrophysics degree, you will be undertaking
observations of the skies. This book is designed to guide you through observational
astrophysics through a series of practicals. You will learn important techniques in
photometry, spectrography, astrometry, and general imaging as well as being introduced to some of astronomy’s more arcane features.
1.1 The Reader
Most undergraduate astrophysics degrees have a practical component. This practical
component is usually undertaken using a small telescope, on campus if you are lucky,
or otherwise at a large off-site facility. Remote observations are also sometimes used,
carried out via an internet link between a local computer and a robotic telescope. The
amount of time you might spend at an instrument can be surprisingly short. Clearly,
this is not an ideal situation, as observational astronomy is a complicated subject and
one that has developed over many centuries.
If you do not feel ready for the task that is in front of you, you are not alone.
Scientific observation is a complex and somewhat daunting task, particularly when
you find yourself alone in the dark late at night. This book was written to help
new undergraduates studying astrophysics. It is intended to serve as a primer to
be consulted prior to observing, and also as a handy reference during the observing
process itself. The book can also be referred to later when you are busy processing the
images you took. However, a word of caution—this book will not act as a substitute
for thorough note-taking. It is always a good idea to document what you are doing
while you do it and while it is fresh in your mind. Also, with regard to the sections on
data reduction and image analysis, the volume you are holding is not specific to any
single observatory. Rather, it is intended as a general reference. Nor is it intended to
be a complete reference for any of the areas of astronomy covered in the following
chapters, each of which could, in itself, be a topic for a complete book.
While this book is aimed at undergraduates, I hope that it will also be useful
for postgraduates, particularly for those who do not have much direct experience
© Springer Nature Switzerland AG 2020
M. Gallaway, An Introduction to Observational Astrophysics,
Undergraduate Lecture Notes in Physics,
https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-43551-6_1
1
Introduction
Abstract During the course of your astrophysics degree, you will be undertaking
observations of the skies. This book is designed to guide you through observational
astrophysics through a series of practicals. You will learn important techniques in
photometry, spectrography, astrometry, and general imaging as well as being introduced to some of astronomy’s more arcane features.
1.1 The Reader
Most undergraduate astrophysics degrees have a practical component. This practical
component is usually undertaken using a small telescope, on campus if you are lucky,
or otherwise at a large off-site facility. Remote observations are also sometimes used,
carried out via an internet link between a local computer and a robotic telescope. The
amount of time you might spend at an instrument can be surprisingly short. Clearly,
this is not an ideal situation, as observational astronomy is a complicated subject and
one that has developed over many centuries.
If you do not feel ready for the task that is in front of you, you are not alone.
Scientific observation is a complex and somewhat daunting task, particularly when
you find yourself alone in the dark late at night. This book was written to help
new undergraduates studying astrophysics. It is intended to serve as a primer to
be consulted prior to observing, and also as a handy reference during the observing
process itself. The book can also be referred to later when you are busy processing the
images you took. However, a word of caution—this book will not act as a substitute
for thorough note-taking. It is always a good idea to document what you are doing
while you do it and while it is fresh in your mind. Also, with regard to the sections on
data reduction and image analysis, the volume you are holding is not specific to any
single observatory. Rather, it is intended as a general reference. Nor is it intended to
be a complete reference for any of the areas of astronomy covered in the following
chapters, each of which could, in itself, be a topic for a complete book.
While this book is aimed at undergraduates, I hope that it will also be useful
for postgraduates, particularly for those who do not have much direct experience
© Springer Nature Switzerland AG 2020
M. Gallaway, An Introduction to Observational Astrophysics,
Undergraduate Lecture Notes in Physics,
https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-43551-6_1
1