Statistical methods in astronomy

TL;DR

This paper reviews statistical methods and data types in astronomy, emphasizing the complexity of inference problems and advocating for interdisciplinary collaboration to improve analysis techniques.

Contribution

It provides an accessible overview of statistical applications in astronomy, highlighting the need for cross-disciplinary approaches to tackle complex hierarchical inference problems.

Findings

Highlights the hierarchical nature of astronomical data analysis

Encourages collaboration between statisticians and astronomers

Provides foundational overview of statistical methods used in astronomy

Abstract

We present a review of data types and statistical methods often encountered in astronomy. The aim is to provide an introduction to statistical applications in astronomy for statisticians and computer scientists. We highlight the complex, often hierarchical, nature of many astronomy inference problems and advocate for cross-disciplinary collaborations to address these challenges.