Introduction and Motivation ============================================================= .. Make aplpy.gif with: convert -delay 700 aplpy.png -delay 300 aplpy_plain.png -loop 0 aplpy.gif .. image:: aplpy.gif Practical Python for Astronomers is a series of hands-on workshops to explore the Python language and the powerful analysis tools it provides. *The emphasis is on using Python to solve real-world problems that astronomers are likely to encounter in research.* - The workshops will immediately make use of the full suite of plotting, analysis, and file reading tools. - Along the way elements of the Python language such as control structures, functions, and objects will be introduced as needed. - This will be a hands-on experience largely focused on interactive data analysis using tutorial examples that you type or cut-n-paste into the Python interpreter. - Participants should bring a laptop to each session or partner-up with someone who has a laptop. **Agenda** The purpose of the talk today is to motivate astronomers to learn Python and start using it as a tool for research and analysis. .. toctree:: :maxdepth: 1 why-python quick-tour who-python wrapup :Author: Tom Aldcroft :Copyright: 2011 Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory