Astrophotography for the Amateur

Book Description

With this extraordinary handbook, you, too, can frame the stars and have them hanging on your livingroom walls. Astrophotography for the Amateur provides a complete guide to taking pictures of stars, galaxies, the Moon, the Sun, comets, meteors and eclipses, using equipment and materials readily available to the hobbyist. Based on suggestions from readers of the first edition, the new edition has been completely updated and expanded to include new chapters on computer image processing and CCD imaging; expanded advice on choosing cameras and telescopes; completely updated information about films; a much larger bibliography; and hundreds of new photographs (in color and black and white) demonstrating the latest equipment and techniques. Astrophotography for the Amateur has become the standard handbook for all amateur astronomers. This new edition provides an ideal introduction for beginners and a complete handbook for advanced amateurs. It will also appeal to photography enthusiasts who will discover how to take spectacular images with only modest equipment. Michael A. Covington received his Ph.D. at Yale University. He is the author of several books, including Syntactic Theory in the High Middle Ages (Cambridge, 1984). He is a Senior Member of the IEEE and is the Associate Director of the Artificial Intelligence Center at the University of Georgia.

Customer Reviews:

Very good reference book for any astrophotographer.......2002-07-25

Micheal Covington's book covers all aspects of astrophotography starting from objects, from camera selection to films, exposure methods, mounts and drives, guiding of the mount & guiding accuracy/errors, and of course the CCD imaging. I also gives ideas on how to build a simple barn door mount. It does not end at taking exposures. After an exposure is taken we have to convert it into an acceptable quality print or into a computer file. Images can be greatly improved by digital processing. So it also covers image processing ideas. The only point to be noted is that one must look at his website and download the errata. The book has many printing errors, some of which are trivial though. That, of course, must not deter any user. I consider is my best field guide book on this topic. I believe his recent edition has got over these errors - not mine. I bought mine in 1999.

Great Introductory book.......2002-03-05

This book is a must in doing amateur astrophotography if you are going serious. It has lots of information which is very useful.For example it teach you to calculate the focal ratio using diferent techniques of takig pictures with the telescope, it help you calculate the exposure times in order to photograph the moon or a constelation on a tripod.
It is an excellent source but you have to do calculations(formulas).If you don't like numbers, this book is not for you, but if you do like numbers this book is very useful.

My best book on astrophotography.......2001-12-18

I've bought a handful of books on the subject, and this one is head and shoulders above the rest. Some of the other books have lots of pretty pictures, and very little information on actually taking photos. I found the instructions easy to follow, and when I had a question, or needed to figure something out, this book always had it. Two big thumbs up!

I hesitated to pick up a copy of this book..........2001-08-26

I've been trying my hand off and on for the last year at astrophotography with my Meade LX-200. In that time I've scoured the internet, devoured newsgroup, and emailed enough astrophotographers that you'd think I was trying to get elected to NASA or something. In all that time, one name and reference guide kept coming up as a "must have". Astrophotography for the Amateur by Michael A. Covington.

Everywhere I turned, everyone I asked, their answers always seemed to come down to "...because Michael Covington does it this way" or "Yeah I tried doing it that way but after reading Astrophotography I tried it this way and received better results". That attitude actually "put me off" this book. Here I wanted to learn how to do astrophotography, not follow some recipe in a book. After finally browsing through a friends copy I was immediately impressed with the book as a reference guide, and when comparing it to my own notes and conclusions found several area's where I had erred, resulting in poor photo's. Of course, the flip side is true as well.

Some of the info in this book (even though it is a second edition) is dated such as film types and recommendations. I've found his exposure calculations for Lunar photography to be way over exposed.

I have to make a correction here, originaly I (and others) noted the lack of CCD imaging information in the book and I need to note that the first addition makes no mention of CCD, while the second edition has a section detailing the diffrences between CCD and film work. It also has a brief section devoted to CCD work. Its not as indepth as his discussions on film work.

