ASTR 420 Lab 01: Expansion and Redshift Audit

Lectures 01-02 ยท cosmology data-analysis laboratory

Objectives

Materials and setup

Use Python 3 with NumPy, Matplotlib, and the supplied CSV. Record the file name, row count, columns, units, software versions, and the date of analysis. The supplied extracts are compact teaching files derived from named published summaries; they are not new observations.

Input: data/sn-hubble.csv

Computed check: At z=0.01, the low-z estimate gives d = cz/H0 = 44.4796 Mpc.

Procedure

  1. Inspect the CSV without plotting first. Record missing values, units, and any selection or calibration fields.
  2. Make a labeled plot of the raw observable and preserve the supplied uncertainty column where present.
  3. Implement the governing equation from Lectures 01-02; show the intermediate units in a notebook or script.
  4. Repeat the analysis after the specified perturbation: remove one endpoint, vary a calibration, or compare a second model.
  5. Write an evidence chain that distinguishes measured inputs, adopted literature values, derived parameters, and model assumptions.

Measurement and analysis record

RecordRequired entry
Input provenanceFile, source, access/spot-check status, and level 1/2/3 label
Primary fit or transformationFormula, parameter, units, and code reference
UncertaintyStatistical uncertainty plus sensitivity to the prescribed perturbation
ValidationIndependent recomputation or comparison with a named benchmark
Repeat the fit after excluding z>0.2 and report the change in slope.

Deliverables and assessment

100 points: setup/provenance 15, method 25, quantitative result 25, uncertainty/sensitivity 20, figure and scientific communication 15.

Safety and reproducibility

No observing is required. Preserve raw CSVs, do not overwrite supplied data, and use a fixed random seed if a resampling demonstration is added. Any external download must be logged before use.