CCD Astrophotography: High-Quality Imaging from the Suburbs (Patrick Moore's Practical Astronomy Series) [Paperback]

Adam Stuart (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0387262415 | ISBN-13: 978-0387262413 | Publication Date: February 6, 2010 | Edition: 1

This book details an approach to the problem of getting high-quality astronomical images under light-polluted conditions. The book is for amateur astronomers interested in CCD imaging, especially those who have to work under suburban conditions. It outlines the materials and equipment used for high-quality imaging. The many wonderful images produced allow the reader to see the product of – initially – a fellow beginner’s efforts. Respectable images are attainable with modest equipment. This book outlines a complete and thoroughly tested working program for every beginner to achieve high-quality digital imaging.

Editorial Reviews

Review

From the reviews: "In this book, US amateur Adam Stuart struts his stuff by turning his personal experiences … into a full-length book. What I especially liked is that the author goes to great lengths to show what a variety of instruments can do … . Stuart does a really nice job presenting astrophotography … I for one found many of his tips and suggestions to be invaluable. The best feature of this book is … high-quality colour images … . the author must truly be congratulated!" (Neil English, Astronomy Now, March, 2007) "Adam Stuart’s book is a practical, enthusiastic, hands-on tale of the numerous challenges he faced and overcame during the construction of a home observatory under the light-polluted skies of southern Florida." (David Malin, Australian Physics, Vol. 43 (5), 2006)

From the Back Cover

This is a reference book for amateur astronomers who have become interested in CCD imaging. Those glorious astronomical images found in astronomy magazines might seem out of reach to newcomers to CCD imaging, but this is not the case. Great pictures are attainable with modest equipment. Adam Stuart’s many beautiful images, reproduced in this book, attest to the quality of – initially – a beginner’s efforts. Chilled-chip astronomical CCD-cameras and software are also wonderful tools for cutting through seemingly impenetrable light-pollution. CCD Astrophotography from the Suburbs describes one man’s successful approach to the problem of getting high-quality astronomical images under some of the most light-polluted conditions. Here is a complete and thoroughly tested program that will help every CCD-beginner to work towards digital imaging of the highest quality. It is equally useful to astronomers who have perfect observing conditions, as to those who have to observe from light-polluted city skies.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 208 pages
• Publisher: Springer; 1 edition (February 6, 2010)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0387262415
• ISBN-13: 978-0387262413
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 6.7 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (22 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #360,877 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Don't waste your money, December 16, 2009

By 

G. Foster (Mobile, AL United States) - See all my reviews
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Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: CCD Astrophotography: High-Quality Imaging from the Suburbs (Patrick Moore's Practical Astronomy Series) (Paperback)

This book is basically broken down into two parts. The first 80 pages are all about the author's equipment and setup. The second 80 pages are images he took. The first part may be useful if you have the exact same equipment but, if not, you won't get anything out of it. His images range from mediocre to great, but there is no information on how he captured or processed them. In short, this is just a great big pat on the back by the author for the author. Don't waste your money, you'll get nothing for it.

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars I am a little bit disappointed, April 23, 2008

By 

Attila Madai - See all my reviews
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Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: CCD Astrophotography: High-Quality Imaging from the Suburbs (Patrick Moore's Practical Astronomy Series) (Paperback)

I could hardly wait for this book because I live next to a more than 2 million-city (Budapest) in Hungary and half of the night sky is terrible from my backyard; so the main reason behind my ordering this book was its subtitle.

But the truth is that only the very first section (seven pages incl. pictures and PC screenshots) of this book deals with this problem and that is just a kind of approach from bird's eye view; the rest of the text is a "normal" and elementary level astro-photo book. (And I have much better astro photography and image processing sources as Wodarski or Berry&Burnell...)

At the same time, there are too many pictures (roughly 1/3 of the book!!!) as sample image collection. Some of them are really very nice shots and some others are poor but without any explanations regarding the features of their capture and/or image processing.

So this book is not bad at all but I can recommend it for beginners only as another overview about new technology of astro-photography and there is nothing special in it.

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Easy as Baking a Cake, July 13, 2006

By 

James L. Werle (Henderson, NV) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: CCD Astrophotography: High-Quality Imaging from the Suburbs (Patrick Moore's Practical Astronomy Series) (Paperback)

I found Adam's book provides a clear, proven recipe for obtaining high quality astrophotographs from your backyard with modern technology and equipment readily available to the hobbyist. I am returning to the hobby after 35 years. When I left, I was taking picures on 35mm film and processing it in my own darkroom. It seemed that no matter how hard you worked at it, there was a finite limit to the quality of photos you could obtain. The draw on my return to backyard astronomy and astrophotography is the technology leap in the interim. Mr. Stuart cuts to the chase and has helped bridged that gap for me.