This is the ultimate, easy-to-read guide for "eclipse-chasers" which includes everything an eclipse chaser needs. There are some important eclipses coming up in the years ahead and the technology available to amateur astronomers is improving fast. The book provides "eclipse virgins" with a good feeling for what a trip abroad to an eclipse is like – including a humorous look at all the things that can and have gone wrong. Travel details are included, essential in these days of high-security. And of course the first part of the book contains a wealth of information about solar eclipses and what can be observed only during a total eclipse.
The book explores Sir Patrick Moore's catalog of 109 astronomical objects, expanding on the classic Messier catalog. It provides detailed descriptions of each object and practical guidance on locating them in the night sky, making it a valuable resource for both amateur and experienced astronomers.
Focusing on the thrill of comet discovery, this guide is tailored for amateur astronomers eager to hunt and image comets using CCD cameras and DSLRs. It explores modern techniques for rediscovering and monitoring comets, including the analysis of SOHO image data for comet fragments and tracking older comets that exhibit outbursts. Additionally, the book highlights the role of amateurs in identifying new Near Earth Objects that turn out to be comets and documenting recent comet impacts on Jupiter, showcasing the ongoing relevance of amateur astronomy.
This guide provides useful insight for first-time telescope buyers as well as experienced amateurs. It examines the advantages and disadvantages of different types of telescopes, mountings, and accessories-ranging from refractors and reflectors to computer controlled drives and CCD cameras. The author also covers observation techniques, photographic equipment, astronomical software, as well as equipment care and maintenance.
In the Victorian era – or for non-British readers, the mid-to-late nineteenth century – amateur astronomy tended to center on Solar System objects. The Moon and planets, as well as bright comets, were the key objects of interest. The brighter variable stars were monitored, but photography was in its infancy and digital imaging lay a century in the future. Today, at the start of the twenty-first century, amateurs are better equipped than any professionals of the mid-twentieth century, let alone the nineteenth. An amateur equipped with a 30-cm telescope and a CCD camera can easily image objects below magnitude 20 and, from very dark sites, 22 or 23. Such limits would have been within the realm of the 100- and 200-inch reflectors on Mount Wilson and Mount Palomar in the 1950s, but no other observatories. However, even those telescopes took hours to reach such limits, and then the photographic plates had to be developed, fixed, and examined by eye. In the modern era digital images can be obtained in minutes and analyzed ‘on the fly’ while more images are being downloaded. Developments can be e-mailed to other interested amateurs in real time, during an observing session, so that when a cataclysmic event takes place amateurs worldwide know about it. As recently as the 1980s, even professional astronomers could only dream of such instantaneous communication and proc- sing ability.
This book de-mystifies the jargon of webcams and computer processing, and provides detailed hints and tips for imaging the Sun, Moon and planets with a webcam. It demonstrates how inexpensive tools are revolutionizing imaging in amateur astronomy. Anyone with a modest telescope and a webcam can now obtain jaw-dropping lunar and planetary images to rival those taken with mid-range astronomical CCD cameras costing thousands of dollars. A glance through the images in this book shows just what spectacular results can be achieved by using a webcam with your telescope! Your scientific results will be sought by professional astronomers.
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.
Focusing on the life of Sir Patrick Moore, the biography delves into his journey from childhood through his service in the RAF, highlighting his significant contributions to astronomy. It covers his extensive astronomical observations and the numerous publications that established him as a prominent figure in the field. The book offers a comprehensive look at both his personal and professional achievements, showcasing his passion for amateur astronomy and his lasting impact on the community.
Rambling Through Observations, Friendships and Antics of Sir Patrick Moore
436pages
16 heures de lecture
An extensive study of Sir Patrick Moore's astronomical observations spans over six decades, providing a detailed look at his logbooks, sketches, and notes. The author explores Moore's transition from lunar to planetary and variable star observing, enriched with personal anecdotes and humorous stories from friends. The book also highlights Moore's travels, correspondence, and notable media appearances, alongside insights into his cherished home, Farthings in Selsey. This work caters to fans seeking deeper insights into Moore's life and legacy following the author's previous biography.
This book is intended for amateur astronomers who are readers of Sky & Telescope magazine or similar astronomy periodicals – or are at least at the same level of knowledge and enthusiasm. Supernovae represent the most violent stellar explosions in the universe. This is a unique guide to supernova facts, and it is also an observing/discovery guide, all in one package. Supernovae are often discovered by amateur astronomers, and the book describes the best strategies for discovering and observing them. Moreover, it contains detailed information about the probable physics of supernovae, a subject which even today is imperfectly understood.
