The Practical Astronomer
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The Practical Astronomer
Interested in amateur astronomy but unsure how to get started? The Practical Astronomer offers a comprehensive look at the science of the night sky, with lavish color photographs and detailed observing tips.
The book opens by surveying the contents of the cosmos, from the planets and stars to nebulae, star clusters and galaxies. A brief introduction to spectroscopy is here as well. We continue with an in-depth look at the celestial sphere, showing how we can use celestial latitude and longitude to chart sky objects, with the help of catalogs such as the one compiled by Messier.
Choosing the right binoculars or telescope is important; the next section explores the features of various types of both, as well as mounts and accessories that can allow you to take astrophotographs. This leads into the book’s most extended section, a set of maps for each region of the sky divided by constellation. Each map shows a constellation’s stars down to magnitude 6.5 as well as prominent deep-sky objects. The maps are accompanied by charts that describe what sights are most worth seeking out in each sky region. For example, Ursa Major—in addition to harboring the Big Dipper—is also home to the galaxies M81, M82, M97 and M101.
Following this, the book takes us through our own solar system, surveying the Sun, planets, dwarf planets and moons, with a special emphasis on Earth’s own natural satellite. Finally, the book incorporates a series of star charts that amateurs can use to discover what the sky looks like on any night of the year, for those located in both northern and southern latitudes. A detailed set of reference tables concludes the book.
The Practical Astronomer opens the wonders of the night sky to every fan of this hobby.
Softcover : 256 pages
Publisher: Dorling Kindersley, Inc. ( June 01, 2010 )
Item #: 13-126281
ISBN: 9780756662103
Product Dimensions: 7.67 x 9.25 inches
Product Weight: 28.0 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
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