Practical Amateur Astronomy 2 Volume Paperback Set

by Michael Covington

• ISBN13: 9780521524209
• ISBN10: 0521524202
• Format: Package
• Copyright: 2002-11-11
• Publisher: Cambridge University Press

Summary

Together, this two-volume set provides amateur astronomers with all the information they require to set up their telescopes and embark upon an exciting exploration of the night sky. Complete with trouble-shooting advice, practical tips for observing over 200 interesting celestial objects, and information about the latest products and resources, this set of Covington's two books is an essential purchase for every new telescope owner.

Table of Contents

Preface	xv
Part I Telescopes in general	1	(130)
Welcome to amateur astronomy!	3	(3)
Using a telescope	3	(1)
Learning the sky	4	(1)
Is a computerized telescope right for you?	4	(1)
Material you can skip	5	(1)
Does this book cover your telescope?	5	(1)
How the sky moves	6	(13)
Daily motion	6	(2)
Coordinates	8	(4)
Right ascension and declination	8	(1)
Declination and latitude	9	(1)
Some terminology	10	(1)
Other coordinate systems	10	(1)
Degrees, minutes, and seconds	11	(1)
Distance between points in the sky	12	(1)
Annual motion	12	(1)
Why time of year matters	12	(1)
Sidereal time	13	(1)
Time of day	13	(4)
Solar time and time zones	13	(2)
Hints on using UT	15	(2)
UTC, ET, and other subtleties	17	(1)
Slow changes in R.A. and declination	17	(2)
Precession and epochs	17	(1)
How precession works	17	(1)
Proper motion	18	(1)
How telescopes track the stars	19	(20)
What's inside a computerized telescope	19	(2)
Computer	19	(1)
Motors	20	(1)
Encoders	21	(1)
Digital setting circles (DSC)	21	(1)
Altazimuth and equatorial mounts	21	(1)
Site information	22	(3)
Why it's needed	22	(1)
Obtaining site data	23	(2)
Why compasses don't point north	25	(2)
Setting up the telescope	27	(1)
Choosing alignment stars	28	(1)
Automatic setup with GPS	29	(1)
Tripods and piers	29	(3)
Steadiness	29	(1)
Other tripod and wedge hints	30	(1)
Observatories and permanent piers	31	(1)
Pointing accuracy	32	(4)
What to expect	32	(1)
Factors that affect pointing accuracy	32	(2)
Aligning the telescope tube in the mount	34	(1)
The double-GO TO trick	34	(1)
Meade high-precision mode	35	(1)
TPoint Software	35	(1)
What the telescope is calculating	35	(1)
Computer control	36	(1)
Electricity for telescopes	37	(2)
Using equatorial mounts and wedges	39	(20)
Why equatorial?	39	(1)
Must field rotation be eliminated?	39	(4)
Using an equatorial mount	43	(5)
Setting up the mount	43	(1)
Rough polar-axis alignment without sighting stars	43	(1)
Finding Polaris	44	(1)
Rough polar-axis alignment on Polaris	45	(2)
Initializing the computer	47	(1)
Refining the polar alignment	48	(1)
Iterating on Polaris and one other star	48	(1)
Fine alignment -- the drift method	49	(1)
Using wedges	49	(2)
Tracking in equatorial mode	51	(2)
Tracking rates	51	(2)
Periodic-error correction (PEC)	53	(1)
Setting circles	53	(2)
Southern declination limits	55	(1)
German equatorial mounts	56	(3)
Telescope optics	59	(20)
How a telescope works	59	(1)
Upside down and backward images	59	(2)
Light grasp and image brightness	61	(2)
Resolving power	63	(1)
Types of telescopes	64	(6)
