Making Your Own Telescope

Making Your Own Telescope
Author: Allyn J. Thompson
Publisher: Courier Corporation
Total Pages: 242
Release: 2003-01-01
Genre: Science
ISBN: 9780486428833

Complete, detailed instructions and numerous diagrams for constructing a do-it-yourself telescope. No complicated mathematics are involved, and no prior knowledge of optics or astronomy is needed to follow the text's step-by-step directions. Contents cover, among other topics, materials and equipment; tube parts and alignment; eyepieces, and related problems; setting circles; and optical principles. 1973 ed. Appendixes. Index. 6 plates. 100 figures.

Choosing and Using a Refracting Telescope

Choosing and Using a Refracting Telescope
Author: Neil English
Publisher: Springer Science & Business Media
Total Pages: 284
Release: 2010-09-28
Genre: Science
ISBN: 1441964037

Choosing and Using a Refracting Telescope has been written for the many amateur astronomers who already own, or are intending to purchase, a refracting telescope – perhaps to complement their existing arsenal of larger reflecting telescopes – or for the specialist who requires a particular refractor for serious astronomical applications or nature studies. Four hundred year ago, during the winter of 1609, a relatively unknown Italian scientist, Galileo Galilei designed a spyglass with two crude lenses and turned it skyward. Since then, refractors have retained their dominance over all types of reflector in studies of the Moon, planets and double stars because of the precision of their optics and lack of a central obstruction in the optical path, which causes diffraction effects in all commercially-made reflectors. Most mature amateur astronomers got started with a 60mm refractor, or something similar. Thirty years ago, there was little choice available to the hobbyist, but in the last decade long focus crown-flint achromats have moved aside for some exquisitely crafted apochromatic designs offered by leading commercial manufacturers. There has been a huge increase in the popularity of these telescopes in the last few years, led by a significant increase in the number of companies (particularly, William Optics, Orion USA, StellarVue, SkyWatcher and AstroTech) who are now heavily marketing refractors in the amateur astronomical magazines. In Choosing and Using a Refracting Telescope, well-known observer and astronomy writer Neil English celebrates the remarkable history and evolution of the refracting telescope and looks in detail at the instruments, their development and their use. A major feature of this book is the way it compares not only different classes of refractor, but also telescopes of each class that are sold by various commercial manufacturers. The author is perhaps uniquely placed to do this, having used and tested literally hundreds of different refracting telescopes over three decades. Because it includes many diverse subjects such as imaging with consumer-level digital cameras, imaging with webcams, and imaging with astronomical CCD cameras – that are not covered together in equal depth in any other single volume – Choosing and Using a Refracting Telescope could become the ‘refractor bible’ for amateur astronomers at all levels, especially those who are interested in imaging astronomical objects of every class.

Unusual Telescopes

Unusual Telescopes
Author: Peter L. Manly
Publisher: Cambridge University Press
Total Pages: 248
Release: 1995-04-27
Genre: Nature
ISBN: 9780521483933

Peter Manly surveys more than 150 unusual telescopes designed by amateur and professional astronomers to suit some special need.

The Backyard Astronomer's Guide

The Backyard Astronomer's Guide
Author: Terence Dickinson
Publisher: Firefly Books
Total Pages: 416
Release: 2021-09-15
Genre:
ISBN: 9780228103271

The touchstone for contemporary stargazers. This classic, groundbreaking guide has been the go-to field guide for both beginning and experienced amateur astronomers for nearly 30 years. The fourth edition brings Terence Dickinson and Alan Dyer's invaluable manual completely up-to-date. Setting a new standard for astronomy guides, it will serve as the touchstone for the next generation of stargazers as well as longtime devotees. Technology and astronomical understanding are evolving at a breathtaking clip, and to reflect the latest information about observing techniques and equipment, this massively revised and expanded edition has been completely rebuilt (an additional 48 pages brings the page count to 416). Illustrated throughout with all-new photographs and star charts, this edition boasts a refreshed design and features five brand-new chapters, including three essential essays on binocular, telescope and Moon tours by renowned astronomy writer Ken Hewitt-White. With new content on naked-eye sky sights, LED lighting technology, WiFi-enabled telescopes and the latest advances in binoculars, telescopes and other astronomical gear, the fourth edition of The Backyard Astronomer's Guide is sure to become an indispensable reference for all levels of stargazers. New techniques for observing the Sun, the Moon and solar and lunar eclipses are an especially timely addition, given the upcoming solar eclipses in 2023 and 2024. Rounding out these impressive offerings are new sections on dark sky reserves, astro-tourism, modern astrophotography and cellphone astrophotography, making this book an enduring must-have guide for anyone looking to improve his or her astronomical viewing experience. The Backyard Astronomer's Guide also features a foreword by Dr. Sara Seager, a Canadian-American astrophysicist and planetary scientist at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and an internationally recognized expert in the search for exoplanets.