Advanced Math Major Needed.......2001-06-05

Unless you're extremely fluent in advanced mathematics, calculus, etc., this book is not for the faint of heart. For those of us who never got past shop math - forget it. The formulas and calculations are enough to knock you out or at least put you to sleep. I'll give it a re-read again, but first drive through, just blew me away - sorry, math was never my strong point! Overall - 2's the best this rates for non-mathemeticians.

Average customer rating:

A Very Good Book

The Guide to Amateur Astronomy
Jack Newton , and Philip Teece
Manufacturer: Cambridge University Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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A Complete Manual of Amateur Astronomy: Tools and Techniques for Astronomical Observations
Turn Left at Orion: A Hundred Night Sky Objects to See in a Small Telescope--and How to Find Them
The Sky: A User's Guide

ASIN: 0521444926

Book Description

Getting started in amateur astronomy can be frustrating. Without a helpful friend to lend advice, choosing a telescope, learning the buzzwords, or viewing the deep sky season by season can seem daunting. Now amateur astronomers can turn to The Guide to Amateur Astronomy to get started or, if they are more advanced, to learn all the techniques of serious telescopic observing. The authors begin by showing readers how to find their way about the night sky with little or no equipment. For the stargazer who becomes addicted they include a complete catalog of the night sky's most intriguing star clusters, nebulae, and galaxies. More advanced projects include astrophotography, telescope construction, planetary observing, comet hunting, variable star recording, and nova discovery. The new edition covers the exciting developments in the world of astro-software for the home computer and the techniques of electronic imaging or charged-coupled devices (CCDs).

Customer Reviews:

A Very Good Book.......1999-05-01

I first saw this book at my local library and this book is very good. There are some out dated items in the book such as cold cameras, but the ccd parts we well written. The book is well written and both authors I feel have done an excellent job.

Star Ware: The Amateur Astronomer's Guide to Choosing, Buying, and Using Telescopes and Accessories

Average customer rating:

Vital reading for a astronomy enthusiast
Good Buying Guide
Excellent book
Star Ware 4
Way too technical -- No pictures -- Not for the novice

Star Ware: The Amateur Astronomer's Guide to Choosing, Buying, and Using Telescopes and Accessories
Philip S. Harrington
Manufacturer: Wiley
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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The Backyard Astronomer's Guide
Star Watch: The Amateur Astronomer's Guide to Finding, Observing, and Learning About over 125 Celestial Objects
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How to Use a Computerized Telescope: Practical Amateur Astronomy Volume 1 (Practical Amateur Astronomy)

ASIN: 0471750638

Book Description

Praise for Star Ware

"Star Ware is still a tour de force that any experienced amateur will find invaluable, and which hardware-minded beginners will thoroughly enjoy."

- Robert Burnham, Sky & Telescope magazine

"Star Ware condenses between two covers what would normally take a telescope buyer many months to accumulate."

- John Shibley, Astronomy magazine

Whether you're shopping for your first telescope or your fifth, don't be surprised if you feel overwhelmed by the dazzling array of product choices, bells and whistles, and the literature that describes them all. That's why you need Star Ware.

In this revised and updated Fourth Edition of the essential guide to comparing and selecting sky-watching equipment, award-winning astronomy writer Philip Harrington takes you telescope shopping the easy way. He analyzes and explains today's astronomy market and compares brands and models point by point. Star Ware gives you the confidence you need to buy the telescope and accessories that are right for you and the knowledge to get the most out of your new purchase, with:
*

Extensive, expanded reviews of leading models and accessories-including dozens of new products
*

A clear, step-by-step guide to every aspect of selecting telescopes, binoculars, filters, mounts, lenses, cameras, film, star charts, guides and references, and much more
*

Ten new do-it-yourself projects for building your own astronomical equipment
*

Easy tips on setting up, using, and caring for telescopes and other astronomical equipment
*

Lists of where to find everything astronomical, including Web sites and resources; distributors, dealers, and conventions; and corporate listings for products and services

Customer Reviews:

Vital reading for a astronomy enthusiast.......2007-08-15

I have found this book to be a veritable wealth of information with the uncommon aspect of actually giving critical, unbiased assessments of the wide and varied array of astronomical hardware available.

