Astronomical Measurement

This book takes a new approach on teaching the subject by following the chain of measurement through atmosphere, imaging, detection, spectroscopy, timing and hypothesis testing. It covers all wavelengths: radio, infrared, optical, UV, X-ray, gamma-ray.

This book on astronomical measurement takes a fresh approach to teaching the subject. After discussing some general principles, it follows the chain of measurement through atmosphere, imaging, detection, spectroscopy, timing, and hypothesis testing. The various wavelength regimes are covered in each section, emphasising what is the same, and what is different. The author concentrates on the physics of detection and the principles of measurement, aiming to make this logically coherent.
The book is based on a short self contained lecture course for advanced undergraduate students developed and taught by the author over several years.

Provides a concise introduction to the physical principles of astronomical measurement - spacecraft, telescopes, detectors, the atmosphere, spectroscopy, and the basics of measured quantities and statistics Takes a new approach on teaching astronomical measurement following the chain of measurement through atmosphere, imaging, detection, spectroscopy, timing, and hypothesis testing Covers all wavelengths radio, infrared, optical, UV, X-ray, gamma-ray Concentrates on key principles rather than details Each chapter concludes with a set of exercises. Solutions provided.

Autorentext

Andy Lawrence is the Regius Professor of Astronomy at the University of Edinburgh. His research interests are in Active Galactic Nuclei (AGN), observational cosmology, survey astronomy, and e-science (the Virtual Observatory). He has been teaching an undergraduate course on Probability in Physics with a new angle. He is a Fellow of the Royal Society of Edinburgh and author of the Springer book Astronomical Measurement.

Klappentext
This book on astronomical measurement takes a fresh approach to teaching the subject. After discussing some general principles, it follows the chain of measurement through atmosphere, imaging, detection, spectroscopy, timing, and hypothesis testing. The various wavelength regimes are covered in each section, emphasising what is the same, and what is different. The author concentrates on the physics of detection and the principles of measurement, aiming to make this logically coherent.
The book is based on a short self contained lecture course for advanced undergraduate students developed and taught by the author over several years.

Inhalt

Preface.- Acknowledgements.- Signal, Distortion, and Noise.- The atmosphere and how to avoid it.- Mapping the Sky.- Detection of Light.- Spectroscopy.- Overview of Statistics.- Basic orbital mechanics.- References.- Glossary.- Solutions.- Index.