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Â鶹´«Ã½ÊÓƵÍøÕ¾ Observatory (Â鶹´«Ã½ÊÓƵÍøÕ¾O)

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Undergraduate Students

Undergraduate practical courses at Â鶹´«Ã½ÊÓƵÍøÕ¾O are taken by students on astro-related undergraduate degrees at Â鶹´«Ã½ÊÓƵÍøÕ¾.

Other degree-stream students also take these courses: e.g., Natural Sciences undergraduates specialising in astrophysics take PHAS0003Ìýin their second year, and have the option to take the third-year practical courses.

The undergraduate courses available are:

PHAS0003: Practical Astronomy 1

Course Organizer:ÌýDrÌýSteve Fossey
T: 020 8238 8876Ìý
E: s.fossey@ucl.ac.uk

The first-year Practical Astronomy course is conducted at the Department's observatory in Mill Hill, NW London - the University of London Observatory (Â鶹´«Ã½ÊÓƵÍøÕ¾O). Instruction is given in the use of telescopes and CCD cameras, used by students to observe on clear evenings. There are set experiments which make use of prepared materials, designed to demonstrate important concepts in astronomy, complementing the material taught in lecture courses at Â鶹´«Ã½ÊÓƵÍøÕ¾, and introducing students to techniques of measurement used in astrophysics.

PHAS0043: Practical Astronomy: Techniques

Course Organizer: Dr Steve Fossey
T: Ìý020 8238 8876
E:Ìýs.fossey@ucl.ac.uk

PHAS0043 is an undergraduate (Year 3) course in observational astrophysics taught at the Â鶹´«Ã½ÊÓƵÍøÕ¾ Observatory in Mill Hill, NW London. It is designed to teach contemporary research methods used in optical observational astrophysics, focussing on techniques for the acquisition, reduction and analysis of astronomical data for photometry and spectroscopy. Students gain experience in using computer-controlled (robotic) telescope systems and digital cameras, and software for image and spectroscopic analysis.

PHAS0044: Practical Astronomy:ÌýApplications

Course Organizer:ÌýStephen Boyle
T: Ìý020 8238 8878
E: s.boyle@ucl.ac.uk

PHAS0044 (option with PHAS0113) builds on the experience obtained in PHAS0043 (Techniques). Observations are made with Â鶹´«Ã½ÊÓƵÍøÕ¾O's C14 telescopes, whether in robotic mode or hands-on;Ìýstudents also make use of archive image data from Â鶹´«Ã½ÊÓƵÍøÕ¾O, andÌýcombine thisÌýwith their own observations where possible.ÌýStudents applyÌýsoftware toolsÌýand applications introducedÌýin PHAS0043Ìýto undertake two short projects involving an analysis of astrometric, photometric, or spectroscopic data.

PHAS0113: Astrophysics Group Project

Course Organizer:ÌýStephen Boyle
T:Ìý020 8238 8878
E:Ìýs.boyle@ucl.ac.uk

PHAS0113 (option with PHAS0044)Ìýintroduces students to a project-team approach in performing a research-grade observation proposal, with groundwork preparation ahead of the proposal 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 apply techniques of observational astronomy to in-depth scientific projects based onÌýdigital imaging, photometry, orÌýspectroscopy, and guided by an academic mentor.ÌýThe project teamsÌýwill aim to obtain their own data, using the telescopes at Â鶹´«Ã½ÊÓƵÍøÕ¾ Observatory (either in person in roboticÌýmode) and by accessing robotic telescopes at other observatories overseas.