Keywords

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Introduction

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.