Handbook of practical astronomy
Publisher: Springer
Published: 2009
Place of publication: Berlin; London
Format: Hardcover
Number of pages: 712
ISBN-13: 9783540763772
Table of contents: title: Why astronomy?  Introduction -- Astronomy and the observer -- Specialized instruments, methods and objects -- Major objects for the amateur -- “The universe, yours to discover” -- Fundamentals of spherical astronomy.  Introduction -- The coordinates -- Time and the phenomena of daily motion -- Changes in the coordinates of a star -- Applied mathematics and the computer. Introduction -- The theory of errors -- Photographic astrometry -- Determination of the position and brightness of planets and the planetographic coordinates -- Star occultations and grazes with the computer -- Optics and telescopes. Introduction -- Pupils and stops -- Imaging errors -- Methods of optical testing -- Telescope systems -- Telescope performance -- Collimating a telescope -- Accessories -- Visual observations -- Services for telescopes and accessories -- Telescope mountings and drives and electrical equipment -- Introduction -- Types of mountings -- Mechanics of telescope mounting -- Driver for mountings -- Basic adjustments -- Further reading -- Astrophotography. The photographic image : a brief introduction -- Which type of camera? An overview -- Simple photography of the stellar constellations -- Guided exposures of star fields -- Photography of the deep sky -- photography of the moon and sun -- High-resolution techniques -- Documentation of special astronomical events -- The nature of light and matter : fundamentals of spectral analysis. Introduction -- Theoretical basics -- Practical applications -- Principles of photometry. Introduction -- Limits and accuracies of photometric measurements -- Astronomical color systems -- The technique and planning of observations -- Reduction techniques -- Photometry of different astronomical objects -- Construction or purchase of receivers and equipment for reductions -- Further reading -- Signals from space : radio astronomy for beginners. Introduction -- What is radio-frequency radiation? -- The radio sun -- A compact radio telescope for the gigahertz band -- Initial tests -- First light for your radio telescope -- Possible upgrades -- The giant planet Jupiter -- Jupiter as a radio source -- Cause of decameter radiation -- A simple radio telescope for Jupiter -- Reception in practice -- Future opportunities -- Additional information -- Modern sundials. Introduction -- The equinoxial dial -- Horizontal dials and vertical east-west dials -- The vertical deviating dial -- Designs for higher accuracy -- Further reading -- An historical exploration of modern astronomy. Introduction -- The heliocentric system -- Evolution of the theory of motions -- Cataloging the stellar sky -- Astrophysics -- Stellar evolution and stellar systems -- Observations at invisible wavelengths and space exploration -- Research in historical astronomy -- Further reading -- The social astronomer. Astronomy clubs -- Astronomical societies -- Star parties, astronomical events and astronomy vacations -- Newsgroups, internet portals, mailing lists and chat rooms -- Astronomical education and outreach -- Amatuer-professional partnership -- The telescope tourist -- Further reading -- Earth and solar system. The sun -- The moon -- Eclipses and transits -- Occultations of stars -- Artificial earth satellites -- Observation of the planets -- Asteroids and Kuiper Belt objects -- Comets -- Meteors and bolides -- Noctilucent clouds, aurorae, and the zodiacal light -- The terrestrial atmosphere and its effects on astronomical observations -- Stars and stellar systems. The stars -- Variable stars -- Binary stars -- The Milky Way and galactic objects -- Extragalactic objects -- References.