The New CCD Astronomy: How to Capture the Stars With a CCD Camera in Your Own Backyard [Paperback]

Ron Wodaski (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0971123705 | ISBN-13: 978-0971123700 | Publication Date: January 1, 2002

The New CCD Astronomy is the #1 source of information about CCD astrophotography. It contains everything you need to know to become proficient at CCD imaging. Hundreds of detailed illustrations show you how to select equipment, take pictures, and process your images with a variety of software.

This book cover everything you need to know: How a CCD camera works; How to achieve critical focus; How to choose the right equipment (mount, telescope, and CCD camera); How to autoguide, and more.

You'll also learn the secrets of color imaging, the art of noise reduction, many image processing techniques, and specialized techniques for planets, nebulae, galaxies, etc.

Free with purchase: a one-year subscription to the New CCD Astronomy web site, including: a complete online version of the book; additional fully-illustrated tutorials; discussion groups moderated by the author; searchable database of CCD imaging targets; and a number of free software tools to improve your CCD imaging results.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Ron Wodaski is dedicated to making astrophotography accessible to everyone. He has written books and magazine articles on astrophotography, and recently provided a number of software tools to make image processing easier than ever. Mr.

Product Details

• Paperback: 476 pages
• Publisher: New Astronomy Press (January 1, 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0971123705
• ISBN-13: 978-0971123700
• Product Dimensions: 10.9 x 8.4 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.4 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (15 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,256,374 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

37 of 38 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The best bang for the buck in a CCD imaging book, August 5, 2003

By A Customer

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: The New CCD Astronomy: How to Capture the Stars With a CCD Camera in Your Own Backyard (Paperback)

I'm surprised there aren't more reviews on this book since it is the first book recommended to anyone who has questions about CCD imaging. If you haven't tried imaging yet, and want to know what it is like, this book will describe what you might find on a typical night imaging under a variety of circumstances. If you want to buy equipment, the book discusses some of the more popular CCD instruments as well as software which is incredibly important in CCD astrophotography. (But you'll want to check contemporary sources of course, because models are always added and prices fluctuate.) It will help you match a scope to a good fit CCD camera and will discuss why certain focal ratios are better than others for beginners. You'll get an idea of how to capture actual images of deep space objects and/or planets. And, it will give you an idea of how to process all of those raw images you will eventually collect using Photoshop, Maxim DL and other software. You use different techniques depending on the type of object - planet, globular cluster, nebula, etc. And, you can download a PDF version of the book in full color, so you can have the resource on your computer at all times.

The only complaints I have about the book are extremely minor :

- It is a non-linear read. That probably can't be helped because everyone is going to come at the book with different levels of understanding. As you gain insight, you'll want to go back and reread sections, or skip ahead when a question raised in the current section but not answered.
- It is biased toward more expensive software and hardware. Much can be done with middle-of-the-road equipment or even lower end equipment, if you have the desire but not the funds so long as the emphasis is on FUN and not competing with the Hubble. However, the more $$ you throw at the problem, the less effort is required.
- With respect to this, it does not address webcam imaging with modified webcams but that's a very minor thing as theory can be applied straight across the board.

... You'll have to check out the publisher's site or Sky and Telescope to see what I mean. I think both books are must reads for anyone interested in imaging.

19 of 21 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The "Must-Have" Book for CCD Imaging, July 28, 2003

By 

Ron Bissinger (Pleasanton, CA USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The New CCD Astronomy: How to Capture the Stars With a CCD Camera in Your Own Backyard (Paperback)

Having read nearly every book on the subject, I would say that if you must buy one book for CCD imaging, this is the book. Wodaski's book is a comprehensive how-to guide for anyone interested in or doing CCD imaging of astronomical objects. While Wodaski does cover the theoretical aspects of CCD work, he focuses most of his efforts on providing a step-by-step guide for the novice to the expert. Additional, puchasers of his book can join his web user group for personalized advice. Just two words...Buy It.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Not as advertized, November 11, 2009

By 

vivere (Detroit Metro, MI USA) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: The New CCD Astronomy: How to Capture the Stars With a CCD Camera in Your Own Backyard (Paperback)

This book is no longer available as advertized.
The book is a paperback with no color at all. Supposedly, the online version or a downloadable pdf version (as earlier buyers remarked) is in color. Following the instructions printed on the book cover, you can go to the website of the publisher, where you find that you must provide proof of purchase to receive user and password info. I did that, but I have not yet received even an acknowledgment that my e-mail was read, as I requested (although I received an automatically created delivery receipt, so my e-mail went somewhere). I have sent two e-mails so far.
If you decide to buy the book from the listed sellers, may be you should inquire in advance whether they will provide the login information or whether they can e-mail you the color pdf version, especially since the sellers' prices are much higher than the price listed in the publisher's website.