Observational Astronomy For Amateurs

This celebrity editor has brought together noted professional and amateur astronomers to submit chapters on their particular field of expertise, each describing how to observe a different class of object. The whole range of possibilities within reach of a small astronomical telescope is covered, from the moon to deep space. The book also shows how to gain the most enjoyment from a telescope, as well as its use for formal scientific observations, since astronomy is one of the few remaining areas of science where useful work can be carried out by non-professionals. The ideal companion to The Modern Amateur Astronomer.

Originally published in 1877, Observational Astronomy is a guide to the theory and practice of amateur astronomy. The book covers topics such as the use of telescopes and other observation equipment, the measurement of celestial coordinates, and the identification of stars and constellations. The anonymous author, who identified himself only as a clergyman, drew from his own experience as an amateur astronomer to provide practical advice for beginners. This new edition, edited by J.T. Slugg, includes updates and clarifications to the original text, making it a valuable resource for modern amateur astronomers. This work has been selected by scholars as being culturally important, and is part of the knowledge base of civilization as we know it. This work is in the "public domain in the United States of America, and possibly other nations. Within the United States, you may freely copy and distribute this work, as no entity (individual or corporate) has a copyright on the body of the work. Scholars believe, and we concur, that this work is important enough to be preserved, reproduced, and made generally available to the public. We appreciate your support of the preservation process, and thank you for being an important part of keeping this knowledge alive and relevant.

Astronomy is fundamentally an observational science and as such it is important for astronomers and astrophysicists to understand how their data are collected and analyzed. This book is a comprehensive review of current observational techniques and instruments. Featuring instruments such as Spitzer, Herschel, Fermi, ALMA, Super-Kamiokande, SNO, IceCube, the Auger Observatory, LIGO and LISA, the book discusses the capabilities and limitations of different types of instruments. It explores the sources and types of noise and provides statistical tools necessary for interpreting observational data. Due to the increasingly important role of statistical analysis, the techniques of Bayesian analysis are discussed, along with sampling techniques and model comparison. With topics ranging from fundamental subjects such as optics, photometry and spectroscopy, to neutrinos, cosmic rays and gravitational waves, this book is essential for graduate students in astronomy and physics. Electronic and colour versions of selected figures are available online at www. cambridge.org/9781107010468.

Mike Hotka became an amateur astronomer in 1965. Since that time, Mike has made thousands of observations of the night sky. He has developed a goal oriented process to get the amateur astronomer out observing the night sky. Exploring Amateur Astronomy - Goal Oriented Observing, describes a hands-on approach to observational astronomy. It is designed to aid the beginner as well as the experienced amateur astronomer to increase their observational skills. This book is dedicated to anyone who wishes to have a deeper understanding of celestial objects by actually observing them. Amateur astronomer Bruce Heath sums up the book nicely by stating "The entire book saves you time, helps your organization, enhances your ability to find a wide variety of celestial objects and will increase your enjoyment while you are doing it. Take a lesson from the Cheshire Cat in Alice in Wonderland.... "if you don't know where you are going, then any road will do." Mike helps you pick celestial destinations and gives you the road to get there.......take advantage of it."

With a lively yet rigorous and quantitative approach, this textbook introduces the fundamental topics in optical observational astronomy for undergraduates. It explains the theoretical foundations for observational practices and reviews essential physics to support students' mastery of the subject. Student understanding is strengthened through over 120 exercises and problems.