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Astronomical (Heteroscedastic) Measurement Errors: Statistical Issues and Problems

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Statistical Challenges in Modern Astronomy II

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Abstract

A statistical model for astronomical data with measurement errors is described and discussed. Attention is drawn to the distinction between two types of measurement errors according to whether or not the magnitude (variance) of the measurement error depends on the measurement. It is emphasized that when the magnitude of the measurement error does not depend on the measurement, more efficient procedures based on suitable weighting of the observations are possible. However, when the magnitude of the measurement error depends on the measurement, weighting biases the procedure. A method for comparing multivariate data sets, valid for both kinds of measurement error, is described and a variety of other statistical problems are considered and solutions are proposed.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Statistics, The Pennsylvania State University, State College, PA, 16802, USA

    Michael G. Akritas

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  1. Michael G. Akritas
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Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Statistics, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, 16802, USA

    G. Jogesh Babu

  2. Department of Astronomy and Astrophysics, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, 16802, USA

    Eric D. Feigelson

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© 1997 Springer Science+Business Media New York

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Akritas, M.G. (1997). Astronomical (Heteroscedastic) Measurement Errors: Statistical Issues and Problems. In: Babu, G.J., Feigelson, E.D. (eds) Statistical Challenges in Modern Astronomy II. Springer, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4612-1968-2_6

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4612-1968-2_6

  • Publisher Name: Springer, New York, NY

  • Print ISBN: 978-1-4612-7360-8

  • Online ISBN: 978-1-4612-1968-2

  • eBook Packages: Springer Book Archive

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