Summer School on Astrometry and Astrometry Now and in the Future

Scientific Rationale

Astrometry from the ground and space allows us to explore the Solar System objects and improve our knowledge of the dynamical and physical characteristics of these objects. The GAIA mission of the European Space Agency which is scheduled for launch in 2013 will cover a large space astrometric program that will improve our knowledge of a huge number of astrophysical and Solar system objects (e.g. asteroids, comets, planetary satellites) by performing a systematic survey of the whole sky (V~20). Nevertheless ground-based observation by a follow-up program will be useful and will allow us to validate some difficult detection by the probe or to avoid the loss of some newly detected objects. Regarding the impressive improvement of the orbit accuracy which will be reached, a fundamental step in astrometry will be done and new challenges will arrive in this domain as well for the space observation and their interpretation as for the ground-based observation. At the present time, astrometrists work for the preparation of this important mission but we must think about a long term vision which will ensure the necessary manpower for the analysis of the huge amount of data and the future researches in the astrometry domain.  Despite this enthusiastic future, astrometry is not included in curriculum of several countries, therefore students and young astronomers must be encouraged to reinforce the astrometric community active in astrometry. In this international context, a summer school could be an interesting way to foster young students and astronomers for this specialization. Given the above expectations, we organize a summer school on astrometry in Antalya to initiate this future plan. The summer school is performed in the frame of an International Joint Project (IJP) of French-Turkish-Russian-Ukrainian-Chinese collaboration. In following the summer school, we also organize a workshop as a continuation of future activities established by the IJP to initiate data exploitation on astrometric observations by candidate/professional scientists.

Purpose

The optical ground-based astrometry of solar system objects may have its accuracy strongly improved as by using new methods as for the making of observations. Moreover, some new photometric methods of observation of phenomena occurring in the solar system, such as the mutual occultations and eclipses of the natural planetary satellites or asteroid systems, may provide astrometric data with a high precision. In order to help the observers to establish observing programs or to participate to future observing campaigns and  in order to promote observational accuracy, it is necessary to organize a summer school for master, PhD, and post-doctorals, as for interested young astronomers.

Language

Official language of the summer school and the workshop is English.

Poster

Summer School and Workshop poster can be downloaded here --> Poster (PDF, 2 MB)

Booklet

School and Workshop Booklet can be downloaded here --> AASS BOOKLET

Teaching Program

1. Fundamental astrometry (FA, 6h)

- Definition of a measurement on the celestial sphere, absolute, relative or direct measurement;

- The link method, the star catalogues;

- The focal plane observations, the methods for the reduction; the astrometric reduction of optical ground based observations, the gnomonic projection, biases from telescopes, from the sky;

- The methods of reduction without reference stars.

2. Receptors, telescopes and images (RTI, 4h)

- The making of the images, the diffraction;

- The refraction, the atmospheric effects;

- The case of non punctual objects: the solar system bodies the reflection laws on the surface of the bodies, the centre of mass and the photocenter;

- The electro magnetic signal, the optical wavelengths;

- The astrometric and photometric receptors, the CCD, the reduction of a CCD image;

- The CCD in TDI mode, the scanning telescopes;

- The scanning of photographic plates;

- The objects to be observed, planets, inner satellites, outer satellites, large objects, asteroids, fast objects, comets;

- The possible astrometric accuracy depending on the observed objects.

3. Dynamics and Celestial Mechanics (DCM, 6h)

- 2 body problem;

- Hamiltonian systems

- Perturbation method : 3 body problem and development;

- Resonances;

- Methods for computing preliminary orbits (Laplace, Vaisala,…);

- Adjustment of orbital models;

- Statistical methods (least square method,…)

4. Practical astrometry  (PA, 2 nights – 4/5h per night – 3h  in day time )

- CCD observation;

- The astrometric and the photometric reduction;

- Observation of different objects: asteroids, inner and outer natural planetary satellites;

- Tools (ephemerides server, VO tools,…)

5. Astrometry through photometry (ATP, 3h) 

- The astrometric observation without an angular measure, elements of photometry;

- The occultations (occultations by the Moon, occultations of stars);

-The mutual occultations and eclipses, the occurrence during the planetary equinoxes;

- The observation and reduction of the mutual events;

- The phase defect, the albedo;

- The analysis of the photometric light curves;

- Observational campaigns.

6. Terrestrial  environment (TE, 3h)

-Meteoroid streams;

-Space debris;

-Near-Earth objects;

-Observation and dynamical modeling;

-The future astrometry with GAIA.

