Outline:

The first-year Practical Astronomy (Practical Skills 1A) course is directed from the Department of Physics & Astronomy's observatory in Mill Hill, NW London - the UCL Observatory (UCLO). Instruction is given in the use of telescopes and CCD cameras for observing on clear evenings, and in robotic mode. There are set experiments and observations, which make use of prepared materials, designed to demonstrate important concepts in astrophysics, complementing the material taught in lecture courses at UCL, and introducing students to techniques of measurement used in astrophysics.

Aims:

This course aims to:

Introduce the student to contemporary methods in observational astrophysics;
	Develop an understanding of astronomical coordinate systems and time, in order that the student can plan a programme of observations effectively;
	Introduce the use of astronomical telescopes and detectors;
	Give students instruction in the use of the telescopes at the UCLO by observing the Sun, Moon, planets, comets, asteroids, nebulae, and galaxies; and experience of operating a robotic telescope system to acquire digital images;
	Teach the principles of the CCD as an astronomical detector, and how to acquire astronomical images with the UCLO telescope systems;
	Develop an appreciation of the range and application of astronomical data available in printed and on-line sources, and experience of software tools to visualise and explore those data;
	Develop the student’s ability to make scientific measurements of a sample of astronomical image and spectroscopic data, and to evaluate and analyse the results;
	Develop expertise in the application of basic statistics in experimental science;
	Develop the student’s ability to write a formal scientific report.
Teaching and Learning Methodology:

The course is directed from the UCLO and teaches practical observing sessions under the tutelage of the module leader and demonstrators, and includes telescope training, analysis and interpretation of prepared materials and set experiments, and report writing.

Indicative Topics:

Astronomical coordinates and time.
	Telescopes: Fry 8-inch refractor; Celestron 14-inch Schmidt-Cassegrain.
	Robotic telescopes: target selection and submission.
	Robotic telescopes: data inspection and image analysis.
	Use of a CCD camera.
	Basic CCD image reduction and processing.
	Basic photometry of stellar sources in digital images (including the magnitude scale).
	Photometry of a variable source (e.g., construction of a supernova light curve).
	Classification and measurement of stellar spectra.
	Observational tasks: visual observation of the Sun, Moon, planets; CCD imaging of asteroids, nebulae, galaxies.