Observational techniques

In the frame of the specialisation "Instrumentation and Data Analysis", this course aims at giving an overview of the observational techniques in astronomy, such as imaging, photometry, spectroscopy, interferometry and an introduction to detectors. It will focus on the technical aspects of how to acquire and record astrophysical observables, rather than on the astrophysical observables themselves. The course will built on basic knowledge of observational astronomy and its definitions acquired in the fall course "Astronomical observables". As well, it will make use of notions developed in the "Optics and Detectors" and "Data Analysis" courses, with being part of the specialisation "Instrumentation and Data Analysis".

Key content: 
- Astrophysical observables 
- Telescopes 
- Earth's atmosphere and astro-climatology 
- Image formation
- Light detection
- Adaptive optics 
- Interferometry 
- Spectroscopy
- Polarimetry