The New Amateur Astronomer

Description

Amateur astronomy has changed beyond recognition in less than two decades. The reason is, of course, technology. Affordable high-quality telescopes, computer-controlled 'go to' mountings, autoguiders, CCD cameras, video, and (as always) computers and the Internet, are just a few of the advances that have revolutionized astronomy for the twenty-first century. Martin Mobberley first looks at the basics before going into an in-depth study of what’s available commercially. He then moves on to the revolutionary possibilities that are open to amateurs, from imaging, through spectroscopy and photometry, to patrolling for near-earth objects - the search for comets and asteroids that may come close to, or even hit, the earth. The New Amateur Astronomer is a road map of the new astronomy, equally suitable for newcomers who want an introduction, or old hands who need to keep abreast of innovations. From the reviews: "This is one of several dozen books in Patrick Moore's "Practical Astronomy" series. Amid this large family, Mobberley finds his niche: the beginning high-tech amateur. The book's first half discusses equipment: computer-driven telescopes, CCD cameras, imaging processing software, etc. This market is changing every bit as rapidly as the computer world, so these details will be current for only a year or two. The rest of the book offers an overview of scientific projects that serious amateurs are carrying out these days. Throughout, basic formulas and technical terms are provided as needed, without formal derivations. An appendix with useful references and Web sites is also included. Readers will need more than this book if they are considering a plunge into high-tech amateur astronomy, but it certainly will whet their appetites. Mobberley's most valuable advice will save the book's owner many times its cover price: buy a quality telescope from a reputable dealer and install it in a simple shelter so it can be used with as little set-up time as possible. A poor purchase choice and the hassle of setting up are why most fancy telescopes gather dust in their owners' dens. Summing Up: Highly recommended. General readers; lower- and upper-division undergraduates."( T. D. Oswalt, CHOICE, March 2005) Front Matter....Pages i-ix Introduction — Why Amateur Astronomy?....Pages 1-2 Front Matter....Pages 3-3 Optical Fundamentals....Pages 5-17 Buying a Commercial Telescope....Pages 19-24 Navigating the Rotating Spherical Sky....Pages 25-31 “Go To” Telescopes and Mountings....Pages 33-53 Digicams and Video Astronomy....Pages 55-83 Cooled CCD Cameras....Pages 85-110 Image-Processing Software....Pages 111-122 Front Matter....Pages 123-123 CCD Planetary Imagers....Pages 125-152 Supernova Discoverers....Pages 153-167 Deep-Sky Perfectionists....Pages 169-184 Cataclysmic-Variable Observers and Gamma Ray Burster Hunters....Pages 185-198 Saving the World: Near-Earth Object Chasers....Pages 199-206 Armchair Comet Hunters....Pages 207-211 Backyard Spectroscopists....Pages 213-220 Back Matter....Pages 221-229