... Perl . ... IDL is used for data analysis and graphics. ... Advantages of a language that is popular in the real world are the existence of web resources such as tutorials, a wide range of libraries of existing code you can use and modify, and better job prospects for you if you ever want to venture into the real world. ... Most data reduction systems (eg IRAF, MIDAS, Starlink) do not interface well with any programming language: IRAF has itуs own (very clunky) language in which you can write scripts...

... Printed in U.S.A. THE STELLAR DISK THICKNESS OF LOW SURFACE BRIGHTNESS GALAXIES D. Bizyaev 1,2,3 and S. Kajsin 4 Received 2003 October 23; accepted 2004 June 9 ABSTRACT We present surface photometry results for a sample of 11 edge-on galaxies observed with the 6 m telescope at the Special Astrophysical Observatory, Russia. ... We find from a comparison of photometric scales that the stellar disks of LSB galaxies are thinner than those of high surface brightness ( HSB) galaxies. ... UGC 11301 .. ...