Refractors, reflectors, and catadioptrics	64	(2)
Catadioptric quirks	66	(1)
``Fast'' and ``slow'' f-ratios	67	(1)
Does the central obstruction ruin the image?	68	(1)
Which design is best?	69	(1)
Collimation	70	(4)
Collimating a Schmidt-Cassegrain	70	(3)
Collimating a Newtonian	73	(1)
How often?	74	(1)
Star testing	74	(3)
Buying a telescope secondhand	77	(1)
Cleaning optics	78	(1)
Lenses	78	(1)
Mirrors	78	(1)
Eyepieces and optical accessories	79	(20)
What eyepieces do you need?	79	(1)
Barrel size	79	(1)
Field of view	80	(3)
Measuring field of view	82	(1)
Eye relief	83	(1)
Eyepiece designs	83	(2)
New-generation eyepieces	85	(1)
Anti-reflection coatings	86	(1)
Choosing eyepieces wisely	86	(1)
Eyepiece calculations and technical details	87	(3)
The exit pupil	87	(1)
Limits on low power	88	(1)
Limits on high power	89	(1)
Field stop and tube size	89	(1)
Eyepiece accessories	90	(6)
Diagonals	90	(2)
Barlow lenses	92	(1)
Focal reducers (compressors)	93	(1)
Filters	94	(2)
Eyeglasses	96	(1)
Finders	97	(2)
Astrophotography	99	(23)
Overview	99	(1)
Attaching cameras to telescopes	100	(3)
Optical configurations	100	(2)
Brackets and adapters	102	(1)
Two simple projects to get you started	103	(4)
Project #1: the Moon, afocal method	103	(1)
Project #2: the stars, piggybacking	103	(4)
Equipment for astrophotography	107	(4)
Telescope requirements	107	(1)
35-mm SLR cameras	107	(2)
Other film cameras	109	(1)
Digital and video cameras	109	(1)
Astronomical CCD cameras	110	(1)
Focal length, image size, and f-ratio	111	(4)
Finding the effective focal length	111	(1)
Image size and field of view	112	(1)
Finding the f-ratio	113	(1)
Exposure, film, and development	113	(2)
Focusing and sharpness	115	(1)
Deep-sky techniques	116	(3)
Digital image processing	119	(3)
Troubleshooting	122	(9)
Electrical and computer problems	122	(1)
Keypad problems	123	(2)
Motor and slewing problems	125	(4)
Optical problems	129	(2)
Part II Three classic telescopes	131	(88)
Three that led the revolution	133	(1)
Meade LX200	134	(35)
Introduction	134	(2)
Evaluation of the LX200	134	(1)
Related products	135	(1)
Firmware versions	135	(1)
LX200 websites	136	(1)
Electrical requirements	136	(1)
Keypad	137	(1)
Direction of movement	138	(1)
How to enter negative numbers	138	(1)
Operation without electricity	138	(1)
Motorized operation without alignment	139	(1)
Controlling the slewing speed	140	(1)
Entering date, time, and site information	140	(3)
Setting the time	140	(1)
Setting the date	141	(1)
Entering site latitude and longitude	141	(2)
Aligning the telescope on the sky	143	(6)
Altazimuth mode	143	(3)
Equatorial mode	146	(3)
Finding objects by coordinates	149	(1)
Slewing to a given R.A. and declination	149	(1)
Slewing to a given altitude and azimuth	149	(1)
Dealing with decimal minutes	149	(1)
How to interrupt a slewing movement	150	(1)
Finding deep-sky objects using the built-in catalogues	150	(1)
M (Messier) Catalogue	150	(1)
NGC, IC, and UGC	150	(1)
Finding stars using the built-in catalogues	151	(2)
Named stars	151	(1)
STAR, SAO, and GCVS numbers	152	(1)
Finding the Moon and planets	153	(1)
More precise pointing	154	(3)
How to sync on an object	154	(2)
High-precision mode	156	(1)
