Nordic-Baltic Research Course in Applied Astrophysical Photometry
Moletai Observatory, Lithuania, August 29 - September 12, 1999
A course supported by the Nordic Research Academy (NorFA)
and
Dedicated to the 420 anniversary of the Vilnius University
Final Program
version 4.5, September 9, 1999
Daily schedule
08:00-09:00 Breakfast
09:00-13:00 4 Lectures, with 15 min break between lectures:
09:00-09:45
10:00-10:45
11:00-11:45
12:00-12:45
13:00-14:00 Lunch
14:00-18:00 Demonstration and exercises
19:15-20:00 Dinner
21:00-01:00 Observing sessions for selected groups:
- Maksutov 50/35 cm telescope: CCD photometry, two teams of 3 students per night
- 63 cm telescope: Classical filter photometry, two teams of 3 students per night
- 165 cm telescope: Continuos photometry for variable stars, one team of 3 students per night
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Day by day program:
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Sunday, August 29
16:00 Arrival of students at Moletai Observatory
17:00 Guided tour of the observatory
19:00 Student welcome party.
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Monday, August 30
09:00-09:05 J.-E.Solheim, No: Opening of the course.
Lectures:
09:05-09:30 J.Sudzius,Lit: University of Vilnius, Lit: "Astronomy at the Vilnius University"
- A course dedication lecture.
09:45-12:00 V.Straizys, Lit: The use of photometric systems and synthetic photometry
12:15-13:00 J. Sudzius, Lit: Practical use of broadband and medium band photometry. Bandwidth effects in multicolor photometry. Extra-atmospheric reduction. Transformations between photometric systems.
13:00-14:00 Lunch
14:00-17:30 Exercises and demonstrations:
P.Linde and V.Laugalys: Introduction to the computer system.
J. Sudzius, Lit: Practical use of broadband and medium band photometry. Synthetic photometry. Bandwidth effects in multicolor photometry. Extra-atmospheric reduction. Transformations between photometric systems.
18:00-19:00 Student presentations of their work.
The Baltic and Russian students make each 5 minutes presentations.
19:15-20:00 Dinner
20:30 Information about observing program (lecturing room).
21:00-01:00 Observing sessions:
J. Sperauskas, Lit: 63 cm telescope - classical 2-Ch photometry
E. Meistas, Lit: 165 cm telescope - 3-Ch continuous photometry
P. Linde/A. Kazlauskas: Maksutov telescope: CCD photometry of deep fields and wide fields.
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Tuesday, August 31
Lectures:
09:00-09:45 J. Sudzius, Lit: Application of multicolor photometry for investigation of interstellar extinction. Basics of stellar classification.
10:00-11:45 R. Wyse, USA: Review of research on stellar populations and galactic evolution.
12:00-12:45 P. Linde, Swe: Basics of CCD photometry.
14:00-17:30: Exercises and demonstrations:
J. Sudzius, Lit: Practical use of broadband and medium band photometry: Application of multicolor photometry for investigation of interstellar extinction. Stellar classification.
18:00-19:00 The Nordic students present their own work.
19:15-20:00 Dinner
20:30 OBSERVATIONS: A1, B1, C1 Note: IF cloudy, the exercise of A.Kazlauskas
"Reduction of CCD-photometry"
23:00 OBSERVATIONS: A2, B2, C1 will be done at 20:30
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Wednesday, September 1
Lectures:
09:00-10:45 R. Wyse, USA: Challenges for the future of Photometry
11:00-12:45 P. Linde, Swe: CCD Photometry on single stars and crowded fields.
14:00-18:00 Exercises and demonstrations:
14:00 A. Kazlauskas, Lit: Reduction of CCD-photometry (may be done in the previous evening)
P. Linde, Swe: Photometry with HST
18:15-20:30 Dinner
20:30 Opening of Night Club
20:30 OBSERVATIONS: A3, B3, C2
23:00 OBSERVATIONS: A4, B4, C2
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Thursday, September 2
Lectures:
09:00-10:45 A. Ardeberg, Swe: Stellar population studies, How to determine ages, metallicity, and galactic evolution.
11:00-11:45 L.Lindegren, Swe: 10**9 stars observed and classified from space. The GAIA project .
12:00-13:00 P. Rosati, ESO: The VLT - a new era in faint photometry.
14:00-18:00 Exercises and demonstrations:
P. Linde, Swe: Exercises in CCD photometry of HST data.
18:15-19:00 P. Rosati, ESO: Faint galaxy detection and photometry - A gold mine: The VLT archive.
19:15-20:00 Dinner
20:30 NIGHT CLUB with SAUNA
20:30 OBSERVATIONS: A5, B5, C3
23:00 OBSERVATIONS: A6, B6, C3
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Friday, September 3
Lectures:
09:00-09:45 L. Lindegren, Swe: The GAIA project (continued).
