Stargazing Considerations for size of telescope survey

  • Thread starter Thread starter BOAS
  • Start date Start date
  • Tags Tags
    Survey Telescope
AI Thread Summary
When proposing a telescope survey, key considerations include the available observation time and the specific scientific goals of the survey. Astronomers must balance the field size with the desired statistical significance of their findings, particularly when targeting specific phenomena, such as galaxies at redshift 7. The size of the survey field is influenced by the need to capture enough data to make robust conclusions about the population being studied. Additionally, the luminosity threshold for the galaxies being observed plays a crucial role in determining the appropriate field size. Ultimately, a well-reasoned argument for survey size should align with both time constraints and the scientific objectives.
BOAS
Messages
546
Reaction score
19
Hello,

I am writing a (mock) proposal for gaining some observation time on a telescope. One part that I am having a hard time with is, what considerations are made when deciding how large a field to survey?

Are astronomers primarily constrained by the amount of time they are likely to be allocated, or are there some statistical arguments that go into how large a section of the sky must be observed?

I would love to have a conversation here about the factors that come into play so that I can make a reasoned argument for the size of the survey I wish to make.

Thanks!
 
Astronomy news on Phys.org
I assume the size of the field depends on what you're surveying for. Can you give us any more info?
 
Drakkith said:
I assume the size of the field depends on what you're surveying for. Can you give us any more info?

Yes, I am trying to constrain the number of galaxies at redshift 7 with luminosities greater than some value.
 
Last edited:
TL;DR Summary: In 3 years, the Square Kilometre Array (SKA) telescope (or rather, a system of telescopes) should be put into operation. In case of failure to detect alien signals, it will further expand the radius of the so-called silence (or rather, radio silence) of the Universe. Is there any sense in this or is blissful ignorance better? In 3 years, the Square Kilometre Array (SKA) telescope (or rather, a system of telescopes) should be put into operation. In case of failure to detect...
Thread 'Could gamma-ray bursts have an intragalactic origin?'
This is indirectly evidenced by a map of the distribution of gamma-ray bursts in the night sky, made in the form of an elongated globe. And also the weakening of gamma radiation by the disk and the center of the Milky Way, which leads to anisotropy in the possibilities of observing gamma-ray bursts. My line of reasoning is as follows: 1. Gamma radiation should be absorbed to some extent by dust and other components of the interstellar medium. As a result, with an extragalactic origin, fewer...
This thread is dedicated to the beauty and awesomeness of our Universe. If you feel like it, please share video clips and photos (or nice animations) of space and objects in space in this thread. Your posts, clips and photos may by all means include scientific information; that does not make it less beautiful to me (n.b. the posts must of course comply with the PF guidelines, i.e. regarding science, only mainstream science is allowed, fringe/pseudoscience is not allowed). n.b. I start this...

Similar threads

Replies
6
Views
4K
Replies
54
Views
7K
Replies
25
Views
2K
Replies
7
Views
4K
Replies
17
Views
3K
Replies
11
Views
3K
Replies
3
Views
2K
Replies
8
Views
3K
Back
Top