While you might not agree with all his observations, the assessments appear to be based on actual hands-on experience, and I find it refreshing to see reviews that don't uniformly praise every single item under scrutiny!

I really enjoyed this book and look forward to future updates.

Good Buying Guide.......2007-07-08

I now own the last 3 editions of this. An excellent and extensive introductionj to astronomical equipment and accessories definitely worthwhile for the new astronomer. Even worthwhile for many more experienced astronomers. Includes a section featuring many DIY accessories.

Excellent book.......2007-06-25

There are a number of books out there that cover available equipment for Amateur Astronomy. However, I haven't found any that cover this area as in depth as this book. The Author, Phil Harrington has certainly done his research, and brings this information to the reader in an easily understood way. I first bought this book in 2006 and found some of the information to be a little dated at that time. When I saw that there was going to be an updated version coming out, I knew I would be purchasing it. I purchased the updated version and it wasn't at all lacking. At the time of it's release (4/2007) it is current with regards to available equipment for the Amateur Astronomer. This book is easy to read and understand. When I am looking to purchase a new piece of equipment, Starware is the first book I grab for the information I need.

Star Ware 4.......2007-05-20

There's a ton of useful information here. At a price of less than almost astro accessory, it's highly recommended.

Way too technical -- No pictures -- Not for the novice.......2006-12-03

This book is not for the novice interested in learning about the basics of telescope buying.

It is a very hard read as it is not organized nicely, has pages and pages of technical jargon, tons of unnecessary repetition...

They describe certain telescope features and don't explain why one feature might be better over another. They just mention the features.

The book contains a lot of reviews on outdated equipment and nothing on the latest telescopes.

It did not provide a simple outline of the various features one should look for in a telescope -- perhaps aperture, focal length, mm diameter, etc. -- this is what I was looking for.

I found more informative concise information on Yahoo! Answers for free.

I decided to purchase another book that was meant for the newbie and explains in simple terms what one should look for and has a lot of great photos and diagrams. It does not contain technical terms adfinitum that would only help a professional astronomer.

The better book is entitled "A Simple Guide to Telescopes, Spotting Scopes, and Binoculars" and you can purchase on Amazon for $10. This book is helpful for not only telescope selecting for the novice, but also for set up, etc for after you get the telescope.

Emphasis on the word simple!

Thank goodness I decided to check it out at my local Borders, as I was about to buy it sight unseen on Amazon due to the great reviews above. It would have been a waste of money!

Average customer rating:

Your Guide to the Sky
An Excellent book to guide you through the galaxy
A great place to start
LOOKING AT THE OUTER LIMITS
nice, simple, clear beginner's guide

Your Guide To the Sky
Richard Shaffer
Manufacturer: McGraw-Hill
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Astronomy | Astronomy | Science | Subjects | Books

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ASIN: 073730104X

Customer Reviews:

Your Guide to the Sky.......2007-01-09

We enjoy star gazing, and this is a perfect book for learning about what we're looking at. Very well written and very easy for a "novice" to follow without getting too "scientific".

An Excellent book to guide you through the galaxy.......2005-03-05

I loved this book, as did my father who is now 87 years of age. We just want Mr. Shaffer to write an updated book so we can see the constellations in the future years ahead!!

A great place to start.......2002-09-07

If you're new to backyard astronomy and are seeking a guide, here's the ticket. This covers all the bases, from the moon, sun, planets, and constellations to the locations of deep-sky objects, from lunar and solar observations to how to pick and set up the appropriate telescope (good information from a man who has designed award-winning telescopes). Shaffer starts at the beginning with the basic layout of the night sky and continues into greater detail without getting overly technical or confusing the neophyte. Every topic is presented in a friendly and engaging manner, with touches of dry humor, that eases the unfamiliar into the techniques of backyard astronomy without overwhelming them. Along the way he adds details about general scientific concepts as needed (such as explaining photons and spectrums) and includes sky maps, charts, graphs and other things to help guide the reader.An altogether excellent guide.

