SUBJECT

Title

Observational methods in astrophysics

Type of instruction

lecture

Level

master

Part of degree program
Credits

3

Recommended in

Semester 3

Typically offered in

Autumn semester

Course description

Overview of various equipments and methods used in deriving astrophysical information from observations of different celestial objects (stars, galaxies, planets, etc.). Basic categories of astronomical observations: imaging, photometry and spectroscopy. Effects of the Earth's atmosphere on ground-based astronomical observations. Introduction to space astronomy. Observations in the entire electromagnetic spectrum, from gamma rays to radio waves. Fundamental stellar parameters and their observational determination.

Readings

recommended readings:

  • Smith, R. C. 1995, Observational Astrophysics, Cambridge Univ. Press
  • P. Léna, F. Lebrun, F. Mignard 1998, Observational Astrophysics, Springer