Details of PH4210 (Spring 2018)

Level: 4 Type: Theory Credits: 4.0

Course CodeCourse NameInstructor(s)
PH4210 Space Astronomy Dibyendu Nandi

This course requires approval from the respective instructor for enrolment

Preamble
This course will equip students with the holistic knowledge of space and ground based astronomical observations, data mining and analysis techniques. This will include experimental techniques on detector development, satellite data analysis, statistical techniques for large-volume data analysis and space mission planning and management. Those aspects of observational astronomy that are common to space and ground-based instruments will also be highlighted.

This CESSI course will be offered and coordinated by Dr. Dibyendu Nandi from IISER Kolkata and will involve a set of instructors with diverse expertise from some of the CESSI partner institutions (IISER Kolkata, IISER Pune, Indian Space Research Organization, Indian Institute of Astrophysics, Udaipur Solar Observatory, Inter-University Centre for Astronomy and Astrophysics, Aryabhatta Research Institute of Observational Sciences). The course will be divided into various self-contained modules and some of these may be conducted over the National Knowledge Network (NKN) or remote videoconferencing.

This is a core course for CESSI PhD and MS in Space Physics students. For PhD, IPhD and Integrated MS students (4th year) of DPS, this can be taken as an elective course if the background of the student is suitable and the students have an interest in space and astrophysical sciences.

Syllabus
Astronomy at different wavelengths, The need for in-situ and remote measurements, Observing tools of the astronomer, Detector development at various wavelengths, Particle and magnetic field detectors, Computational data analysis techniques for large volume astronomical data, Statistical techniques, Space astronomy software, Space mission management and planning, National astronomy initiatives: Indians first solar space mission Aditya, The Laser Interferometer Gravitational Wave Observatory (LIGO-India).

Prerequisite
Undergraduate level knowledge of Mathematical Methods, Electromagnetism, Optics, Waves, Astronomy and Astrophysics will be assumed.

References
1. Observational Astronomy by D. Scott Birney, Guillermo Gonzalez and David Oesper (Cambridge)

2. Observational Astronomy: Techniques and Instrumentation by Edmund. C. Sutton (Cambridge)

3. Statistics, Data Mining and Machine Learning in Astronomy: A Practical Python Guide for the Analysis of Survey Data by Zelzko Ivezic, Andrew J. Connolly, Jacob T. Van der Plas and Alexander Gray (Princeton)

4. Handbook of Space Astronomy and Astrophysics by Martin V. Zombeck (Cambridge)

5. Space Mission Analysis and Design by J.R. Wertz and Wiley J. Larson (Springer)

Course Credit Options

Sl. No.ProgrammeSemester NoCourse Choice
1 IP 2 Not Allowed
2 IP 4 Elective
3 IP 6 Elective
4 MR 2 Not Allowed
5 MR 4 Not Allowed
6 MS 8 Elective
7 RS 1 Not Allowed
8 RS 2 Not Allowed