ASTR 146Astronomical Instrumentation
Astronomy · 4 units · Undergraduate upper division (100-199)
Designed for upper-division Astrophysics and Physics majors. Focus on modern observational techniques for astronomy. Topics include optical and infrared techniques including telescope design, charge-coupled devices, and infrared detectors. These also include adaptive optics systems and high contrast detection methods. Covers all other electromagnetic windows from radio waves to gamma rays. Other topics include neutrino, dark matter, and gravitational wave detection.
P/NP or letter grading.
When it runs
Not on the schedule for any of Fall 2025 through Spring 2027. UCLA publishes only that window, so this does not mean the course is gone — check the official listing.
Requisites
Official UCLA wording
Requisites: courses 81, 115, 117.
Requires
Everything that has to come before this course, not just the courses named in the requisite above.
ASTR 146
- ASTR 81Fundamentals of Astrophysics
- MATH 31ADifferential and Integral Calculus
- MATH 1Precalculus
- PHYSICS 1APhysics for Scientists and Engineers: Mechanics
- MATH 32ACalculus of Several Variables
- MATH 31BIntegration and Infinite Series
- PHYSICS 1AHPhysics for Scientists and Engineers: Mechanics (Honors)
- MATH 32BCalculus of Several Variables
- ASTR 115Introduction to Galactic Astronomy
- ASTR 117Introduction to Extragalactic Astrophysics
3 direct requisites. The whole upstream is here — 22 courses over 3 levels. Every course here opens its own tree.
Unlocks
What this course is a requisite for, and what those courses lead to in turn.
No course in the catalog lists this as a requisite.