Practical Python Programming for Astronomers

Description of the course

• Intensitve course on practical Python programming for master students
• Offered from late-July to mid-August
• Schedule
• 14:00-16:00 on 29/Jul/2019
• 14:00-16:00 on 31/Jul/2019
• 14:00-16:00 on 02/Aug/2019
• 14:00-16:00 on 13/Aug/2019
• 14:00-16:00 on 16/Aug/2019
• 10:00-12:00 on 19/Aug/2019
• 14:00-16:00 on 23/Aug/2019
• Participants need to bring a computer.
• Python used for this course: Python 3
• External Python modules used for this course:
• Numpy
• Matplotlib
• SciPy

Exercises

• Exercise #1
• making a simple Python script
• executing a Python script
• doing simple calculations using Python
• using math module of Python
• making and using your own function
• using command-line arguments
• using argparse module to analyse command-line arguments
• Exercise #2
• using control flow statements “if”, “elif”, and “else”
• using control flow statement “for”
• using control flow statement “while”
• using control flow statement “continue”
• using control flow statement “break”
• using lists
• using dictionaries
• reading a file
• writing a file
• Exercise #3
• manipulating strings
• making and using your own module
• playing with Hipparcos catalogue
• downloading Hipparcos catalogue
• reading Hipparcos catalogue
• calculating absolute magnitudes of B-type main-sequence stars
• calculating a mean
• calculating a standard deviation
• calculating mean absolute magnitude of B, A, F, G, K, and M dwarfs
• Exercise #4
• installation of Numpy
• using ndarray of Numpy
• basic operations of Numpy
• Exercise #5
• installation of Matplotlib
• using Matplotlib
• Exercise #6
• random numbers
• numerical integrations
• Exercise #7
• least-squares fitting
• degree of freedom, reduced chi-squares, covariance matrix
• weighted least-squares fitting
• orthogonal distance regression
• age of solar system