Supervisors: Marzena Sniegowska (Astronomical Institute of the Czech Academy of Sciences) and Biswaraj Palit (Copernicus Astronomical Center of the Polish Academy of Sciences), email: msniegowska@camk.edu.pl or sniegowska@mail.asu.cas.cz
Supervision by Marzena Sniegowska and Biswaraj Palit on-site in Warsaw (or online) and consultation with Prof. Agata Różańska from Copernicus Astronomical Center of the Polish Academy of Sciences and Dr Abhijeet Borkar from Astronomical Institute of the Czech Academy of Sciences.
Title: Exploring Active Galactic Nuclei in the Sloan Digital Sky Survey: A Multiwavelength Study
Time: July/Sep 2025 (4 weeks) with a possibility to continue online
Project description: The Active Galactic Nuclei (AGN) phenomenon is a fascinating episode in the evolution of galaxies. Processes taking place in the accreting matter close to the black hole are not yet well understood, and recent observations challenge the simplest models built over the years. There is also more to that. Most galaxies are not strongly active at any given moment, but the relatively short activity period is a crucial stage in galaxy evolution. We offer an introduction to the topic of AGN, and tools which we will use during the project. Using the latest Sloan Digital Sky Survey Data Release, we will identify promising and puzzling AGN and compile their multi-wavelength properties by combining optical spectroscopy with available UV/X-ray/radio information (e.g. Swift, VLASS or LOFAR). Then we will analyze the data, discuss the results and confront our findings against known relations/correlations. Depending on their interests, they will learn how to use and interpret catalog data, work with data-analysis tools such as TOPCAT, or carry out a detailed case study of selected objects. If there is mutual interest in continuing the work, the internship may be extended.
Requirements: enthusiasm for scientific work, experience with Python is preferred