Understanding Foucault

Understanding Foucault
Author: David A. Harbour
Publisher:
Total Pages: 118
Release: 2008-04-30
Genre: Astronomical instruments
ISBN: 9781934916018

David A. Harbour presents a brilliant narrative for the Amateur Telescope Maker (ATM), on exactly how the "Foucault Test" is interpreted. Through a series of "foundation lessons" Mr. Harbour ensures the ATM understands what the Foucault Test is revealing, and what to do about it as he figures the telescope mirror to achieve the perfect paraboloid. Imagine if the makers of the Hubble Space Telescope had used this book as a guide to test the HST's primary before launch! The savings would have been in the millions! Well, that may be a stretch, but for the ATM, who has taken on the delightful but challenging task of making his own telescope mirror, how nice it would be to have a guide to ensure success!. Success is at hand. Dave Harbour presents a thorough and informative instruction on just how to be sure the mirror is perfect! This book is for the ATM bookshelf to accompany the classics of Porter, Texereau and others.

Cosmic Challenge

Cosmic Challenge
Author: Philip S. Harrington
Publisher: Cambridge University Press
Total Pages:
Release: 2010-10-21
Genre: Science
ISBN: 113949368X

Listing more than 500 sky targets, both near and far, in 187 challenges, this observing guide will test novice astronomers and advanced veterans alike. Its unique mix of Solar System and deep-sky targets will have observers hunting for the Apollo lunar landing sites, searching for satellites orbiting the outermost planets, and exploring hundreds of star clusters, nebulae, distant galaxies, and quasars. Each target object is accompanied by a rating indicating how difficult the object is to find, an in-depth visual description, an illustration showing how the object realistically looks, and a detailed finder chart to help you find each challenge quickly and effectively. The guide introduces objects often overlooked in other observing guides and features targets visible in a variety of conditions, from the inner city to the dark countryside. Challenges are provided for the naked eye, through binoculars and the largest backyard telescopes.

The NexStar User’s Guide

The NexStar User’s Guide
Author: Michael Swanson
Publisher: Springer Science & Business Media
Total Pages: 324
Release: 2012-12-06
Genre: Science
ISBN: 0857294180

Michael Swanson’s online discussions with literally thousands of NexStar owners made it clear that there was a desperate need for a book such as this – one that provides a complete, detailed guide to buying, using and maintaining NexStar telescopes. Although this book is highly comprehensive, it is suitable for beginners – there is a chapter on "Astronomy Basics" – and experts alike. Celestron’s NexStar telescopes were introduced in 1999, beginning with their first computer controlled "go to" model, a 5-inch. More models appeared in quick succession, and Celestron’s new range made it one of the two dominant manufacturers of affordable "go to" telescopes.

Touring the Universe through Binoculars

Touring the Universe through Binoculars
Author: Philip S. Harrington
Publisher: Turner Publishing Company
Total Pages: 238
Release: 1990-10-01
Genre: Science
ISBN: 1620459493

This comprehensive work takes you on a personal tour of the universe using nothing more than a pair of binoculars. More comprehensive than any book currently available, it starts with Earth's nearest neighbor, the moon, and then goes on to explore each planet in the solar system, asteroids, meteors, comets and the sun. Following this, the reader is whisked away into deep space to explore celestial bodies including stars that are known and many sights less familiar. The final chapter includes a detailed atlas of deep-sky objects visible through binoculars. The appendices include guidance on how to buy, care for and maintain astronomical binoculars, tips and hints on using them, and detailed information on several home-made binocular mounts.