Undergraduate Image Processing Laboratory

过去，照相底片为大多数光学天文学提供了数据。因此，天文学实验课的本科生被介绍给测量引擎和虹膜光度计等设备。然而，现在大多数探测器都是电子的。大多数天文数据以数字形式存在，一套新的分析工具已经取代了旧的。我们将为本科生提供更多使用这些新工具的机会。该系最近加强了对实验室训练的重视，以便各级学生都能接触到真实数据的试验。新实施的实验课程不仅注重数据分析。相反，学生们学会收集数据，了解数据能产生什么，并认识到它的局限性。天文学计划审查委员会，由校长任命进行五年一次的审查，强烈建议继续，甚至加强该部门的实验室计划。该司最近升级了其在Leuschner天文台的学生观测设施，其中包括远程观测能力。我们将积极升级校园设施，并将重点放在图像处理上，以作为现代天文学的工具。学生将有机会在学生天文台收集自己的观测数据，进行定量分析，得出自己的结论，并了解不确定性。专注于图像处理有很多好处：首先，它是直观的；人是视觉生物，从图片中提取定量数据几乎没有概念上的困难。其次，它适用于所有波长区域的广泛天文问题。最后，它的应用远远超出了天文学的用途。

In the past, the photographic plate provided the data for most of optical astronomy. Undergraduate students in astronomy laboratory classes were, therefore, introduced to equipment like measuring engines and iris photometers. Now, however, most detectors are electronic. Most astronomical data resides in digital form and a new set of analytical tools has replaced the old. Improved access to these new tools by our undergraduate students will be provided. The Department has recently increased its emphasis on laboratory- based training so that students at all levels have exposure to the trials of real data. Newly-implemented laboratory courses concentrate not just on the analysis of data. Rather, the students learn to collect data and to understand what the data can yield as well as appreciate its limitations. The Astronomy Program Review Committee, appointed by the Chancellor to conduct a five- year review, strongly recommended that the laboratory programs of the department be continued and, even strengthened. The Department has recently upgraded its student observing facilities at the Leuschner Observatory, which include remote observing capabilities. An aggressive upgrading of on campus facilities with and emphasis on image processing as the tool of modern astronomy will be carried out. Students will be provided with the opportunity to gather their own observational data at the student observatory, to analyze it quantitatively, to draw their own conclusions and to understand the uncertainties. The concentration on image processing has many benefits: first of all, it is intuitive; people are visual creatures and the extraction of quantitative data from pictures presents few conceptual difficulties. Secondly, it is applicable to a wide range of astronomical problems in all wavelength regions. Lastly, it has applications which go far beyond astronomical uses.