Training the Smart Drive (PEC)	157	(1)
Cables, connections, and ports	158	(4)
Keypad and declination cables	158	(1)
CCD port	159	(1)
The serial ports	159	(2)
Other connectors	161	(1)
Internal battery	161	(1)
The floating ground	161	(1)
Known firmware bugs	162	(1)
Mechanical and electrical improvements	162	(1)
Menu maps	163	(6)
Celestron NexStar 5 and 8	169	(24)
Introduction	169	(2)
Related products	169	(1)
Evaluation of the NexStar 5	169	(1)
Firmware versions	170	(1)
NexStar websites	170	(1)
Important precautions	171	(1)
Electrical requirements	171	(1)
Keypad	172	(1)
Direction of movement	172	(1)
How to enter declinations and latitudes	173	(1)
Basic operation without alignment	173	(2)
Operation without electricity	173	(1)
Motorized operation without alignment	174	(1)
Controlling the slewing speed	174	(1)
Entering date, time, and site information	175	(2)
Setting the date and time	175	(1)
Entering site latitude and longitude	176	(1)
Storing an observing site	176	(1)
Aligning the telescope on the sky	177	(5)
Altazimuth mode	177	(4)
Equatorial mode	181	(1)
How to interrupt a slewing movement	182	(1)
Finding objects with the built-in catalogues	183	(1)
Messier, Caldwell, and NGC objects	183	(1)
Stars	183	(1)
Planets	184	(1)
Lists of objects	184	(1)
Sky tours	184	(1)
Finding objects by coordinates	184	(1)
Slewing to a given R.A. and declination	184	(1)
Slewing to a given altitude and azimuth	184	(1)
The ``User Object'' catalogue	184	(1)
More precise pointing	185	(1)
Approaching with δ and δ	185	(1)
Backlash adjustment	185	(1)
How to sync on an object	185	(1)
The controversy over tripod leveling	185	(1)
Cables, connections, and ports	186	(1)
Keypad cable	186	(1)
Serial (RS-232) port	186	(1)
Known firmware bugs	187	(1)
Menu maps	187	(6)
Meade Autostar (ETX and LX90)	193	(26)
Introduction	193	(2)
Related products	193	(1)
Evaluation of the Autostar (ETX-90 and LX90)	194	(1)
Firmware versions	194	(1)
Autostar websites	195	(1)
Electrical requirements	195	(1)
Keypad	195	(2)
Is the computer included?	195	(1)
Please type slowly!	196	(1)
How to enter information	196	(1)
Display adjustments	197	(1)
Direction of movement	197	(1)
Display modes	197	(1)
Power-on sequence, date, and time	197	(2)
Entering site information	199	(1)
Choosing your location from a menu	199	(1)
Entering latitude, longitude, and time zone directly	200	(1)
Basic operation without alignment	200	(1)
Operation without electricity	200	(1)
Land mode	201	(1)
Controlling the slewing speed	201	(1)
Aligning the telescope on the sky	201	(4)
Checking the finder	201	(1)
Altazimuth mode	201	(3)
Equatorial mode	204	(1)
How to interrupt a slewing movement	205	(1)
Finding objects with the built-in catalogues	205	(1)
Finding objects by coordinates	205	(1)
More precise pointing	206	(1)
How to sync on an object	206	(1)
High-precision mode	206	(1)
Square spiral search (``box scan'')	206	(1)
Drive training and backlash adjustment	207	(1)
Cables, connections, and ports	207	(1)
The connector panel	207	(1)
The serial port	208	(1)
Upgrading the firmware and downloading data	208	(1)
Other advanced features	209	(2)
Satellite tracking	209	(2)
Sky tours	211	(1)
Menu maps	211	(8)
Index	219	(36)
Preface	xiii
