Astronomy, Observations And Techniques

Authors: Harrison, Ken M.
Provides information about constructing a digital spectroheliograph that allows amateur astronomers to safely image the Sun
Guides users through the ins and outs of this new, more affordable, reliable and customizable alternative to etalon-based solar telescopes
Explains at length the available software for using a digital spectroheliograph

Authors: Keller, Warren A.
Explains how to improve your digital images drastically by using the PixInsight software
Authored by the foremost expert on the software PixInsight, having created a series of successful instructional video tutorials
Augmented by screenshots of the program to help guide users through the pre-processing and post-processing edits

Editors: D'Onofrio, Mauro, Rampazzo, Roberto, Zaggia, Simone (Eds.)
In the stylistic tradition of Galileo's "Dialogue Concerning the Two Chief World Systems"
Written as a series of interviews with many leading astronomers who participated in the history of extragalactic astronomy
Documents the evolution of understanding of galaxies through the 20th and early 21st century
Attractive also for undergraduate students who not only want to learn the state of the art of a field but seek an understanding of astronomical thinking and understanding

A valuable reference that fills a number of niches including that of a buyer's guide, technical desk reference and observer's field guide. It documents the past market and its evolution, right up to the present day. In addition to appealing to practical astronomers - and potentially saving them money - it is useful both as a historical reference and as a detailed review of the current market place for this bustling astronomical consumer product.

It is a pleasure and an honor to offer a few words of forward to Brian Warner's guide to photometry. In his preface, he makes a considerable point about amateurs and professionals, and those who dare or deign to step across the line supposedly dividing the two. Here I would like to make a few observations about the two monikers, and suggest that there is not, or at least should not be, a distinction - tween "amateur" and "professional. " In preparing these remarks I referred to W- ster’s New Collegiate Dictionary (1960 edition; not so new anymore, but that was when my collegiate experience began): am´a·teur, n. [F. , fr. L. amator lover, fr. amare to love. ] 1. One who cultivates a particular pursuit, study, or science, from taste, without pursuing it professionally; also, a dabbler. 2. In sports and esp. athletics, one who is not rated as a professional. Well. . . a "dabbler" eh? "not rated as a professional"? No wonder we have an identity problem here. Somehow in my youth as an amateur astronomer I missed this connotation of the term. To me, the meaning of the term amateur was do- nated by its root, "to love," that is, one who does what he does out of love of the subject, not for remuneration (to the extent one can get away with that).

It is a pleasure and an honor to offer a few words of forward to Brian Warner's guide to photometry. In his preface, he makes a considerable point about amateurs and professionals, and those who dare or deign to step across the line supposedly dividing the two. Here I would like to make a few observations about the two monikers, and suggest that there is not, or at least should not be, a distinction - tween "amateur" and "professional. " In preparing these remarks I referred to W- ster’s New Collegiate Dictionary (1960 edition; not so new anymore, but that was when my collegiate experience began): am´a·teur, n. [F. , fr. L. amator lover, fr. amare to love. ] 1. One who cultivates a particular pursuit, study, or science, from taste, without pursuing it professionally; also, a dabbler. 2. In sports and esp. athletics, one who is not rated as a professional. Well. . . a "dabbler" eh? "not rated as a professional"? No wonder we have an identity problem here. Somehow in my youth as an amateur astronomer I missed this connotation of the term. To me, the meaning of the term amateur was do- nated by its root, "to love," that is, one who does what he does out of love of the subject, not for remuneration (to the extent one can get away with that).

Authors: Christodoulides, Costas
Presents a systematic description of more than 50 of the main relevant experiments
Includes detailed solutions of all the problems at the end of the book
Describes the historical development of the theory in detail

The essential guide that shows you how to get the most from your observations. For thousands of years, observers have gazed up at the night sky and wondered at the celestial bodies that occupy the vastness of space. If you have ever wanted to learn more about such phenomena, or just how to locate the major constellations and the planets, this practical and accessible guide will provide all the information you need.

by Nobuyuki Matsumoto (Author)
Nominated as an outstanding contribution by The University of Tokyo's Physics Department in 2014
Describes precise force measurement imposed on a suspended mirror and the effect of the quantum back-action
Introduces a newly developed technique on how to trap the macroscopic mirror by laser, free from the thermal bath