Telescopes and Detectors for Spatial Sciences

Code:

FIS4050

Acronym:

FIS4050

Level:

400

Keywords
Classification	Keyword
OFICIAL	Physics

Instance: 2023/2024 - 2S

Active?	Yes
Responsible unit:	Department of Physics and Astronomy
Course/CS Responsible:	Master in Astronomy and Astrophysics

Cycles of Study/Courses

Acronym	No. of Students	Study Plan	Curricular Years	Credits UCN	Credits ECTS	Contact hours	Total Time
M:A_ASTR	5	Study plan since academic year 2023/2024	1	-	6	42	162
M:A_ASTR	5	Study plan since academic year 2023/2024	2	-	6	42	162
M:EF	9	Official Study Plan since 2021_M:EF	1	-	6	42	162
M:F	0	Official Study Plan	1	-	6	42	162

Last updated on 2024-02-10.

Fields changed: Teaching methods and learning activities, Tipo de avaliação, Melhoria de classificação, Componentes de Avaliação e Ocupação, Fórmula de cálculo da classificação final, Componentes de Avaliação e Ocupação, Fórmula de cálculo da classificação final, Métodos de ensino e atividades de aprendizagem

Teaching language

English

Objectives

The main objective of this course is to give students basic training in instrumentation concepts for space sciences, giving them the tools to become, one day, leaders in developing this type of technology used at ESO and ESA. This includes both the hardware component and data reduction. The course will allow students to understand the language used in the area, the various types of telescopes and instruments, and the type of data that is collected, as well as some details about its analysis. Thus this course can open strong collaborations among students (future professionals) and international institutions such as the ESO and ESA. These collaborations can materialize from the

point of view of employment but also in the context of providing technology for these institutions (because the course allows the students, as clients, to understand the language used from the companies side and better indentify potential interests)

Learning outcomes and competences

Chapter 1 gives the students an overview of the importance of the instrumentation development for the observation of the universe as well as the language used in the area. Chapters 2-6 allow the student to understand the basics of instrumentation used in space sciences. Chapter 7 allows then to explore the steps to reduce raw images, ie the necessary steps to correct an image from several instrumental effects (and leave it ready for a scientific analysis). In the last chapter we discuss the challenges and instrumentation for the next decade. The practical component will allow students to consolidate and apply some of the most important concepts taught in the theoretical component.

Working method

Presencial

Program

Lectures:
1. Observational Astronomy: historical perspective, types of data, and astrophysical goals
2. Telescopes: types of telescopes and mounts
3. Instrumentation for Astronomy: components and design, physical principles of
photometers, spectrographs, and interferometers
4. Types of detectors
5. CCDs for optical astronomy: basic principles, operation, and imaging
6. Detectors at other wavelengths
7. Image Processing
8. Instrumentation and challenges for the future

Practical component:
1. Computer classes. Pipeline for the reduction of astronomical data
2. Laboratory classes to mount and test instrumentation used in Astrophysics

Mandatory literature

McLean Ian S.; Electronic imaging in astronomy. ISBN: 978-3-540-76582-0

Complementary Bibliography

Steve B. Howell; Handbook of CCF Astronomy, Cambridge University Press, 2006. ISBN: 9780511161056
Howell Steve B. 340; Astronomical CCD observing and reduction techniques. ISBN: 0937707424

Teaching methods and learning activities

Lectures using the blackboard and, when necessary, multimedia. Resolution of theoretical exercises. Presentation of scientific articles.
Practical classes to work on the project of data reduction. laboratory experiments.

Software

Python

Evaluation Type

Distributed evaluation without final exam

Assessment Components

designation	Weight (%)
Trabalho prático ou de projeto	20,00
Trabalho escrito	40,00
Trabalho laboratorial	40,00
Total:	100,00

Amount of time allocated to each course unit

designation	Time (hours)
Estudo autónomo	120,00
Frequência das aulas	42,00
Total:	162,00

Eligibility for exams

Frequence of classes is mandatory.

Calculation formula of final grade

Evaluation Formula calculated using the weighted average of 3 components:
- Observational data processing project and respective report (40%)
- Laboratory work and respective reports (40%)
- Exercises proposed in classes (20%)

Special assessment (TE, DA, ...)

Working-students should contact the professors to coordinate in the best way possible the evaluation of the different components that are done during the semester.

Classification improvement

All evaluation done during the semester. No possibility to improve.

Observations

Jury:
Nuno Santos
Jorge Gameiro
Bachar Wehbe

Classes will be in Portuguese in case all students understand that language.

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