Choosing and Using a Refracting Telescope

by English, Neil

• ISBN13: 9781441964021
• ISBN10: 1441964029
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2010-10-30
• Publisher: Springer Verlag

Summary

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.

Table of Contents

Acknowledgements	p. ix
The Achromatic Refractor
The Refracting Telescope: A Brief History	p. 3
The Classical Achromat	p. 21
Rich-Field Achromats	p. 39
Long Focus Achromats	p. 57
Big Guns	p. 77
Going Retro	p. 85
The Apochromatic Refractor
The APO Revolution	p. 99
Doublet Apos	p. 109
Sports Optics	p. 125
Triplet Apos	p. 143
Four Element Apos	p. 167
Using Your Refractor
Refractor Kit	p. 185
Observing Platforms	p. 209
Testing Your Refractor	p. 221
Photography with Your Refractor	p. 233
Looking Back, Looking Forward	p. 245
Refractor Design Through the Centuries	p. 267
Double Star Tests for Refractors of Various Apertures	p. 269
Useful Formulae	p. 271
Glossary	p. 272
References	p. 275
Index	p. 279
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