1. Imaging the Universe_Skynet Part1__S23(1)

ASTR181 Imaging the Universe with Skynet (Part 1 of 2) Spring 2023 Overview Some of our labs will involve running simulations, while others involve analyzing data that has been prepared ahead of time. But in future lab assignments, you will acquire and analyze your own astronomical data with robotic telescopes. The data are yours to keep. You can share your images online or use it in another class assignment. Since it's your data, you can even cite yourself as the source! Skynet Lab 1 is a two-week data acquisition lab. You'll practice taking astronomical images of Deep Space Objects (DSO) such as galaxies using the Skynet Robotic Telescope Network website. After you received your DSO images from Skynet, you will practice adjusting brightness and contrast levels to bring out details within the image. It is recommended that you carefully inspect the images as you receive them from Skynet. You will be using an online software package called Afterglow to inspect and analyze your images in part 2 (second week) of this lab. Objectives In Week 1, we'll practice using the Skynet Robotic Telescope Network website by taking images of galaxies. In Week 2, we'll process each image to enhance details by adjusting levels of brightness and contrast using a image processing tool called Afterglow (we'll get to that tool later). We'll then summarize the fundamental relationship between the angular size of an object and the field of view (FOV) of a telescope as it pertains to astrophotography. Part 1 : Skynet Telescope and Astrophotography Camera Control 1. Go to the Skynet Home page and log in at http://skynet.unc.edu with the following credentials: Username: Course#Section#LastName 181 004 Auburger Password: Astro181 (note, you should update your password to something a little more secure) 2. Upon login, you will automaticity be transferred to MY OBSERVATORY > Optical Observing page. In the Observation List panel, click on +Add New Observation. You will automatically be transferred to the Target Observing > Add Observation page.

Target Selection Page 3. Select a DSO from the Skynet Targets List located on the last page and enter its name or catalog number in the Target Lookup Search panel (right side of the screen). Each group is responsible for ten DSO images. One member is responsible for images in listing “A,” and the other is responsible for images in listing “B.” 4. The DSO name and coordinates will automatically appear in the Setting boxes below the Sky Viewer panel . Add a suffix to the name to identify who requested the image. Example: DSO name is NGC13657. Observation Name : ngc1365_Auburger Target Visibility Scroll down to the Target visibility chart (you can collapse the Advanced Settings accordion). 2

Filter Selection Page 7. To get the best image quality, astronomers take exposures through filters that let only certain wavelengths (colors) of light through. These filters are mounted on the camera and filter the light before it reaches the detector. For this lab, however, we will be using the HiThru filter, which is a clear filter that lets "white" light through. The Skynet telescopes support a variety of industry- standard filters, which you can explore by opening the accordion tabs. Not every telescope in the Skynet network is equipped with every single filter. If you should select a filter that isn't supported at a given telescope, that telescope will be marked with a red X. Selected HiThru , click Save and Continue . Exposure Page 8. In the blue Add Exposures panel. Enter 1 in the # Exps box. In the Duration (s) box, enter the exposure time given in table 1. 4

In cases when you are not given exposure time, you should calculate the duration of the exposure. Hover the cursor over the name of the telescope to display the maximum camera exposure time. In this case, the maximum is 160 seconds. The exposure duration will typically be between 50% to 75% of Max. For example, 50% of 160 seconds = 80 seconds. When finished, click Save and Continue Review Page 9. Double-check the information you entered in steps 3-8. Use the bread crumb trail to return to any page to make changes. If everything is good to go, click Submit. 10. Repeat the proceeding steps for the remaining targets in table 1. 5

On the Exposure page, click on Resubmit. A new request will appear on the Observation page. Click on the “old” image ID and then click on Cancel. Follow the prompts, Your Observation page will look something like this. Part 1: Submit Your Images 15. Each student must submit their five images before the next lab period. Export your images to Blackboard in the Lab 1 submission folder.  From the Exposures page, save your Skynet image to your desktop as JPG images by clicking on the JPG icon.  Post the JPG images to the Lab 1 submission folder in Blackboard. 7 Download JPG [Cite your source here.]

DSO Target List Each group is responsible for ten DSO images. One member is responsible for images in listing “A,” and the other is responsible for images in listing “B.” 8 Target List A Galaxy Catalog Number Semester Telescope Filter Exposure Duration (Sec) NGC 2997 Spring PROMPT 5 Hi-Thru 80 NGC 2935 Spring PROMPT 5 Hi-Thru 100 NGC 4594 Spring PROMPT-MO Hi-Thru 52 NGC 3627 Spring PROMPT 5 Hi-Thru 100 NGC 5457 Spring *RRRT Hi-Thru 50 *RRRT = Fan Mountain Observatory Total: 382 Target List B Galaxy Catalog Number Semester Telescope Filter Exposure Duration (Sec) NGC 3115 Spring PROMPT 5 Hi-Thru 60 NGC 1365 Spring PROMPT 5 Hi-Thru 60 NGC 5194 Spring *RRRT Hi-Thru 60 NGC 1357 Spring PROMPT 5 Hi-Thru 110 NGC 1832 Spring PROMPT 5 Hi-Thru 100 *RRRT = Fan Mountain Observatory Total: 390