Advanced Amateur Astronomy

This book, first published in 1997, is for telescope owners wanting to improve their skills and make observations of real and lasting scientific value.

Gerald North (Author)

9780521574075, Cambridge University Press

Hardback, published 21 August 1997

416 pages, 193 b/w illus.
24.4 x 17 x 2.4 cm, 0.86 kg

'… this is an excellent book with which to consider specialising in a particular area of practical astronomy and … very good value for money.' Robert Argyle, The Observatory

This book, first published in 1997, is for amateur astronomers and telescope users who want to move beyond elementary stargazing to more challenging projects. Written by an accomplished amateur astronomer, this indispensable guide to more advanced work is packed with information and lucid explanations. The first section of the book sets out the fundamental principles of practical astronomy, with chapters on telescope optics, the atmosphere, telescope hardware, astrophotography and electronic imaging. This knowledge is then applied to the full range of celestial bodies accessible by telescope: the solar system, stars and galaxies. For those users who want to move to even greater challenges, chapters on photometry, spectroscopy and radio astronomy bring observational astronomy to a level where data of real scientific value can be acquired.

Preface
Acknowledgements
1. Telescope optics
2. Atmosphere, seeing, magnification and eyepieces
3. Telescope hardware and adjustments
4. Astrophotography with the camera
5. Astrophotography through the telescope
6. Electronic imaging
7. The Moon
8. The terrestrial planets
9. The gas-giant planets
10. Comets, asteroids, meteors and aurorae
11. The Sun
12. Variable stars and novae
13. Methods of photometry
14. Double stars, star clusters, nebulae, galaxies and supernovae
15. Spectroscopy
16. Radio astronomy
17. Further information
Appendix: useful formulae.

Subject Areas: Popular astronomy & space [WNX]