The 20-cm Schmidt-Cassegrain Telescope: A Practical Observing Guide [Hardcover]

Peter L. Manly (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: October 28, 1994

The 20-cm (8-in) Schmidt-Cassegrain telescope is the most popular telescope in the world. This compact instrument revolutionized amateur astronomy and astrophotography, and more than ten thousand are purchased each year. Manly, a devotee and keen user of the Schmidt-Cassegrain, takes the telescope owner, in easy stages, through all aspects of using the telescope. He starts with techniques for viewing the Moon, then takes the observer through our planetary system, and on to the deep sky, where nebulae and galaxies are treated extensively. There are interesting projects to try, such as observing the nearest star and chasing eclipses. The book describes a full range of telescope accessories and detectors together with advice on their use. The 40-page appendix is packed with hard-to-find practical information. Peter Manly is the author of Unusual Telescopes (CUP, 1992).

Editorial Reviews

Review

"...walks the reader through all sorts of projects, gives tips on photography, and presents a survey of accessories useful for both types of activities. Appendices tell the reader how to polar align, collimate, and clean the telescope...this book does an excellent job in conveying the 8-inch SCT's exciting potential. People who own, or are planning to buy, this type of scope will want to examine this book." Astronomy

"...does an exceptional job in conveying the 8-inch SCT's exciting potential. People who own, or are planning to buy, this type of scope will want to examine this book." Astronomy

Book Description

This is a guide to the use of the most popular type of telescope in the world, the 20-cm (8-in) Schmidt-Cassegrain telescope. Peter Manly takes the telescope owner through all aspects of using the telescope in easy stages.It starts with techniques for viewing the Moon, then takes the observer through our planetary system, and on to the deep sky, where nebulae and galaxies are treated extensively. A full range of telescope accessories and detectors is desxcribed together with advice on their use.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 283 pages
• Publisher: Cambridge University Press (October 28, 1994)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0521433606
• ISBN-13: 978-0521433600
• Product Dimensions: 9.2 x 6.4 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.4 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (10 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,700,530 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Excellent reference but lacking sufficient illustrations, November 1, 1999

By 

A Customer - See all my reviews

This review is from: The 20-cm Schmidt-Cassegrain Telescope: A Practical Observing Guide (Hardcover)

For those trying to figure out the difference between an SCT (or what SCT means) and other telescopes this is a very useful book. It contains much useful background material and history, but falls short in providing a full understanding of the interworkings of this type of telescope. The inclusion of some "cutaway" or "exploded view" drawing would go a long way in helping the reader visualize the mechanisms behind the covers. This would be very useful to someone trying to fully understand the optical system of the SCT.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Good book , Great Reading, May 2, 1999

By 

[e-mail] (Australia) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The 20-cm Schmidt-Cassegrain Telescope: A Practical Observing Guide (Hardcover)

I found this book great reading. If you have just bought a SCT or are looking to purchase one, this is highly recommended. Easy to read without all of the Technical Jargon. You can relate to the what the Author is conveying with the practical examples given.

5.0 out of 5 stars The best 71 cents I have ever spent!, September 30, 2010

By 

Jeronimo - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: The 20-cm Schmidt-Cassegrain Telescope: A Practical Observing Guide (Paperback)

Mr Manly has produced a fine gem of a book, provided you are into SCTs of course.
Although it is not laden with all of the newest technological advancements in goto and GPS, my version is the 2002 reprint, for me me it is quite sufficient as a non-goto Ultima 8 owner. If I get tired of star-hopping (or clod-hopping for that matter), I will mount a Celestron SkyScout planetarium onto my optical tube assembly and have it guide me (as the goto apparatus) to the desired object. But I digress.
I like the humor he puts into the book. It is very easy reading, and I like the information in the appendices. The format is perfect, slightly larger than a paperback novel. In a nutshell; a perfect companion for my other astronomy books and star guides. Nothing negative to say about the book.
And for the price, who can get a better deal? I practically paid shipping only. Shipping was $3.99, and the book was 71 cents, and in new condition. The best 71 cents I have ever spent!