Part I Amateur astronomy	1	(164)
Using this book effectively	3	(3)
Amateur astronomy for a new generation	3	(1)
The maps are backward!	3	(2)
Old books	5	(1)
Material you can skip	5	(1)
Pronouncing foreign names	5	(1)
Observing sites and conditions	6	(17)
Darkness and night vision	6	(6)
Dark adaptation	6	(1)
Twilight and moonlight	7	(1)
Light pollution	7	(1)
Naked-eye limiting magnitude	8	(1)
The Bortle dark-sky scale	8	(4)
Atmospheric steadiness	12	(1)
Weather and the astronomer	13	(5)
Climate, weather, and seasons	13	(1)
Using satellite weather data	14	(2)
Dew	16	(2)
Observing at remote sites	18	(5)
Finding a site	18	(1)
Transporting the telescope	18	(1)
Site etiquette	19	(1)
Keeping warm	20	(1)
Mosquitoes	20	(1)
Other vermin	21	(1)
Safety	22	(1)
The Moon, the Sun, and eclipses	23	(19)
The Moon	23	(10)
Phases of the Moon	23	(1)
Why observe the Moon?	23	(4)
Names of lunar features	27	(3)
Coordinate systems	30	(1)
Observing programs	30	(1)
Lunar eclipses	31	(2)
Occultations	33	(1)
The Sun	33	(9)
Sun filters	33	(2)
Solar features	35	(2)
Solar eclipses	37	(5)
The planets	42	(20)
General concepts	42	(1)
The view from Earth	42	(2)
Mercury	44	(3)
Elongations of Mercury, 2002-2010	45	(2)
Transits of Mercury	47	(1)
Observing Mercury	47	(1)
Venus	47	(2)
Elongations of Venus, 2002-2010	47	(1)
Transits of Venus	48	(1)
Observing Venus	48	(1)
Mars	49	(4)
Oppositions of Mars, 2002-2010	49	(1)
Surface features of Mars	49	(2)
Named Martian features	51	(1)
Satellites of Mars	52	(1)
Jupiter	53	(3)
Oppositions of Jupiter, 2002-2010	53	(1)
Surface features of Jupiter	53	(2)
Satellites of Jupiter	55	(1)
Saturn	56	(3)
Oppositions of Saturn	56	(1)
Surface features of Saturn	56	(1)
Rings of Saturn	57	(1)
Satellites of Saturn	58	(1)
Uranus	59	(1)
Oppositions of Uranus	59	(1)
Surface features of Uranus	59	(1)
Satellites of Uranus	59	(1)
Neptune	60	(1)
Oppositions of Neptune	60	(1)
Surface features of Neptune	60	(1)
Satellites of Neptune	60	(1)
Pluto	60	(2)
Oppositions of Pluto	60	(1)
Telescopic appearance	61	(1)
Satellite of Pluto	61	(1)
Comets, asteroids (minor planets), and artificial satellites	62	(18)
Small objects in the Solar System	62	(1)
Orbits and ephemerides	62	(1)
Asteroids (minor planets)	63	(4)
Observing asteroids	63	(1)
Asteroid nomenclature and data	64	(1)
Finding asteroids with computerized telescopes	65	(1)
Discovering asteroids	66	(1)
Comets	67	(5)
Observing comets	67	(1)
Comet designations	68	(1)
Finding comets with computerized telescopes	69	(1)
How to discover a comet	70	(1)
Reporting a comet discovery	71	(1)
Meteors	72	(1)
Artificial Earth satellites	73	(4)
Observing satellites	73	(1)
Satellite orbits	73	(2)
Satellite data files	75	(1)
What to expect at the telescope	76	(1)
Orbital elements explained	77	(3)
Constellations	80	(7)
Constellation names	80	(4)
How the constellations got their names	84	(2)
Obsolete constellations	86	(1)
The zodiac	86	(1)
Stars - identification, nomenclature, and maps	87	(25)
Star names	87	(4)
Traditional names	87	(3)
Other star names	90	(1)
Stars named after people	90	(1)
Modern star designations	91	(2)
Bayer and Lacaille letters	91	(2)
Flamsteed numbers	93	(1)
STAR numbers	93	(1)
Star maps	93	(7)