10:00-11:45 A. Ardeberg, Swe: Techniques and technologies for the future.
12:00-12:45 J-E Solheim, No: When every photon counts - An introduction to continuous (time series) photometry.
14:00-18:00 Exercises and demonstrations:
A. Ardeberg, Swe: Determination of ages, metallicity, and galactic evolution
P. Linde, Swe: Exercises in CCD photometry of HST Data
18:15-19:00 H. Kjeldsen, Dk:: How to use the CCD as a seismometer
19:15-20:00 Dinner
20:30 OBSERVATIONS ASS 2: C4
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Saturday, September 4
Morning: Exam in pre course reading material
Afternoon free for sports and other activities.
20:00 Evening gathering at the small house in the forest.
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Sunday, September 5
7:45-8:30 Breakfast
8:30 Departure from MAO to Vilnius
10:00 Excursion in Vilnius
13:00 Lunch in the pub "Prie Universiteto" in the old town of Vilnius
14:00 Departure from Vilnius to Trakai
15:00 Excursion in Trakai
17:00 Departure from Trakai to Vilnius
19:00 Dinner in the pub "Ritos smuklė" in Vilnius
21:00 Departure from Vilnius to MAO
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Monday, September 6
Lectures:
09:00-10:45 H. Kjeldsen, Dk: Asteroseismology and stellar evolution. The use of CCD-techniques.
11:00-12:45 Exercises:
H. Kjeldsen, Dk: Asteroseismology - CCD-techniques
14:00-14:45 J.-E. Solheim, No: Asteroseismology on white dwarfs.
15:00-18:00 Exercises and demonstrations:
J.-E. Solheim and E. Meistas: Continuous high speed photometry. PM technique.
18:15-19:00 P.Linde, Swe: Internet tools.
19:15-20:00 Dinner
20:30 OBSERVATIONS ASS2: D1
23:00 OBSERVATIONS ASS2: D2
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Tuesday, September 7
Lectures:
09:00-10:45 B. Milvang-Jensen, Dk: Perspectives on the scientific use of galaxy surface photometry. Techniques for galaxy surface photometry using CCD data. Introduction to the software.
11:00-12:45 V. Hagen Thorn, Ru: Photometry and polarimetry of variable extragalactic objects (blazars, AGN, etc)
14:00-18:00 Exercises and demonstrations:
B. Milvang-Jensen, Dk: Hands-on exercises in using IRAF and STSDAS for deriving surface photometry of an elliptical and a lenticular galaxy.
V. Hagen Thorn / S. Marchenko, Ru: Photometry of variable extragalactic objects
18:15-20:30 Dinner
OBSERVATIONS ASS2: E1
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Wednesday, September 8
Lectures:
09:00-10:45 B. Milvang-Jensen, Dk: Galaxy surface photometry as a tool for studies of morphology of stellar populations in elliptical galaxies.
11:00-13:00 V. Hagen-Thorn, Ru: Variable extragalactic objects, part II.
S. Marchenko, Ru: On time series analysis.
14:00 Visit to Museum of Ethnocosmology
15:00 Start on large student projects
19:15-20:00 Dinner
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Thursday, September 9
Student projects work all day
19:15-20:00 Dinner
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Friday, September 10
Students projects work all day
19:00 Submission of final project abstracts
20:00 Closing dinner
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Saturday, September 11
Morning session:
09:00-13:00 Presentation of student projects, 20 minutes per team.
09:00-09:20 Ekaterina Evstegneeva and Robert Kamben:
Classic photometry of a newly identified stellar association
09:20-09:40 Dima Semionovas and Jes Kristian Jorgensen:
Construction of a photometric system for detection of white dwarfs
09:40-10:00 Bernhard Elser and Oskar Halldorsson:
On the 'second parameter' in globular cluster branch morphology
10:00-10:20 Rimantas Liubertas and Morten Andersen:
The second Whole Earth Telescope campaign on the DO white dwarf
PG 1159-035
10:20-10:30 Coffe break
10:30-10:50 Lilya Shaliapina and Rubina Kotak:
A search for new pulsating subdwarfs.
10:50-11:10 Roy Ostensen:
CCD observations at Moletai Observatory - search for subdwarf pulsations.
11:10-11:30 Vygandas Laugalys and Jianpeng You:
A search for Beta Ceph variables
11:30-11:50 Alar Puss and Kirsten Knudsen:
How to make a HST application
11:50-12:00 Break
12:00-12:20 Karlis Berzins and Eira Kotoneva:
Surface photometry of two galaxies in the Virgo cluster
12:20-12:40 Justas Zdanavicius:
Observations of the Blazar BL Lac
12:40-13:00 Dmitry Docenko and Alexander Gontcharov:
Photometric system for quasar detection with GAIA
13:00-13:15 Course evaluation by students
13:15-13:30 End of course. Diplomas to students who have filled the requirements.
13:30-14:00 Lunch
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