NOT Summer School 2026

The NOT Summer School 2026 is a Danish summer course in observational astrophysics centred on an observing trip to the Nordic Optical Telescope. The course comprises a preparation phase, on-site observations and a data reduction, analysis and mini-conference phase. Participants receive hands-on experience preparing observing proposals, executing observations at the telescope and reducing and presenting astrophysical data. The course is limited to students from five Danish universities and has a maximum of 30 participants (two runs of 15 students each).

Observing time at the Nordic Optical Telescope, practical training in preparing and executing observing runs, data reduction and analysis experience, and presentation at a mini-conference.

Participants will be from the five Danish universities (Southern Danish University, Technical University of Denmark, University of Copenhagen, Aarhus University, and Aalborg University). Applicants must have basic knowledge of astronomy equivalent to an introductory course, prior programming experience in Python, and basic knowledge of astronomical data types (FITS images, long-slit and/or echelle spectra).

Send an email to ida@phys.au.dk with a one-page written application (motivation, intended continued astronomy studies/thesis), and an attached grade sheet. Final acceptance based on prior experience and the motivated application; applicants will receive feedback in March.