Wide-field atlases	93	(1)
Medium-scale atlases	94	(1)
Telescopic atlases	94	(1)
How to use a telescopic atlas	95	(2)
Sky mapping software	97	(2)
Palomar Observatory Sky Survey	99	(1)
Star catalogues	100	(12)
Online libraries	100	(1)
SAO	100	(1)
Other bright star catalogues	101	(1)
Hubble Guide Star Catalog	101	(1)
Hipparcos and Tycho	101	(1)
The cross-indexing problem	102	(1)
Bayer/Flamsteed to SAO cross-index	102	(10)
Stars -- physical properties	112	(11)
Magnitude	112	(2)
The magnitude system	112	(1)
Calculations with magnitudes	112	(1)
Telescope magnitude limits	113	(1)
Magnitudes in old books	114	(1)
Number of stars in the sky	114	(1)
Distances of the stars	115	(2)
Distance units	115	(1)
Parallax	116	(1)
Measuring greater distances	116	(1)
Absolute magnitude	117	(1)
Colors and spectra	117	(3)
Star colors	117	(1)
B and V magnitudes; color index	118	(1)
Spectroscopy	119	(1)
Stellar physics	120	(3)
Mass, luminosity, and temperature	120	(1)
Stellar evolution in brief	120	(1)
More about stellar evolution	121	(2)
Double and multiple stars	123	(9)
The importance of double stars	123	(1)
Position angle and separation	124	(1)
Binary-star orbits	125	(2)
Telescope limits	127	(1)
Making measurements for yourself	128	(2)
The need for measurements	128	(1)
Teague's reticle method	128	(1)
Calibrating the linear scale	129	(1)
Taking a measurement	129	(1)
Turning off the drive motors	130	(1)
Multiple-star nomenclature and catalogues	130	(2)
Variable stars	132	(12)
Overview	132	(1)
Types of variables	132	(5)
Pulsating variables	132	(2)
Irregular variables	134	(1)
Eclipsing binaries	134	(1)
Novae	135	(1)
Reporting a discovery	136	(1)
Nomenclature	137	(3)
Letter designations	137	(1)
Harvard designations	137	(1)
GCVS numbers	138	(2)
Observing techniques	140	(4)
Estimating magnitudes	140	(2)
Telescope considerations	142	(1)
Sources of difficulty	142	(1)
Photographic observation	143	(1)
Clusters, nebulae, and galaxies	144	(21)
The lure of the deep sky	144	(1)
Deep-sky objects	144	(4)
Asterisms	144	(1)
Open clusters	145	(1)
Nebulae	145	(1)
Our galactic neighborhood	146	(1)
Distant galaxies	146	(1)
Active galaxies and quasars	147	(1)
Observing techniques	148	(2)
Star clusters	148	(1)
Bright nebulae	148	(1)
``Faint fuzzies''	149	(1)
Magnitude and surface brightness	149	(1)
Catalogues and designations	150	(11)
The Messier (M) catalogue	150	(4)
The Caldwell Catalogue	154	(4)
The Herschel (H) Catalogue	158	(1)
NGC, IC, RNGC, and CNGC	158	(3)
Other important catalogues	161	(1)
Handbooks, classic and modern	161	(4)
Smyth's Cycle of Celestial Objects	161	(1)
Webb's Celestial Objects for Common Telescopes	162	(1)
Hartung and Burnham	162	(2)
Modern handbooks	164	(1)
Part II 200 interesting stars and deep-sky objects	165	(90)
How these objects were chosen	167	(4)
The January-February sky (R.A. 6h--10h)	171	(12)
The March-April sky (R.A. 10h--14h)	183	(14)
The May-June sky (R.A. 14h--18h)	197	(8)
The July-August sky (R.A. 18h--22h)	205	(18)
The September-October sky (R.A. 22h--2h)	223	(12)
The November-December sky (R.A. 2h--6h)	235	(20)
Appendices
A Converting decimal minutes to seconds	248	(1)
B Precession from 1950 to 2000	249	(3)
C Julian date, 2001--2015	252	(3)
Index	255