CSI 790 Topics in Computational Sciences and Informatics:

Astronomical Data Analysis Systems and Databases

Mondays, 4:30-7:10, 126 Science and Technology 1

Course information:

Course syllabus
Computer info
Week 1: Mosaic and the World Wide Web (January 23)
- Lecture outline
- WWW Primer
- HTML Primer
- URL Primer
- The STScI Style Guide for Web Authors
- Homework 1 (due January 30)
- Solutions 1
Week 2: Online Meta Data Bases (January 30)
- Handouts
- ASIAS: Astrophysics Science Information and Abstract Services (Abstract Service, Article Service (scanned images))
- SIMBAD: Stellar measurements database (manual, documents)
- NED: NASA/IPAC Extragalactic Database
- ESIS: European Space Information System
- Homework 2 (due February 6)
- Solutions 2
Week 3: Online Archives (February 6)
- Handouts
- HEASARC: High Energy Astrophysics Archive (users' guide)
- ADS: Astrophysics Data System archive and catalog service
- STEIS: Hubble Space Telescope archive (primer)
- COSSC: Compton Observatory Science Support Center (users' guide)
- IPAC: Infrared Processing and Analysis Center
- FITS: Flexible Image Transport System (FTOOLS, FITSIO)
- Homework 3 (due February 13)
- Solutions 3
Week 4: HST Photometry: Proposal and Feasibility (February 13)
- Lecture Outline
- HST Data Handbook
- HST Exposure and Proposal Catalogs
- WFPC2 Instrument Handbook
- Homework 4 (due February 20)
- Solutions 4
Week 5: HST Photometry: IRAF, Analysis and Results (February 20)
- IRAF Support Services
- Useful IRAF documents - set Load to Disk then click
- Manuals for help doing photometry and image processing in IRAF
- Homework 5: IRAF exercises intro, ccd1, and photom (due February 27)
Week 6: HST Photometry: STSDAS, Analysis and Results (February 27)
- HST Data Handbook
- Useful IRAF documents - set Load to Disk then click
  - Cleaning Images of Bad Pixels and Cosmic Rays Using IRAF
- Homework 6 (due March 6)
- Solutions 6
Week 7: KPNO/CTIO Spectroscopy: Introduction and Calibration (March 6)
- Useful IRAF documents - set Load to Disk then click
  - A User's Guide to CCD Reductions with IRAF
  - A User's Guide to Reducing Slit Spectra with IRAF
- Manuals for help doing spectroscopy in IRAF
- Homework 7: IRAF exercise ccd2 (due March 20)
Week 8: Spring Break (March 13)
- No Class.
- Homework 8: Think about your final project. Turn in a one paragraph writeup with a possible project. Include title, one sentence description of science goal, proposed instrumentation, and proposed data analysis software system. (Due March 20)
Week 9: KPNO/CTIO Spectroscopy: Analysis and Results (March 20)
- Useful IRAF documents - set Load to Disk then click
  - A User's Guide to Reducing Slit Spectra with IRAF
  - Guide to the Slit Epectra Reduction Task DOSLIT
- Homework 9: IRAF exercise spectra (due March 27)
Week 10: Catch up on old homeworks (March 27)
Week 11: CTIO Imaging: DAOPHOT, Statistics and Point Spread Functions (April 3)
- Useful IRAF documents - set Load to Disk then click
  - A User's Guide to Stellar CCD Photometry with IRAF
- Useful References:
  - DAOPHOT: A Computer Program for Crowded Field Stellar Photometry, P. B. Stetson, 1987 (PASP, 99, 191-222)
  - Future Development of the DAOPHOT Crowded Field Photometry Package 1990 (ASP Conf Ser, ??, 289-304) abstract
- Homework 11 (due April 10)
Week 12: ROSAT/XTE Timing: Proposal and Feasibility (April 10)
- PROS/XRAY Support Services
- PROS Users Guide
Week 13: ROSAT/XTE Timing: PROS, Analysis and Results (April 17)
- Homework 13 (due April 24)
Week 14: ROSAT/XTE/ASCA Spectroscopy: Proposal and Fesibility (April 24)
Week 15: ROSAT/XTE/ASCA Spectroscopy: XSPEC, Analysis and Results (May 1)
- Final Project (due May 10)
Reading Period: Proposals due (May 10)
- Final Project (due May 10)
- Proposals are due by COB (close of business). They may be turned in at my GMU mailbox, my NRL mailbox, my NRL office, or e-mailed in a format I can read (ASCII, TeX, PS).
Finals Week: Peer Review Session (May 15)
- 4:30-7:00 pm, 216 Sci & Tech 1

World Wide Web resources:

Astroweb: Searchable astronomy resource list
An Article on Internet Resources for Astronomers by Heinz Andernach, Bob Hanisch, and Fionn Murtagh is available in html and postscript.
What's New with Mosaic and the WWW (NCSA)
WWW Virtual Library: Subject Catalogue (CERN)
Searchable WWW indices:

Course resources

Astronomy Abstract Searching Service
Indices of ApJ/AJ/PASP and ApJ Letters.

Other home pages:

Personnel:

Paul Hertz (hertz@xip.nrl.navy.mil)