LOOKING AT THE OUTER LIMITS.......2001-01-12

If you enjoyed the "Star Wars" and "Star-Trek" films, and your visits to your local planetarium, you're in for a treat. This book helps you uncover stars, comets, galaxies, nebulas, planets on your own time. Equipped with the maps, photographs and the space parameters given you in this book, you can step out at night in your own back yard, gaze at the sky and chart your own course. No rocket ships included. You won't need them to apply this excellent handbook to the heavens.

nice, simple, clear beginner's guide.......2000-04-11

This is one of those books from which you can take as much or as little as you want. Shaffer is not intent on making an in-depth astronomer out of everyone (although if that's what you're bound for, this book will be a fine first leg up). His presentation is clear and friendly, good for browsing, for reference, or for reading straight through. Use it however suits you.

The first three chapters cover basics -- longitude and latitude and why they matter; how to read sky maps; paths of the sun, moon, and planets; basic terms; how telescopes work; etc. These might sound like intimidating topics but they're covered in just enough depth and not a bit more (e.g. "A Very Short Primer on Light").

A nice feature is on page two, a section titled "If You're in a BIG Hurry, What to Read First" (i.e. what parts of this book).

After discussion of telescopes, including how to choose one and what to do with it, there are five chapters on sky-watching. First there's the close stuff: artificial satellites, the moon... and then there's the farther away stuff: planets, stars, nebulas, groups of galaxies.

There's a sky map for each month; the maps are easy to read. Beginner that I was, with this book I was able to identify a few stars I'd noticed several nights in a row -- turned out to be one side of Orion. The fact that what I saw in the sky was recognizable on the map here is a big plus.

This is a book that will last you long past the very-beginner stage.

Average customer rating:

The Book your looking for!

How to Use a Computerized Telescope

Very helpful book

Very useful

What you need to know to use a "Go To" telescope

How to Use a Computerized Telescope: Practical Amateur Astronomy Volume 1 (Practical Amateur Astronomy)
Michael A. Covington
Manufacturer: Cambridge University Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0521007909

Book Description

How to Use a Computerized Telescope describes how to get a computerized telescope up-and-running, and how to embark on a program of observation. Michael Covington explains in detail how the sky moves, how a telescope tracks it, and how to get the most out of any computerized telescope. Packed full of practical advice and tips for troubleshooting, his book gives detailed instructions for three popular telescopes: the Meade® LX200, Celestron^DCC NexStar 5 and 8, and Meade® Autostar^DTM (ETX and LX90). Michael A. Covington is an associate research scientist at the University of Georgia. He is a computational linguist trained in the computer processing of human language and the computer modeling of human logical reasoning, and a widely recognized expert on the Prolog programming language. He is the author of nine books including Dictionary of Computer and Internet Terms, Seventh Edition (Barron's, 2000), Astrophotography for the Amateur (Cambridge, 1999), PROLOG Programming in Depth (Simon & Schuster, 1996), Cambridge Eclipse Photography Guide (1993), and Syntactic Theory in the High Middle Ages (Cambridge, 1985). A senior member of the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers, Covington is a Contributing Editor to, and former "Q&A" columnist of, Poptronics magazine.

Customer Reviews:

The Book your looking for!.......2007-05-17

If your looking for a clearly written, very informative, get you going in the right direction book, this is the one!

How to Use a Computerized Telescope.......2007-01-19

This is a very clearly-written book and excellent for beginners. It breaks down the various topics of using a computerized telescope into manageable chapters.

Very helpful book.......2006-03-07

I recently purchased a Celestron StarSeeker telescope (basically a NexStar80) so wanted to read more about computerized telescopes. Michael Covington's book is very good. He starts by saying "Welcome to amateur astronomy". The first part of the book then goes on to discuss telescopes in general, such as the different types (ie, refractors, reflectors and catadioptric) and much very helpful general information about observational astronomy. Things like celestial coordinates, how a telescope works, etc. Too much to put in this review but I found the information extremely helpful. The second section is about astrophotography including simple ways to do astrophotography without a lot of expensive equipment. This author also has a book on Astrophotography which I haven't read. He refers to it several times in this section of this book. The last section describes in quite a bit of detail the operation of 3 computerized telescopes, the Meade LX200, Celestron NexStar 5 and 8 and two Meade telescopes with Autostar, the ETX 90 and the LX 90. All of these telescopes are now outdated as both Meade and Celestron have newer models. However, what is said in this section would apply to the newer models to a large extent. Overall I enjoyed reading this book and obtained a lot of useful information and recommendations to start my budding career in amateur photography. One further note; there is another book by Michael Swanson that deals with just the Celestron NexStar telescopes. I have this book also but haven't finished reading it. If you are just interested in computerized telescopes in general, I would recommend the one in this review. If you have or are interested in a Celestron, then I would suggest the Michael Swanson book; actually I would recommend both.

