Welcome to the VASCSC Space Camp! 🎉
In this fun 5-day class, we’ll learn how to code in Python and use it to explore the amazing universe—with real space data from NASA! 🚀

In this course, you’ll:

• Learn the basics of Python, a powerful programming language
• Use real tools that scientists use (like NumPy, Pandas, Matplotlib, and Astropy)
• Explore asteroids, stars, and space pictures
• Learn how scientists study space and use data from real space telescopes
• Try fun activities like calculating rocket speed and finding cool things in space

• Learn how to write Python code
• Do cool math with planets and moons
• Make programs that tell fun space facts!
  🗂 Notebook: asd-day1.ipynb

• Use Python tools to do science like real astronomers
• Learn about space numbers and constants
  🗂 Notebook: asd-day2.ipynb

• Explore real NASA data about asteroids
• Learn how to read and study data
• Make cool charts and graphs
  🗂 Notebook: asd-day3.ipynb

• Learn how stars are different from each other
• Use star data from space telescopes
• Make H-R diagrams to see how stars are grouped
  🗂 Notebook: asd-day4.ipynb

• Learn about special space images called FITS files
• Use Python to look at pictures taken by space telescopes
• Find where things are in the sky
  🗂 Notebook: asd-day5.ipynb

To run the activities, you need:

• A computer with Python 3.8 or higher
• Internet to download tools
• Jupyter Notebook to run the lessons

1. Collect the course materials:

2. Set up the tools:

Option A (Fast way with pip):

pip install -r requirements-pip.txt

Option B (Better way with conda):

conda env create -f environment.yml
conda activate astronomy-class

3. Test everything:

python test_environment.py

4. Start your lessons:

jupyter notebook

Open the notebook folder and start with asd-day1.ipynb

astronomy-python-class/
├── notebooks/         → Lesson notebooks (Day 1 to Day 5)
├── datasets/          → Real space data files
├── environment.yml    → File to help set up Python tools
└── README.md          → This file

Interactive notebooks to run your code and see what happens!

• asd-day1.ipynb: Start with Python
• asd-day2.ipynb: Learn space math tools
• asd-day3.ipynb: Study real asteroid data
• asd-day4.ipynb: Understand stars
• asd-day5.ipynb: Work with space telescope images

Real space data we’ll use in our notebooks:

• asteroid_dataset.csv: Info on real asteroids
• star_classification.csv: Star data from telescopes
• FITS files: Space pictures from real observatories

🌌 Get ready to explore space with the power of Python! 🌌

• Advanced Users can Use Zip folder for automation of the setup process *