Astro 293, Spring 2003

Instructor: Dr. Christopher Palma

• 508 Davey Lab
• cpalma@astro.psu.edu
• 863-6091
• Office hours: T 3-5/F 2-3 or by appointment

Class Meetings: Tuesday, 7:35 - 9:30, 216 Osmond

Course information:

• Course syllabus
• Academic Integrity Policy

Course Announcements:

• Seventh lab due Tuesday, 1 April at the beginning of class.
• Sixth lab due Tuesday, 25 March at the beginning of class.
• Fifth lab due Tuesday, 4 March at the beginning of class.
• Fourth lab due Tuesday, 25 February at the beginning of class.
• Third lab due Tuesday, 11 February at the beginning of class.
• Second lab due Tuesday, 4 February at the beginning of class.
• First lab due Tuesday, 28 January at the beginning of class.
• Office hours on 1/24 and 1/31 are cancelled because I will be travelling on both dates. If you need to see me, please schedule an appointment.

Data Files for Lab:

• Lab 7 (IDL program and Isochrone data)
• Lab 6 (IDL programs and FITS images)
• Lab 5 (IDL program and Parallax data file)
• Here is the .tar.gz archive that contains the data files for lab 4. If you forget how to unpack this type of file, see the instructions for lab 3.
• Lab 3 (IDL programs and Standard Star Spectra)
  • Here is a copy of some IDL and UNIX tips for completing lab 3.
  • Here are more tips for making IDL plots (this will come in handy for future labs, too).
• Lab 2 (IDL programs and Spectral Line lists)

Final Lab Information:

• Sxaddpar.pro A FITS related program necessary to get readfits (from Lab 6) to work with images from the 12" telescope
• Final lab is due Monday, 5 May at 5pm in my office. No late labs will be accepted.
• Your first homework assignment is due on Tuesday, 25 Feb.

Potentially Useful Links:

• FitsView software
• The NASA Extragalactic Database
• The ADS (abstract service)
• The most recent Yale isochrones
• James Kaler's Illustrated Pages on Stellar Spectra
• The MKK Stellar Classification System
  • Note: This is a long, detailed article. It is presented in case you are interested in following up on the background information for Lab 3.
• Images of Emission Spectra for Common Elements
• An Excellent Introduction to IDL for Astronomers
  • Note: this site is specifically aimed at professional astronomers. Many of the examples assume that you have the IDL astronomy routines installed. On the astronomy department computers we do, but the physics department computers do not. If you are interested in reading about and/or downloading any of the IDL astronomy routines, they are found at Goddard's IDL Astronomy Library site.
• USNO Zone time
• USNO Sidereal time calculator
• The Moon's Phase
• National Weather Service, State College
  • Note: we're considered Southern Centre County
• AccuWeather forecast for University Park
• The Clear Sky Clock