CDS Postgraduate Student Workshop: Accessing and Analyzing Multiwavelength Astronomical Data

Workshop Date: 6 May 9:00-17:00
Venue: SAAO Auditorium Cape Town

Closing Date for Applications: 15 March 2016

The Strasbourg Astronomical Data Centre (CDS) is the leading international provider of astronomical data and of tools for their analysis. Dr Mark Allen (CDS Director), together with some of his staff, will run this workshop at which they will introduce research students to the services provided by CDS (http://cds.unistra.fr) as well as providing hands-on opportunities to try these out on the student’s data.

Who should attend? This is primarily aimed at MSc and PhD students, registered at South African Universities, who have limited experience of astronomical data analysis. It is particularly appropriate for those who have their own data (e.g. images, simulations or data catalogues) and want to match or compare them to other material.

There are places for up to 30 people; postdocs will also be accepted if there are places available. Students should bring their own laptops (if at all possible) with their own data if they wish.

Costs: The workshop is free of charge and lunch will be provided. We hope to have funding to cover limited costs for a small number of students from outside of Cape Town. If you will need support please indicate this in your application.

Applications should be made online using this URL.

Aims of the Workshop  Participants in this Workshop will:

  • Be introduced to the CDS astronomy services: SIMBAD, Vizier and Aladin
  • Receive an overview of the available data including radio and multiwavelength surveys, and developments to support very large future surveys
  • Have hands-on experience with Aladin and other software for images and tables via science case tutorials, and use of the tools on the participants’ data
  • Understand how to prepare their own data for publication and how to combine and compare them with data from other wavelengths for scientific analysis.

Students will be informed of the outcome of their applications by 30 April 2016.

Further information from: Nazli Mohamed (nazli@saao.ac.za)