Outline:

The course will introduce students to a project team approach in performing a research-grade observation proposal, with groundwork preparation ahead of the proposed submission, data analysis, task breakdown and planning and the writing up and presentation of results. This will simulate the kind of working pattern they would encounter as professional astronomers. Students taking the course will apply techniques of observational astronomy to projects in the areas of digital imaging, photometry, spectrometry and instrument development. These projects will require and encourage the further development of skills in data reduction and analysis, hypothesis testing, the formation of conclusions and the critical evaluation of the work carried out, and of any personal development of the student that arises from the project work. The student will aim to obtain their own data, using the telescopes at UCL Observatory (either in person or by preprogrammed use of the equipment in its "robotic" mode) and by accessing telescopes at other observatories via remote observing.

Aims:

The module aims to introduce students to professional astronomical observation procedures in a project team environment by working on a research-grade observation campaign.

In more detail, the aims are to strengthen the student's understanding of the scientific method, particularly in the following areas:

The (innovative) use of instruments including research grade telescopes, digital cameras and spectrographs.
 The formulation of repeatable experiments to test hypotheses.
 Practical application of concepts and laws encountered in previous lecture courses and practical classes to real-world experiments
 To learn the importance of and put in practice a range of planning and consequent time management techniques related to all of the stages of a scientific campaign
 Care in the presentation of an argument in written form, from verified empirical premises, through sound construction and demonstration, to valid conclusions.
 Review of the literature, to learn the current “consensus of experts” on a topic; continuing development of the ability to analyse and criticise the consensus, as appropriate.
The course also aims to provide experience in the preparation of a research proposal to obtain observational data for the investigation of a problem in modern astrophysics. This aim is particularly relevant to UCL's connected curriculum.

Teaching and Learning Methodology and Indicative Content:

Course delivery will be through (a) an initial joint teaching session and (b) working with a group of (3-5) students, to prepare and execute a significant and challenging observing task with the available UCLO telescopes and telescopes in other remote robotic networks.

Practical sessions will be directed from UCLO and observing sessions at the telescopes (subject to the availability of clear weather; archive data may be substituted as necessary). This will be supplemented by brief presentations on techniques of observational astronomy and items of topical interest in the field, delivered by academics from the Astrophysics group of the Department of Physics and Astronomy. E-learning will mostly be via Moodle (or any successor to this platform that comes into use at UCL), which will be used to augment and record the presentations and to enable students to share the results of their research, as directed by the organiser of the course. Students will be expected to carry out a significant amount of background reading on the projects, and to complete the writing up of their own project reports.