1. Astro 377 Experimental Astronomy Dr
Astro 377 Experimental Astronomy Dr. Chartas Office: JCL 206 Office Hours: Tues/Thur 4:00-5:00 PM
Course webpage:
All slides are posted on OAKS. All assignments and answer keys are posted on OAKS. We will do telescope observing, but spend more time in the analysis.
First hour of course, you are required to be here. After that, you can work elsewhere.

2. Course Goals
 You gain an experience akin to working in a professional research group.
 You learn about carrying out an observational experiment from inception to final write-up.
 You learn about scientific computing and programming.
 You gain experience in statistical analysis in experimental science.
 You gain insights into writing professional-level science proposals and publications.
This course not like any other course I teach. How many of you have carried out research before?
Review syllabus.

3. Some Concepts That I am Assuming You Are Already Familiar With
Magnitudes, Parallax, Distance Modulus, Spectral Types, Hertzsprung-Russell Diagram, Blackbody Curves, Wien’s Law, Uncertainty Propagation, Complicated Unit Conversions
I assume you have some astronomy and physics background. I assume you have no programming or computational background.

4. Reading to be Done by Next Tuesday
Homework for Thursday
 Bring to class a lab notebook.
Reading to be Done by Next Tuesday
 Review of Astronomy Concepts
All reading is posted on OAKS
You need to be able to record notes in your lab notebook while observing, in the dark, and late at night.
How many of you are available to attend colloquium, Thursday at 1:50 pm?
If possible, bring a memory stick to all classes.

5. Keeping a Lab Notebook It will be reviewed by me
This will serve as a record of all of your work.
It will be reviewed by me
Record what you did, when you did it, why you did it, and what were your results.
Always acknowledge people you worked with, or people who answered your questions or otherwise helped you.
Your notebook should contain records of both your successes and your failures.
This is a large fraction of your grade in the class. Lab notebooks are often not as common and formal in astronomy as in other disciplines. You need to know how to write a good complete one before you decide how you might cut corners. Show example lab notebook. Follow advice in the reading. You may use a hardcopy or an electronic version.
>> Segway to computer stuff. Note that we will have problems. Be patient.

6. Today’s In-class Tutotrial
See ‘Assignment 1’ posted on OAKS under Assignments. This assignment is due by the end of the lab today.
This is a large fraction of your grade in the class. Lab notebooks are often not as common and formal in astronomy as in other disciplines. You need to know how to write a good complete one before you decide how you might cut corners. Show example lab notebook. Follow advice in the reading. You may use a hardcopy or an electronic version.
>> Segway to computer stuff. Note that we will have problems. Be patient.