The atmosphere is an integral part of the optical setup producing astronomical observations. With the advent of large telescopes and the need to optimize their productivity, active and adaptive optics were introduced to the world of astronomical observations. Optimizing their use requires the identification of the most suitable places for the installation of observatories. These depend heavily on the local properties of the atmosphere. This course aims at identifying the impact of the atmosphere on the data produced such as atmospheric absorption and scattering, the effect of turbulence on the resolution limit, humidity, sky brightness and light pollution, etc. The course will also serve as an introduction to the instruments used to measure the various parameters of interest to the evaluation of sites.

Temps présentiel : 30 heures

Charge de travail étudiant : 150 heures

Méthode(s) d'évaluation : Projets

Référence :
Field Guide to Atmospheric Optics, Second Edition, Larry C. Andrews, SPIE Handbook of Optics, Michael Bass