Very useful.......2005-08-02

I found this book to be very useful and informative. I am a beginner to astronomy and need something to orient me to what a electronic telescope was all about. A must reqad if you are considering a computerized telescope and are a beginner who has never used one.

What you need to know to use a "Go To" telescope.......2003-01-09

Covington's "Astrophotography for the Amateur" is one of the two must reads for beginning to intermiediate astrophotographers. "How to Use a Computerized Telescope" fits in the same category for beginner and intermediate amatuer astronomers who have or are thinking of aquiring a computerized telescope. The book is divided into two sections. The first covers basic topics on the use, care and feeding of telescopes in general. The second looks at three classic "Go To" telescope families. If you are looking to buy a computerized telescope, or already own one and want to get more out of it, then this is a good place to start.

Chapters:
PART I - Telescopes in general
1. Welcome to amatuer astronomy
2. How the sky moves
3. How telescopes track the stars
4. Using equatorial mounts and wedges
5. Telescope optics
6. Eyepieces and optical accessories
7. Astrophotography
8. Troubleshooting
PART II - Three classic telescopes
9. Three that led the revolution
10. Meade LX200
11. Celestron NexStar 5 and 8
12. Meade Autostar (ETX and LX90)

Though the models described in detail in the book are no longer the latest models, the foundations will allow one to get a better understanding of how computerized telescopes work, and how to get more out of their use.

Practical Amateur Spectroscopy
Average customer rating:
Practical Amateur Spectroscopy

Manufacturer: Springer
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 1852334894

Book Description

Because today's amateur astronomical telescopes are both powerful and affordable, spectroscopy - once the province of professionals - is becoming more and more popular. Various spectroscopes, at prices to suit everyone, are now available "off the shelf". Practical Amateur Spectroscopy contains everything an amateur needs to grasp the basic principles, to begin observing, and to understand just what the spectra show. Contributions by leading practical amateurs from America and Europe cover a very wide range of amateur equipment and techniques. One even describes how an audio CD can be used to show solar emission and absorption lines!

Practical Amateur Astronomy 2 Volume Set (Practical Amateur Astronomy)

Average customer rating:

How to use "Go To" scopes and what to use them on

Practical Amateur Astronomy 2 Volume Set (Practical Amateur Astronomy)
Michael Covington
Manufacturer: Cambridge University Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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A Guide to Astrophotography with Digital SLR Cameras
Star Ware: The Amateur Astronomer's Guide to Choosing, Buying, and Using Telescopes and Accessories

ASIN: 0521524202

Book Description

Together, this two-volume set provides amateur astronomers with all the information they require to set up their telescopes and embark upon an exciting exploration of the night sky. Complete with trouble-shooting advice, practical tips for observing over 200 interesting celestial objects, and information about the latest products and resources, this set of Covington's two books is an essential purchase for every new telescope owner.

Customer Reviews:

How to use "Go To" scopes and what to use them on.......2003-01-09

Covington's "Practical Amateur Astronomy 2 Volume Set" is for beginner and intermediate amatuer astronomers who have or are thinking of aquiring a computerized telescope. It consists of two titles, "How to Use a Computerized Telescope" and "Celestial Objects for Modern Telescopes", which complemet each other well.

The first book, "How to Use a Computerized Telescope" , is divided into two sections. The first covers basic topics on the use, care and feeding of telescopes in general. The second looks at three classic "Go To" telescope families. If you are looking to buy a computerized telescope, or already own one and want to get more out of it, then this is a good place to start.

