Textbooks & References

General Textbooks

Covering many course topics

Detection of Light: From the Ultraviolet to Submillimeter

Cambridge, 2002

Rieke

A book describing the physics of light detection, including CCDs, photodiodes, heterodyne receivers, and much more. Strong emphasis on the relevant solid-state physics.

Astronomy Methods: A Physical Approach to Astronomical Observations

Cambridge, 2004

Bradt

This book emphasizes observational techniques, and will be particularly useful in discussions of telescopes and detectors. Quite pedagogical, but at times does not go quite into the depth required for assignments.

Astrophysical Techniques

CRC Press, 2014 (6th ed.)

Kitchin

Detailed discussions of detectors in astronomy, similar in scope to Bradt but somewhat more advanced. Comprehensively covers most topics, but occasionally hard to follow.

Observational Astronomy

Introductory

Birney, Gonzalez, Osper

Covers many topics in this course at an elementary level.

Observational Astrophysics

Comprehensive

Lena, Lebrun, Mignard, Lyle

Comprehensive but somewhat dated text on techniques.

Astrophysical Quantities

Reference

Cox

A useful reference work listing astrophysical facts in encyclopedic fashion. Useful as a reference, but not as a textbook to learn from. Reference

Detectors

Electronic Imaging in Astronomy

Springer, 2008 (2nd ed.)

MacLean

A very good introduction to detectors and instrumentation.

Handbook of CCD Astronomy

Cambridge, 2006 (2nd ed.)

Howell

A summary of the use of CCDs in astronomy, at a level appropriate for this course.

Handbook of Infrared Astronomy

Cambridge

Glass

Excellent text on IR instrumentation and techniques at a level suitable for this course.

Statistics of Noisy Measurements

Practical Statistics for Astronomers

Cambridge, 2003

Wall and Jenkins

Covers similar territory as Lupton's book, with more astronomical examples but somewhat less mathematical sophistication, like a cookbook.

Statistics in Theory and Practice

Princeton, 1993

Lupton

A terse but complete summary of statistics for mathematically sophisticated physical scientists. Amazingly comprehensive in well under 200 pages.

An Introduction to Error Analysis

University Science Books, 1996 (2nd ed.)

Taylor

The Study of Uncertainties in Physical Measurements. A classic introduction to the field. A must read book. Essential

Photometry

Astronomical Photometry

Standard

Henden & Kaitchuk

The standard introduction to the field.

Introduction to Astronomical Photometry

Practical

Budding & Demircan

A more practical and up-to-date book.

Specialized Topics

Handbook of X-ray Astronomy

X-ray Astronomy

Arnaud

The chapters on X-ray telescopes and techniques are relevant to this course.

Principles of Optics

Optics

Born and Wolf

An advanced and scholarly text on all aspects of optics, but can be hard to understand.

Astronomical Polarimetry

Polarimetry

Tinbergen

A comprehensive textbook on the subject that covers polarimetry at all wavebands.