This webpage provides information for the 11th Heidelberg Summer School hosted by the International Max Planck Research School for Astronomy and Cosmic Physics at the University of Heidelberg (IMPRS-HD).



Notes on coding for the school exercises

You need to bring your own laptop to the school (and have the necessary permissions to make new installations). The programming language for the school is python. A number of the exercises will require you to use specific python packages.


Before you arrive at the school you need to have python and the relevant packages installed on your laptop, and have learned the basics of python.


While there are online platforms allowing you to use python, we don't recommend these given the large number of participants (and subsequent demands on internet bandwidth).


The specific python packages you should install and become familiar with are:

  • astropy
  • numpy
  • matplotlib
  • scipy
  • emcee (https://pypi.python.org/pypi/emcee)
  • corner (http://corner.readthedocs.io/)


    • We recommend you use anaconda (https://www.continuum.io) as the easiest way to install python and several of these packages. Most lecturers will be using iPython/Juypter notebooks, so you should also become familiar with how to read and use these.


    There will be very limited time at the school for dealing with software installation and computer issues, so please use your local support to ensure your laptop is ready before you arrive.


    If you know little or no python, the following online resources may help (there are of course many others):

  • http://www2.mpia-hd.mpg.de/~robitaille/PY4SCI_WS_2015_16/
  • https://github.com/jakevdp/2014_fall_ASTR599/tree/master/notebooks


    • UPDATE (Sept. 6): Participants should also install Stingray:

  • https://github.com/StingraySoftware/stingray
    • In case of trouble you are welcome to contact Daniela Huppenkothen, NYU .