Astronomical CCD data - reduction and characteristics

Quick links:
Literature
Useful Tutorials, Manuals & Tools
Water-CCD
Exercises
Imaging reduction outline

Literature

Steve B. Howell, Handbook of CCD Astronomy, Cambridge University Press 2006 (2nd ed.)

Steve B. Howell (ed.),Astronomical CCD observing and reduction techniques,
Astronomical Society of the Pacific 1992
→ Access to all articles via ADS

W. Romanishin, An Introduction to Astronomical Photometry Using CCDs, 2006
→online

M. Schirmer, CCD data reduction
→online

T. Erben et al., "The Garching-Bonn Deep Survey. IV. Methods for the image reduction" →online

"Digital Imaging" tutorial, with illustrations and interactive Java animations
→online

Useful Tutorials, Manuals & Tools

→UNIX tutorial for beginners

→IRAF documentation
(Beginner's Guide, User's Guide to CCD Reductions, etc.)

...in particular:
→Massey et al.: Guide to reducing slit spectra

→The THELI image processing pipeline

Research Tools: see
→"Galaxies" lecture of Eric Bell and Hans-Walter Rix

Water-CCD

Preparation movie
→ AVI, 6 MB
→ MPG, 17 MB
(Depending on your browser/plugin, you might have to explicitely select 'Play' after dowload is complete)

Exposure & readout movie
→ AVI, 19 MB
→ MPG, 45 MB
(Depending on your browser/plugin, you might have to explicitely select 'Play' after dowload is complete)

Exercises

Access files here (images/spectra for reduction)

IRAF packages that should be loaded at startup (i.e. put this list at the end of your login.cl)
→ packages.txt

Class #02: Measure the brightness of two stars in different filters, and correct for the different detector efficiency

Class #03: Remove a galaxy to see the noise created by its photons

Class #04: Calculate read noise and gain, using calibration images

Class #05: Start reducing an imaging dataset

Class #06: Continue reduction – masterdark & masterflat

Class #07: Continue reduction – apply calibration images; fringing

Class #08: Continue reduction – create superflat & try to remove fringing

Class #09: Continue reduction – subtract background & create weight image

Class #10: Finish image reduction & start reduction of spectra

Class #11: Reduction of spectra: basic steps & wavelength calibration

Class #12: Reduction of spectra: sky subtraction & flux calibration; fringing in spectra

Class #13: Airmass correction & flux calibration of imaging data.

Class #14: Pixel scale & equivalent width.

Class #15: PSF measurement & image coordinates

Imaging reduction outline