ASTRONOMY 511
ANNOUNCEMENTS
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> 12/3/03: The PS4 deadline is extended to Friday, 12/5. Based on questions posed to me, here are a few hints on PS4 #2: "high temperature" here means effectively infinite temperature (the text is quoting asymptotic colors). Remember to convert to the Vega system [you can test your conversion by using the supplied VEGA SED---tho answers won't be exact since you are approximating each filter as a delta function]. #3: refer to Lecture 4 on the eqn of transfer #4: note that you are instructed to ignore a number of complicating effects but NOT to ignore readout noise. #6: something very similar to this was demonstrated in class in Lecture 6, and the journal file from that IDL session is linked to the Lectures page Be sure to CLEARLY EXPLAIN the logic of your outlier-rejection technique. Your technique should be general---i.e. it should not depend on the specific values present in this particular synthetic image. #6 & #7: the arguments of IDL functions and procedures can be scalars, vectors, or arrays. When you need to compute a long set of numbers, it obviously makes more sense to use vectors rather than scalars. E.g. in the 40-in exposure time problem, the simplest approach is to enter a vector for the stellar magnitudes and write the routine to return a vector of exposure times. The first step in the routine would be to determine the length of the entered magnitude vector. If you're having trouble with supplied IDL routines, remember to use the "?" or "man,[name]" protocols to get complete information on how they work. #7: You should start by making sure you understand the derivation of Lec12-Eqn (1) and base your calculations on this, not the "limiting case" approximations given later in the lecture notes. As a reality check on your answers, you can refer to the plot of limiting magnitudes for the 40-in given in that lecture (tho the assumptions differ to some extent). Please be sure your journal files & supporting materials are in a directory named "astr511" in your home directory. >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> 11/10/03: The rules for reservations and use of Fan resources were "re-iterated" in class today. You know what they are. The only new element discussed was the following: If you intend not to use a night for reasons other than bad weather, you MUST cancel your reservation at least 24 hours in advance...which means by 4 PM on the preceding date. Otherwise, you are expected to make full use of the night, assuming conditions permit. Please remember that social activities or work in other courses are not legitimate reasons for missing lab time. >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> 11/4/03: Instructions for Lab 4 will be distributed on Wednesday, but you should start making detailed plans now. You should discuss your project, observing, and data reduction plans with Peter and David ASAP. Use the e-Calendar to sign up for Fan time. Group 2 has priority for specific nights when transits are predicted. Otherwise, groups should sign up for all nights in advance, after checking with Peter and David regarding their schedules. You should not waste any usable nights until all groups have finished observations. >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> 10/31/03: As a Halloween treat, the deadline for Lab 3 is extended to Friday, Nov. 7. >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> 10/27/03 To clarify the observing-time reservation system for Lab 3. Groups MUST email both Peter Frinchaboy and Jeff Crane at the time they fill out the reservation form to be sure that support is available. Peter and Jeff will respond. On the day in question, groups should consult with Peter and Jeff regarding details, meeting times, transportation, etc. by mid-afternoon. If weather is not guaranteed, all parties should decide by joint consultation around 5 PM whether and when to proceed. Remember, Lab 3 can be done through partial cloud. You do not need a "photometric" night for this experiment. P Cyg can be observed until ~ 11 PM. Rho Cas can be observed all night long. N1068 can be observed after about 8 PM. If necessary, you may have to split your observing between two nights. >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> 10/20/03: To make progress on Lab 3, it's important that students observe on every usable night. Consequently, groups should reserve every available night according to their individual schedules until the Lab 3 observations are finished. Friday, Saturday, Sunday nights included. Decide by a, say, 5 PM deadline on a given night whether the weather will permit observations. DUE DATE: the lab is due MONDAY NOV. 3. (two weeks from today) >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> 10/15/03: Procedure for reserving Fan Mountain spectrograph time: use the standard "Observatory Calendar" page to reserve a night. Also send email to Peter Frinchaboy and Jeff Crane alerting them of your plans. Clear nights are scarce! Make use of any that you can. >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> 10/3/03: Don't forget the FAN MOUNTAIN TOUR on Wed, Oct. 8. You'll need to arrange to share vehicles. David McDavid will be in charge of the tour. PS 3 is officially due Wed, Oct 8, but I won't be here to pick up the problem sets until Sunday 10/12. No penalties. Please put the problem sets in MY MAIL BOX. Don't forget the IRAF TUTORIALS, Mon & Thurs, Oct. 6 & 9. Because of Fall Break, the Lab 2 deadline is EXTENDED from Wed 10/15 to Friday 10/17. But START SOON, because you may need the extra time. >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> 9/25/03: As discussed in class, the Fan Mountain 40-in spectrograph has achieved first light, so we will use it in Lab III. On Wednesday, Oct 1, class will be held at McCormick Observatory for a demonstration with the 26-in spectrograph. There will be a guest lecture on fiber spectroscopy by Jeff Crane on Monday, Oct 6 and a tour of Fan Mountain during class time on Wednesday, Oct 8. The due date for Lab IV proposals is postponed until Wednesday, Oct 1. You should plan to attend, or at least review the notes from, Peter Frinchaboy's tutorial on the use of IRAF, scheduled for noon on Monday Oct 6 with a repeat on Thursday Oct 9. >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> 9/10/03: The standard reference to consult for technical information related to problem sets and labs is "Allen's Astrophysical Quantities," the latest edition (2000) of which is edited by Arthur Cox. It is on reserve (general reserve, not just for this class) in the Astronomy Library. >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> 9/8/03: Mars is only visible above the trees at McCormick after midnight. If it is not easily accessible for you, choose another target from the list to observe in its place. You should observe 5 targets total in part E of Lab 1. >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> 9/3/03: Because of bad weather, the DEADLINE for LAB 1 is extended one week to 9/26. The deadline for PS-1 is extended one meeting to Monday, 9/15. >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> 9/1/03: Be sure to sign up for Lab-1 time soon! >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> 8/27/03: REMINDERS 1) Special meeting 3 PM Friday 8/29 for tour of McCormick facilities and background on Lab 1. Note will be followed at 4:30 by a brew party sponsored by Chairman Rood. 2) Form 3 lab groups of 4 students each. Pick group leaders. Please do your best to distribute people with observing experience among the groups. >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
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