Introduction to Observational Astrophysics

Designed for undergraduate physics majors but is open to all students with a calculus-based physics background and some laboratory and coding experience. Students make and analyze observations using the telescopes at the Stanford Student Observatory. Topics covered include navigating the night sky, the physics of stars and galaxies, telescope instrumentation and operation, imaging techniques, quantitative error analysis, and effective scientific communication. The course concludes with an independent project where student teams propose and execute an observational astronomy project of their choosing, using techniques learned in class to gather and analyze their data, and presenting their findings in the forms of professional-style oral presentations and research papers. Suggested preparation: Physics 89L. Enrollment by permission. Due to physical limitations at the observatory, this class has a firm enrollment cap. We may not be able to accommodate all requests to enroll. Before permission numbers are given students must complete this form: https://forms.gle/swJ4vyEqts2QK8hm7