Written by an accomplished amateur astronomer and available for the first time in North America, this advanced guide is designed to take your evening explorations to new heights. Beginning with an explanation of the fundamental principles of practical astronomy, author North provides essential information on telescope optics, the atmosphere, astrophotography, electronic imaging, and telescope hardware (including how to select equipment and diagnose faulty telescopes). This knowledge is then applied to the full range of celestial bodies accessible by telescope: the solar system, stars and galaxies. For those amateur astronomers who are bored with making simple observations, chapters on photometry, spectroscopy and radio astronomy bring observational astronomy to a level where data of real scientific value can be acquired. This book is a must for any amateur astronomer wanting a new way to look at the sky.
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"...many astronomers will welcome the updated second edition of Gerald North's Advanced Amateur Astronomy...The sections on telescopic hardware, adjustment and astrophotography are now joined by a chapter on electronic imaging, and the book has a superb introduction to the types of astronomical object most suited to amateur investigation." New Scientist
"This book offers practical exercises and advice for the amateur astronomer looking to move beyond the basics of backyard stargazing and into the world of data gathering." Lunar & Planetary Information Bulletin
"North ably guides casual stargazers through all of the many possibilities for moving to the next level." Science Books & Films
"This book offers practical exercises and advice for the amateur astronomer looking to move beyond the basics of backyard stargazing and into the world of data gathering." Lunar & Planetary Information Bulletin
"North ably guides casual stargazers through all of the many possibilities for moving to the next level." Science Books & Films
Book Description
For the amateur astronomer who is bored with constellation spotting and elementary observing, this indispensable guide will put new zest into nights under starlit skies. It takes the observer onto more detailed and advanced practical work in astronomy,with chapters on astrophotography, electronic imaging, spectroscopy and radio astronomy. The specialised knowledge is applied to the full range of celestial bodies accessible by telescope: the solar system, stars and galaxies.
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
19 of 22 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Very Good Book,
By Inewton (East Coast, USA) - See all my reviews
This review is from: Advanced Amateur Astronomy (Paperback)
The author covers quite a range of material, in a very easy to read style. He goes into enough depth to make it a very practical book. Cover basic collimation issues, telescope design- a great book for Amateur Telescope Makers. There's nice number of pointers on astrophotography also. Especially for plaetary/lunar. Some material is perhaps a little dated. Not much on digital image processing, but a good section nonetheless. Finally he concludes with neat radio telescope projects and how amateurs can do more scientific type work of benefit.
5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
A Good Advanced Overview,
By
This review is from: Advanced Amateur Astronomy (Paperback)
North's seem to have a penchant for writing overview books, but this example is superior than his more recent "Observing the Moon" overview of that subject.Many of the things that North deals with in this book - optics, hardware, seeing, astrophotography, stellar objects (Sun, comets, planets, moon, etc) - have been done in other books, but North is able to take them to the next level rather effectively. Somehow he's able to put just the right amount in each chapter this time. Furthermore, North has been able to include in this book chapters in spectroscopy and radio astronomy that I've not seen in other books of this type. The only issue I have with the book is that some of his information now seems a bit dated. There is not much that can be done about that in such a fast moving field as Astronomy. Having said that, I think that "Advanced Amateur Astronomy" manages to raise the bar for books of this type. Recommended. Heck, its on MY Wish List! 8-)
4.0 out of 5 stars
Advanced is Right,
Amazon Verified Purchase(What's this?)
This review is from: Advanced Amateur Astronomy (Paperback)
Most of this book is above me and the people in our club.
I hope to grow into it.
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Inside This Book
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First Sentence:
This is a book on advanced techniques in amateur astronomy, not a textbook on optics. Read the first page Key Phrases - Statistically Improbable Phrases (SIPs): (learn more)
telescope drawtube, eyepiece focusing mount, telescope hardware, crosswire eyepiece, dark current reading, effective focal ratio, low focal ratio, principal focal length, spurious colour, photometer head, telescope ideas, focal ratio telescopes, photometric equipment, eyepiece projection, slit jaws, telescope tube, support vanes, photoelectric photometry, telescope drive, secondary mirror, comparison stars, primary mirror, filar micrometer, photoelectric photometer, star diagonal Key Phrases - Capitalized Phrases (CAPs): (learn more)
Cambridge University Press, Nick James, Martin Mobberley, Journal of the British Astronomical Association, Ron Arbour, Celestial Equator, Terry Platt, Andrew Johnson, Jack Ells, Rob Moseley, Royal Greenwich Observatory, John Wiley, Solar System, Kodak's Technical Pan, Nova Cygni, American Association of Variable Star Observers, John Watson, Mare Crisium, Peter Strugnell, Tele Vue New!
Books on Related Topics | Concordance | Text Stats Browse Sample Pages:
Front Cover | Table of Contents | First Pages | Index | Back Cover | Surprise Me!
This is a book on advanced techniques in amateur astronomy, not a textbook on optics. Read the first page Key Phrases - Statistically Improbable Phrases (SIPs): (learn more)
telescope drawtube, eyepiece focusing mount, telescope hardware, crosswire eyepiece, dark current reading, effective focal ratio, low focal ratio, principal focal length, spurious colour, photometer head, telescope ideas, focal ratio telescopes, photometric equipment, eyepiece projection, slit jaws, telescope tube, support vanes, photoelectric photometry, telescope drive, secondary mirror, comparison stars, primary mirror, filar micrometer, photoelectric photometer, star diagonal Key Phrases - Capitalized Phrases (CAPs): (learn more)
Cambridge University Press, Nick James, Martin Mobberley, Journal of the British Astronomical Association, Ron Arbour, Celestial Equator, Terry Platt, Andrew Johnson, Jack Ells, Rob Moseley, Royal Greenwich Observatory, John Wiley, Solar System, Kodak's Technical Pan, Nova Cygni, American Association of Variable Star Observers, John Watson, Mare Crisium, Peter Strugnell, Tele Vue New!
Books on Related Topics | Concordance | Text Stats Browse Sample Pages:
Front Cover | Table of Contents | First Pages | Index | Back Cover | Surprise Me!
Citations (learn more)
This book cites 22
books:
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9
books
cite this book:
See all 9 books citing this book
- Solar System (Planet Earth) by Kendrick Frazier on page 380, and page 385
- The Solar System (3 Vol Set) (Magill's Choice) by Roger Smith on page 380, and page 385
- Observing the Sun (Practical Astronomy Handbooks) by Peter O. Taylor on page 386
- Photoelectric Photometry of Variable Stars: A Practical Guide for the Smaller Observatory by Douglas S. Hall on page 387
- The Solar System (Discovery Channel School Science: Universes Large and Small) by Lorraine Hopping Egan on page 380
See all 22 books this book cites
- Observing Comets by Nick James on page 44, and Back Matter
- Scientific American The Amateur Astronomer (Scientific American (Wiley)) by Scientific American in Back Matter (1), and Back Matter (2)
- Seeing in the Dark : How Backyard Stargazers Are Probing Deep Space and Guarding Earth from Interplanetary Peril by Timothy Ferris in Back Matter (1), and Back Matter (2)
- Hands-On Astronomy: A Cambridge Guide to Equipment and Accessories by Hervé Burillier in Back Matter
- Star-Hopping: Your Visa to Viewing the Universe by Robert A. Garfinkle in Back Matter
See all 9 books citing this book
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