In the second volume, "Celestial Objects for Modern Telescopes", Covington suggests various targets and observing programs. But that is not all. Also are tips on how to get the most out of various sources to identify the object of interest from various catalogs or atlases and to be able to tell a "Go To" telescope how to point to it. Probably the most useful pages in the book are the Bayer/Flamsteed to SAO cross-index and the GVCS constellation codes and star numbers.

Chapters:
PART I - Amatuer astronomy
1. Using this book effectively
2. Observing sites and conditions
3. The Moon, the Sun, and eclipses
4. The planets
5. Comets, asteroids (minor planets), and artificial satellites
6. Constellations
7. Stars - identification, nomenclature, and maps
8. Stars - physical properties
9. Double and multiple stars
10. Variable stars
11. Clusters, nebulae, and galaxies
PART II - 200 interesting stars and deep-sky objects
12. How these objects were chosen
13. The January-February sky (R.A. 6h-10h)
14. The March-April sky (R.A. 10h-14h)
15. The May-June sky (R.A. 14h-18h)
16. The July-August sky (R.A. 18h-22h)
17. The September-October sky (R.A. 22h-2h)
18. The November-December sky (R.A. 2h-6h)
Appendices
A. Converting decimal minutes to seconds
B. Precession from 1950 to 2000
C. Julian date, 2001-2015

The logical follow up for "How to Use a Computerized Telescope", this volume shows one how to use the various sources available to find the objects one is interested in studying. If I had this book when I first bought my LX200, I would have developed better habits in planning my observing sessions by being able to identify objects in the manner that the telescope has them identified in its database to find them quicker to allow more time for study and or imaging.

Care of Astronomical Telescopes and Accessories: A Manual for the Astronomical Observer and Amateur Telescope Maker (Patrick Moore's Practical Astronomy Series)
Average customer rating:

Not living up to the expectations

The Best, from the Best

Care of Astronomical Telescopes and Accessories: A Manual for the Astronomical Observer and Amateur Telescope Maker (Patrick Moore's Practical Astronomy Series)
M. Barlow Pepin
Manufacturer: Springer
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 185233715X

Book Description

Commercially-made astronomical telescopes are better and less expensive than ever before, and their optical and mechanical performance can be superb. When a good-quality telescope fails to perform as well as it might, the reason is quite probably that it needs a little care and attention! Here is a complete guide for anyone who wants to understand more than just the basics of astronomical telescopes and accessories, and how to maintain them in the peak of condition. The latest on safely adjusting, cleaning, and maintaining your equipment is combined with thoroughly updated methods from the old masters. Here, too, are details of choosing new and used optics and accessories, along with enhancements you can make to extend their versatility and useful lifetime. This book is for you. Really. Looking after an astronomical telescope isn’t only for the experts - although there are some things that only an expert should attempt - and every serious amateur astronomer will find invaluable information here, gleaned from Barlow Pepin's many years’ experience working with optical instruments.

Customer Reviews:

