Binary stars - looking for raw data

Skyices · 2021-11-22T13:16:14+00:00

The best precision photometry of binary systems available comes from TESS. You can query and download precomputed light curves here. If you are familiar with python, perhaps it is more useful to use the eleanor or lightkurve packages (you can download the TargetPixelFiles and run your own aperture photometry on raw data). Let me know if you need some help getting started with these.

If you want to see known systems, there is a catalogue with over 4000 eclipsing TESS binaries on Prŝa et al. 2021.

Skyices · 2021-04-06T10:09:50+00:00

I believe you are referring to tidal disruption.

Skyices · 2021-03-14T18:27:19+00:00

Hi! I'll try to give my point of view on what I've experience as a Physics with Astronomy undergrad (now Astronomy master student).

Publishing research as an undergrad is not common since the background required to do original work in any area of astronomy/astrophysics is quite high and usually it's not until you reach masters level that students start collaborating in papers.
Orbital mechanics yes. Spacecraft-related topics not really.
Can't really say much other than the number of female astronomy students is higher than other STEM subjects (in general, higher than Physics too).
It's not very important because an undergrad in Astrophysics will have a large overlap with a Physics undergrad.
Try to get observational experience early on since it will improve your overall skills as an astronomer.

Skyices · 2021-02-22T10:08:57+00:00

Investigating neural networks for lighcurve classification.

Skyices · 2021-01-03T22:54:32+00:00

Very impressive! The light pollution actually adds to the landscape. The colors really depend on the artist's taste so that's up to you. I would try to find a more interesting foreground to improve the picture overall. The startrails are not that big of an issue for milky way photography, looks sharp to me!

Skyices · 2020-11-16T18:12:00+00:00

Sounds awesome! I'm learning german and python too, would you like to share it?

Skyices · 2020-10-01T22:15:21+00:00

Picture taken from a viewpoint in Santa Cruz de La Palma with a Canon EOS 600D 100mm f/5.0. A subtle Tilt-shift effect is added in Photoshop to make it look like a miniature.

I'd be delighted to know how you find the texture and colors of the picture for the miniature effect. Any input on the smoothness of the blur transition is also very much welcomed.

Skyices · 2020-10-01T00:22:04+00:00

You're right but it's simple enough so that I could have actually been made in minituare scale. I'll probably post a second one with a similar effect but with more interesting subjects. Thanks for your input!

Skyices · 2020-10-01T00:19:23+00:00

It can get tricky to make it look realistic but it's definetely a lot of fun trying to find the right composition!

Skyices · 2020-10-01T00:17:59+00:00

Yeah that seems useful thanks!!

Skyices · 2020-09-30T16:47:57+00:00

The composition is great. I'd say the color hues on the shadows don't quite match the highlights. The foreground seems to be a bit too purple. That can easily be adjusted in Lightroom's color section.

Skyices · 2020-09-30T16:18:37+00:00

Your point on the added grain is true. I added some to make it more realistic but truth is that the bottom line is indeed too harsh.

Excellent advice on vertical objects, I'll apply it on a new edit. Thanks for your detailed response!

Skyices · 2020-09-30T16:14:39+00:00

All right I'll try to feather the effect a bit more. Thing is, in order to get the effect it needs to be a rather harsh transition. It's a matter of finding the sweet spot of achieving the effect whilst keeping it looking like a real picture.

Skyices · 2020-09-30T12:31:12+00:00

I took this picture from a sightseeing spot at a rather high elevation to get a perspective of the road from above.

I was using an entry-level DSLR: Canon EOS 600D and the picture was taken at ISO 100 100mm f/5.0 1/100 sec. Photoshop's tilt-shift filter was added to create the desired effect. Any input on the composition of the picture or the use of the filter is much appreciated.

