Scientific American The Amateur Astronomer

by Unknown

• ISBN13: 9780471382829
• ISBN10: 0471382825
• Edition: 1st
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2000-12-19
• Publisher: Wiley

Summary

From the longest running column in Scientific American's history comes this collection of fascinating projects for amateur astronomers For over seventy years, "The Amateur Scientist" column in Scientific American has helped people explore their world and make original discoveries. This collection of both classic and recent articles presents projects for amateur astronomers at all levels. Hands-on astronomy fans will find how to build inexpensive astronomical instruments using ordinary shop-tools. From making a telescope to predicting satellite orbits to detecting the chemical composition of faraway stars, this book has something for everyone interested in practical astronomy.

Author Biography

SCIENTIFIC AMERICAN magazine reaches more than three million readers globally by subscription, on newsstands, and online at www.sciam.com. The company also publishes Scientific American Explorations, a quarterly family magazine, and Scientific American Archive, an online archive of issues from 1993 to the present at www.sciamarchive.com. SHAWN CARLSON has authored Scientific American’s "The Amateur Scientist" column since 1995. He is the Executive Director of the Society for Amateur Scientists and a 1999 winner of the prestigious MacArthur Foundation "genius" Fellowship.

Table of Contents

Foreword	vii
Introduction	ix
Part 1 Telescope Making
A Simple Telescope for Beginners	3	(15)
How to Grind, Polish and Test an Aluminum Telescope Mirror	18	(10)
The Behavior of the Telescope-maker's Pitch	28	(6)
The Dall-Kirkham Telescope	34	(7)
Principles of Erecting Telescopes	41	(4)
Powerful Pocket Telescopes	45	(4)
A Novel Refracting Telescope	49	(9)
``Off-Axis'' Reflecting Telescopes	58	(7)
Steady Telescope Mountings	65	(7)
Two Amateur-Built Radio Telescopes	72	(15)
Part 2 The Sun
How to Observe and Record Sunspots Safely	87	(8)
Sun of a Gun	95	(4)
A Coronagraph to View Solar Prominences	99	(6)
Two Spectroheliographs to Observe the Solar Disk	105	(16)
Part 3 The Earth, Moon, and Satellites
A Pendulum That Detects the Earth's Rotation	121	(9)
Observing Changes on the Moon	130	(5)
Curious Amateur Observations of the Moon	135	(8)
A Pauper's Guide to Measuring Latitude	143	(4)
Precision Geolocation Using Lunar Occultation	147	(8)
Sundial Potpourri	155	(12)
How to Study Artificial Satellites	167	(9)
Predicting Satellite Orbits	176	(13)
Part 4 The Planets, Comets, and Stars
Amateur Observations of Jupiter	189	(5)
Predicting Planetary Alignments	194	(9)
Catch a Comet by Its Tail	203	(4)
A Picture-Perfect Comet	207	(5)
A Device to Simulate Planetary Orbits	212	(4)
An Astrophysical Laboratory in Your Backyard	216	(9)
An Ocular Spectroscope	225	(3)
Monitoring Variable Stars	228	(7)
Glossary	235	(14)
Further Reading	249	(6)
Contact List	255	(2)
Index	257