Not living up to the expectations.......2007-04-24

The title of this book is: Care of Astronomical Telescopes and Accessories - A manual for the Astronomical Observer and Amateur Telescope Maker. This should make clear what to expect inside the book. Actually it consists of 253 pages and is divided into two main parts, Section I, Optical Equipment and Section II Care and Maintenance, the latter being the topic. So actually only about 60% of the book do deal with what the title promises, namely Care and Maintenance.
If you buy such book you are most likely already the owner of some astronomical equipment and would like to learn how better to take care of it. So you'll be asking yourself what purpose a 96 page primer on telescopes and accessories serves. What a waste of precious space that could have been used for better information as we will see.
Unfortunately even some basic mistakes are to be found in Section I. For example 1 Ångstrom equals 10-5 cm should in reality be 10-8 cm. Ångstrom is by any means no longer an official standard measure of the electromagnetic wavelength, since quite some time this is expressed in Meters or in the optical range in nm.
It is a bit strange to state: When Amateur Astronomers use the word `Telescope' they refer to the complete set from tripod foot to optical tube assembly. I never found this in any of the forums or elsewhere.
The name of Abbe is permanently written incorrectly as Abbé. This should not happen to an author who claims to have vast experience.
Quite a few incorrect sentences can be found like Dolland and his son and Peter. Speaking of John and Peter Dolland and their work, it is definitely necessary to mention that they did not pay tribute to Hall's work even though they had great profit from that.
The hints on Point of Purchase checks are useful but missing any reference to Yahoo Groups or similar forums where a wealth of information can be found before and after purchase.
A new mathematical procedure can be found: Divide by half. That should of course read ...by two. A division by half equals a multiplication by two.
The references to certain pictures should be made at least like see figure 3.12 and not see Chapter 1. To make live easier the page number would be quite helpful. It seems the author took it rather easy as there are even some incorrect cross-references.
It seems the author has never heard about carbon fiber as a well established material for optical tubes. At least he claims that some makers are experimenting with it. Also the fact that a white surface reflects better than a black one is mistaken as better cooldown for white tubes.
Some interesting recommendations are given in Section II, the 60% of the book dealing with the topic. Breath cleaning as well as cleaning with rainwater are being recommended in different cases. While breath cleaning is not a good idea due to the pollution by grease and even smoke particles in the case of smokers and rainwater is no replacement to demineralized water since acid rain is well known worldwide except to the author.
What size does an 8 Penny coin have? It seems to be a well known dimension to the author. The Antoniadi scale for seeing is used by most observers in Europe according to the author. I'd like to know what experience he really has. Even in Europe the Pickering scale is being used.
Don't misunderstand me here, the book gives some detailed information on care of telescopes and equipment. It could be done much better, however, by replacing the Section I on optical equipment basics with lots of pictures and drawings about how things are performed correctly. By drawings I do not mean the sketches by the author showing telescopes in general as kind of an artist's impression without relevance to the subject.
The general impression of the book? You can get the same and actually better information through the internet and from forums as well as from many manufacturers of astronomical equipment. I am happy I only borrowed this book. It did by no means live up to the expectations.

The Best, from the Best.......2004-11-18

I cannot specifically review this book, as I have not yet read it. I can, however, "review" the author, so to speak. Mr. Pepin was my uncle, until his unexpected and tragic recent passing. Throughout his life, he always amazed me with both his wealth of astronomical knowledge and his adeptness at working with, and even constructing his own, telescopes. This combination of intellectual and physical skill have now resulted in this great volume, just released posthumously. It is ironic that my uncle first embraced astronomy when the death of his own mother prompted him to look heavenward. Now, in his death, he inspires us to look heavenward as well. I have observed, and I believe he would agree, that if we cannot with our eyes look upon Heaven, at least we can gaze at the heavens.

Astronomical Equipment for Amateurs (Practical Astronomy)

Average customer rating:

A perfect complement to Star Ware by Harrington

Astronomical Equipment for Amateurs (Practical Astronomy)
Martin Mobberley
Manufacturer: Springer
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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Similar Items:

Star Ware: The Amateur Astronomer's Ultimate Guide to Choosing, Buying, and Using Telescopes and Accessories, 2nd Edition
Advanced Amateur Astronomy
Choosing and Using a Schmidt-Cassegrain Telescope : A Guide to Commercial SCTs and Maksutovs (Practical Astronomy.)
Turn Left at Orion: A Hundred Night Sky Objects to See in a Small Telescope--and How to Find Them
Astronomy Hacks: Tips and Tools for Observing the Night Sky (Hacks)

ASIN: 1852330198

Book Description

Telescopes - refractors and reflectors - are the main items of equipment used by almost every amateur astronomer. The purpose of astronomical telescopes is to collect and focus more light than the human eye can, forming an image that can be viewed, photographed, or analysed. Astronomical Equipment for Amateurs makes buying and using both telescopes and their ancillary instruments easy for astronomers of all abilities. It begins by looking at the advantages and disadvantages of the basic types of refractors, reflectors, mountings and accessories. Observation techniques are also included, along with the use of filters, (colour, anti-pollution and nebula), types of photography (piggy-back, prime focus and eyepiece projection), and also CCD imaging (including types of CCD camera and their advantages and disadvantages compared to photography). Martin Mobberley provides a fascinating insight into astronomical software.