Provisional (3h):      9:00 - 10:15 (coffee break 30 min)10:45- 12:30 / Morning after the observations: 11:00 - 12:30 Afternoon (3h): 14:00 - 15:15 (coffee break 30 min) 15:45 - 17:30

With the following codes: 

FA: Fundamental astrometry 

RTI: Receptors, Telescopes, Images 

DCM: Dynamics, Celestial Mechanics 

PA: Practical Astrometry 

ATP: Astrometry through photometry

TE: Terrestial environment

Notes on PA session: During the PA sessions, ASTROMETRICA and DS9 softwares will be used. These softwares can be installed by the students on their personal laptops prior to Summer School.

Committees

List of Participants

List of registered participants can be downloaded here --> (PDF, 20 KB)

Venue

The summer school will be held in the Akdeniz University Technopolis (Akdeniz Universitesi Teknokenti)

How to Reach Summer School Location?

By Road

Antalya is easily accessed from most parts of the country, and the main bus station (Yeni Garaj) is 4km in north of the city center. Major routes include Istanbul (12 hours), Fethiye (8 hours), Izmir (9 hours) and Goreme (10 hours). The best route from Istanbul and Ankara is through Afyon and Burdur. In addition to the large buses and long-distance journeys, which leave from the Sehirlerarasi Terminali, there are also dolmus services to places like Kas, Alanya, Olympos and Side, from the Ilceler Terminali, although these are not air-conditioned. Most bus companies have a free shuttle service from the bus station into the city centre. Bus station (tel): (242) 331 12 50 / 513 26 50 Fax: (242) 331 11 81

By Air

Antalya airport is 10km east of the city center, and has direct flights from Tel Aviv and Zurich. It is well connected to other parts of Turkey, and in summer has eight daily direct flights from Istanbul and two from Ankara. Airport (tel): (242) 330 32 33 - 330 3600 Fax: (242) 330 31 30

By Boat

The marina is one of the most important in Turkey, and the Kaleici certainly one of the most photographed, lying at the foot of the old part of the city. Apart from private yachts sailing in from all over the world, there are passenger ferries to Girne (Northern Cyprus) and Rhodes. Turkish Maritime Lines (tel): (242) 241 11 20 Fax:(242) 247 50 95

Accommodation

Convenient fares have been negotiated with the University Guest House there, please drop an e-mail to aass_accom@tug.tubitak.gov.tr mentioning "Summer School and/or Workshop - Mr./Mrs. - Departure and Arrival information ". Please put your reservation as soon as possible.

Financial Support

Graduate students and post-docs may apply for limited financial assistance to attend this summer school. The application will be due May 23, 2011 and decisions will be announced by June 27, 2011. If you are awarded travel and/or lodging support for the summer school and/or workshop, you must abide by all rules in the travel guidelines (to be posted soon).

Registration

Registration opening day: April 11

Registration Closed...

Social Events

On Sunday, 11 September 2011 there will be a visit to Manavgat and the antique town Side. This is a full day event.

Manavgat Boat River Tour and a short visit to Side Antique Town

Manavgat is located a few kilometers away from Side. During this daily trip, you will explore the Manavgat falls. Although the Manavgat falls are not located on a very high point, the waters fall down with a great force. You will take a boat-trip to arrive to the point where the river pours into the sea after sailing over the Manavgat river and by the fish-farms. You will have a delicious lunch and chance to swim and then we will take you to Side (pronounced see-deh), an antique town in Antalya. Side has aptly prospered as one of the most popular resorts for holidaymakers from across the globe. From inscriptions it appears that Side dates back to the Hittite Period. The city was constructed on a peninsula and was a Hellenistic and Roman town, protected by city and sea walls. One's attention is particularly drawn to the city gates and walls, as well as many remains of aqueducts which brought water from the foothills of the Taurus Mountains and the surrounding country. The old baths have been restored and turned into a museum, in which are exhibited some of the statues and art treasures found in Side. One of its most important buildings is its 15,000 spectator theater. The difference between this Roman theater and other antique theaters in the region is that it is not built against a hillside. The 2 storey theater, built on a series of arches, is 20 m. high. The orchestra and the stage are in a state of ruin. Rainwater canals run under the theater. Side has colonnaded streets, a triumphal arch, a harbor, baths, fountains, cisterns, aquaducts, temples and an agora.

The fee for this event is 20 Euro per attendee to be paid in cash at the registration desk. It includes the ticket for the boat trip, lunches on the boat (drinks are not included), ticket for the visit to Side Antique Theatre and bus tickets for transportation between the Summer School Venue (Akdeniz University Technokent) and Manavgat.