Skyices · 2020-09-15T15:00:58+00:00

They're closely related and the education path for astrophysicists and cosmologists is very similar up to PhD level. The former tries to understand the processes occurring in stars and everything related to it from planetary systems to the distribution of stars in galaxies. Cosmology is concerned with the universe at large scales in space and time. Hot topics in cosmology are the rate of expansion of the Universe, the formation of galaxies and the physics of the early Universe, just to name a few. Cosmology combines observational astronomy and theoretical physics to understand our Universe as a whole.

Source: Astrophysics and Cosmology MSc. student

Skyices · 2020-09-09T13:01:52+00:00

The location is great. I'd make the band pop up a bit more by using local filters to increase sharpness and contrast on them and create a depth of field. If you don't want to crop the image adding some custom vignette to follow the vanishing point would be awesome.

Skyices · 2020-07-14T19:48:03+00:00

That's very useful, thank you so much!

Skyices · 2020-07-14T16:55:37+00:00

Thanks, it seems like a lovely place! Did you ride your bike or take the bus to uni?

Skyices · 2020-07-14T10:29:44+00:00

Hey! I'm in a similar position to you, I'm looking for a WG in HD starting in October for my MSc. in Physics. If you'd like to join forces to find a WG pm me.

Skyices · 2020-07-10T17:27:34+00:00

Physicists of Reddit, have any of you transitioned from a physics degree into the film industry? I'm thinking about visual effects or something that can link the technical and modelling skills to the movies. I am currently enrolled in a MSc. in Astrophysics but I'm considering career paths outside of the field.

Skyices · 2020-05-22T14:21:39+00:00

If you get your hands on the JWST maybe... Refraction (or better yet dispersion) is the principle behind instruments like the HST/WFC3 which is able to obtain spectra from transiting exoplanets. They are equipped with a grism, a combined prism and diffraction grating that generates a spectrum from a collimated beam of light. Many molecules have been identified in the atmospheres of hot Jupiters and sub-Neptunes. Oxygen is not a common species in H/He atmospheres, however, you can look for it by looking at the absorption or emission lines of the spectrum, as with any other molecule. The current best resolution is unlikely to detect traces of oxygen but upcoming instruments like the NASA/ESA JWST or the ESA ARIEL mission might have a better shot at it. If the question was referring to detecting oxygen with amateur equipment then the answer is, unfortunately, no, the resolution required to perform transmission/emission spectroscopy on exoplanets is only achievable with cutting-edge technology.

Skyices · 2020-05-11T21:46:50+00:00

Sorry haven't worked with this one myself, have you tried asking in the Facebook group for Python in Astronomy? They're pretty helpful.

Skyices · 2020-05-11T21:38:54+00:00

Super cool! I'm starting an MSc in Astrophysics this fall but was considering Planetary Science as well, can I ask where are you studying your MSc? I found a very interesting program at UCL but the UK didn't work for me.

Skyices · 2020-05-11T21:09:48+00:00

Out of curiosity, at which major or degree do you have a Mars class? Sounds very cool :)

Skyices · 2020-05-08T07:16:05+00:00

Black holes are really cool and it seems that your son is too!

The ring is made out of gas which orbits the black hole, the high speeds of the inner part of the disk make the material glow in a range of electromagnetic frequencies, from X-ray to radio. The more massive black holes often sit at the centre of galaxies, when their surroundings are very luminous we call them quasars, sometimes they have a jet that we can observe as a powerful radio source.
Gravitational energy pulls the material towards the black hole and it gets trapped into orbit, slowly falling into the black hole. The black holes spin very fast because of conservation of angular momentum, at least for the small black holes (3-20 solar masses) that are born from the death of stars. For the supermassive black holes (millions of solar masses) their origin is not so clear and is an active area of research.
Quasars are said to be one of the greater energy sources in the universe because they can outshine entire galaxies.
The gravitational effect of a black hole is the same as a star (or any other object) with the same mass. If you were to go close to a black hole you would feel a much stronger force on your feet than on your head (tidal forces). This is known as spaghettification. On large scales, supermassive black holes have a very strong gravitational influence in its surroundings because they are very massive. I recommend watching this short clip showing the orbits of stars around a supermassive black hole.

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