Customer Reviews:

A perfect complement to Star Ware by Harrington.......2000-03-01

Mobberley goes into a little more detail concerning mounts, photography and CCD imaging than Harrington. Although the book is biased towards SCT's and it has an english accent, he does an excellent job in his explanation of the practical limits of telescopes and accessories. I found it a perfect complement to Harrington's excellent, must have, Star Ware for anyone considering purchasing telescopes and accessories.

Celestial Objects for Modern Telescopes: Practical Amateur Astronomy Volume 2 (Practical Amateur Astronomy)

Average customer rating:

Just "Very Good" , not Perfect!
I've got a "Go To" scope, now what?

Celestial Objects for Modern Telescopes: Practical Amateur Astronomy Volume 2 (Practical Amateur Astronomy)
Michael A. Covington
Manufacturer: Cambridge University Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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How to Use a Computerized Telescope: Practical Amateur Astronomy Volume 1 (Practical Amateur Astronomy)
Astrophotography for the Amateur
Star Ware: The Amateur Astronomer's Guide to Choosing, Buying, and Using Telescopes and Accessories
CCD Astrophotography: High-Quality Imaging from the Suburbs (Patrick Moore's Practical Astronomy Series)
The Backyard Astronomer's Guide

ASIN: 0521524199

Book Description

Based on field notes made by Michael Covington throughout his career as an amateur astronomer, this guide covers both the traditional and novel approaches to studying the night sky. In addition to the more standard techniques, it discusses the latest modern resources available to today's astronomer, such as personal computers, the internet, and computerized telescopes. Covington includes practical advice on site selection and weather; detailed instructions for observing the Sun, Moon, planets, and deep-sky objects; and newer specialities such as satellite observing and the use of astronomical databases. Written to complement How to Use a Computerized Telescope, this book appeals to astronomers with more traditional equipment. Michael A. Covington is an associate research scientist at the University of Georgia. He is a computational linguist trained in the computer processing of human languages and the computer modeling of human logical reasoning, and a widely recognized expert on the Prolog programming language. He is the author of nine books including Dictionary of Computer and Internet Terms, Seventh Edition (Barron's, 2000), Astrophotography for the Amateur (Cambridge, 1999), PROLOG Programming in Depth (Simon & Schuster, 1996), Cambridge Eclipse Photography Guide (1993), and Syntactic Theory in the High Middle Ages (Cambridge, 1985). A senior member of the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers, Covington is a Contributing Editor to, and former "Q&A" columnist of Poptronics magazine.

Customer Reviews:

Just "Very Good" , not Perfect!.......2004-01-08

I have been buying alot of astronomy and telescope books of late--primarily to augment my new telescope. This is one of the better ones , since it is really much more substantive than the "cheerleading" books that are more useful at gracing the coffee table than the accessory tray of a telescope in use. The major plus feature for me is the format of the illustrations , which show the objects through a mirror type diagonal. Most , if not all , observations by amateur astronomers use this convention these days. The author goes into adequate detail on double star observing : measurement of position angle and seperation are very well explained.

My only criticism is the assumption that all users will be using computerized telescopes , and completely ignores those of us who "star hop" by choice , and not necessity. The lack of star hopping descriptions downgrades my rating to a strong 4 stars.

Highly recommended.

I've got a "Go To" scope, now what?.......2003-01-09

Looking for objects to look at with your computerized "Go To" telescope? Michael Covington, author of "Astrophotography for the Amateur" and "How to Use a Computerized Telescope" has a few suggestions. In this second volume of Cambridge's Practical Amateur Astronomy series he suggests various targets and observing programs. But that is not all. Also are tips on how to get the most out of various sources to identify the object of interest from various catalogs or atlases and to be able to tell a "Go To" telescope how to point to it. Probably the most useful pages in the book are the Bayer/Flamsteed to SAO cross-index and the GVCS constellation codes and star numbers.

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