Talk from PhyStat 2003: Statistical Problems in Particle
Physics, Astrophysics, and Cosmology, Stanford, Ca, USA, September
2003, 7 pages. PSN MOAT001.
astro-ph/0401404
For a PDF version of this paper, click
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STATISTICAL CHALLENGES IN MODERN ASTRONOMY
E. D. Feigelson
Department of
Astronomy & Astrophysics,
Penn State University,
University Park PA 16802, USA
G. J. Babu
Department of
Statistics,
Penn State University,
University Park PA 16802, USA
Abstract.
Despite centuries of close association, statistics and astronomy
are surprisingly distant today. Most observational astronomical
research relies on an inadequate toolbox of methodological tools.
Yet the needs are substantial: astronomy encounters sophisticated
problems involving sampling theory, survival analysis,
multivariate classification and analysis, time series analysis,
wavelet analysis, spatial point processes, nonlinear regression,
bootstrap resampling and model selection. We review the recent
resurgence of astrostatistical research, and outline new
challenges raised by the emerging Virtual Observatory. Our essay
ends with a list of research challenges and infrastructure for
astrostatistics in the coming decade.
Table of Contents
THE GLORIOUS HISTORY OF ASTRONOMY AND STATISTICS
- STATISTICAL NEEDS OF ASTRONOMY TODAY
- ASTROSTATISTICS TODAY
- THE VIRTUAL OBSERVATORY: A NEW IMPERATIVE FOR
ASTROSTATISTICS
- SOME GRAND METHODOLOGICAL CHALLENGES FOR THE
COMING DECADE
- Multivariate analysis with measurement
errors and censoring
- Statistical inference and visualization with
very-large-N datasets
- A cookbook for construction of likelihoods
and Bayesian computation
- Links between astrophysical theory and
wavelets
- Time series models for astrophysical
phenomena
- INFRASTRUCTURE NEEDED TO ADVANCE ASTROSTATISTICS
- REFERENCES
