This book covers the use and development of software for astronomy. It describes the control systems used to point the telescope and operate its cameras and spectrographs, as well as the web-based tools used to plan those observations. In addition, the book also covers the analysis and archiving of astronomical data once it has been acquired. Readers will learn about existing software tools and packages, develop their own software tools, and analyze real data sets.
This book provides instruction in the use and development of software systems for
astronomy. It covers the control systems used to point the telescope and to operate
its cameras and spectrographs, as well as the web-based tools used to plan those
observations. It also covers the analysis and archiving of astronomical data once it
has been acquired. The reader will learn about existing software tools and packages,
develop their own software tools, and analyze real data sets from today’s leading
observatories.
This book can be used by students or professionals. Students are encouraged to
complete an introductory course in either physics or astronomy, and an introductory
programming course, before enrolling in a course for which this text, Software
Systems for Astronomy, is used. Readers with no telescope experience are further
advised to read a textbook that covers observing techniques (e.g., references [1] and
[2]) before, or in parallel with, using this book for taking a course on the subject, or
for self-teaching.
