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The Sky is Your Laboratory: Advanced Astronomy Projects for Amateurs (Springer Praxis Books) 2007th Edition

by Robert Buchheim (Author)
4.7 out of 5 stars 12 customer reviews
ISBN-13: 978-0387718224
ISBN-10: 0387718222
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Product Details

  • Series: Springer Praxis Books
  • Paperback: 302 pages
  • Publisher: Praxis; 2007 edition (July 31, 2007)
  • Language: English
  • ISBN-10: 0387718222
  • ISBN-13: 978-0387718224
  • Product Dimensions: 6.7 x 0.7 x 9.4 inches
  • Shipping Weight: 1.4 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
  • Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (12 customer reviews)
  • Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,029,039 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Top Customer Reviews

5.0 out of 5 starsGREAT, thorough treatment!
By T. Field on March 6, 2008
Format: Paperback Verified Purchase
I agree with the other reviews I've seen here: this book is excellent!

Are you ready to move beyond visual observing or taking CCD pix for aesthetic appreciation? Do you want to feel like you're doing a bit of science? If you answered yes to these questions, then this is undoubtedly a good book for you. It contains a survey of a wide range of areas where YOU, with relatively inexpensive amateur gear, can do observations that go far beyond the "Oh, isn't that pretty!" (Not, though, that I have anything against "pretty!")

This book is well written, and unlike many other books in our hobby, gets into the nitty-gritty details of how-to-do-it! It's well written and the author speaks with authority. Each chapter has an excellent reference at its end. Using these references allows you to do additional reading.

Although it doesn't go into much depth on the topic, this book has a short and adequate introduction on spectroscopy. The overview is good and it has references on where to find further info. I've found spectroscopy very exciting. Without much work, with a simple webcam & tiny scope, in the city, without a lengthy or complicated observing program, you can be analyzing the composition of distant stars! Now THAT'S science! (The Rainbow Optics or StarAnalyser spectroscopes are a great introduction.)
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5.0 out of 5 starsA must buy
By reads alot on January 7, 2008
Format: Paperback
For amateurs who have passed the beginner rites of the Messier and Caldwell lists, Buchheims's _Sky_ contains the measured voice of the elder mentor of your astronomy club. If that expert mentor is lacking in your local club, Buchheim's _Sky_ is a must buy that will save you in time many times its purchase. Each _Sky_ observing project is written like an after star-party club coffee meeting, with Buchheim patiently guiding you through practical field problems commonly encountered when starting photometry, double star astrometry or supernovae searching. He includes references to landmark manuals, amateur organizations and internet resources for each topic. Where appropriate, Buchheim fills in with basic observing skills that are often left unexplained as assumed knowlege in other texts, e.g. timing uncertainty reduction when timing asteriod occultations. For this Amazon review, the 18 observing projects are listed in the Table of Contents, listed above. _Sky_ now sits on my "ready reference" shelf - sandwiched between other amateur classics - like Berry's _HAIP_, Sidgwick's _Amateur Astronomer's Handbook_, North's _Advanced Amateur_ or Meeus's _Algorithms_. If you have been hooked in the hobby for two or three years and want a roadmap to the next 10 years, Buchheim's _Sky_ is what you need.
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5.0 out of 5 starsGREATEST ASTRONOMY BOOK ON THE PLANET
By James R. Easton on November 28, 2007
Format: Paperback
This is a really neat book! It opens up a whole new kind of amateur astronomy;real research projects where you make observations that are useful to professional astronomers.Amateur astronomers can gather new information or make new dsicoveries,using skills that are common amoung experienced stargazers,and equipment that is widely available. Here is a step-by-step instruction manual for getting started in these projects,from learning why each project area is important, to the equipment and procedures that are needed, and how to analyze your results.The chapters are organized roughly in order of increasing difficulty of the projects, from simple(naked-eye meteor counting) to complex (extra solar planet searches and supernova discovery). I was paticularly pleased that each project includes an explaination of how and where to submit your results, so that they will be useful to "real" astronomers.
I do not think there is any compairable book available. There are plenty of "advanced observing guides", and many "textbooks",but this book fits right in between them. It gives careful description of celestial objects or events,and how and why you should try to see them, so it's sort of an observing guide(although there are not any spectacular photos).It also explains why the observations are important,and gives a meticulous explaination of the data gathering and analysis procedures for each project,so it is sort of a textbook. But it is not stuffy,pedantic tome. The style is friendly,helpful and encouraging. There are some equations,but if you made it through high school algebra they will not give you any trouble(and only some projects require you to use them).There is even a story line! Short tales about challenges,successes,and memorable experiences are scattered throughout the text.Read more ›
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5.0 out of 5 starsFrom Hobby To Science
By EW on May 1, 2008
Format: Paperback Verified Purchase
Astronomy is one of the very few sciences where amateurs can make significant contributions and where amateur contributions are valued by the professional community. I returned to serious astronomy several years ago. I wanted to do more than just star gaze and taking pretty photos (which I still love). If you have felt the same way, then this book is a must read. Buchheim presents a plethora of different research programs that can be undertaken with modest (or even no) equipment. One of my particular interests is photometry, the measurement of light to study such things as variable stars and asteroid light curves. Buchheim takes the novice through all of the concepts and presents this material in a manner that allows the reader to understand the basic concepts and how to undertake a number of observing programs from differential photometry to all-sky to asteroid light curves The same is true for astrometry and the search for asteroids. And, these are just two of the areas of research discussed. In short, if you want to move from "just observing," and get into astronomical research and make valued contributions to science, this book will guide you through to success.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews

2.0 out of 5 starslab astronomy but no examples

This is not a good book..Way too much talk and reading. There are no worked examples from data using webcamera, ccd, camera, sldr, eos or photometry ssp1 devices to perform the... Read more

Published 3 months ago by astro
4.0 out of 5 starsFour Stars

Some helpful hints and a few lesser-known programs

Published 9 months ago by Bernie Venasse
5.0 out of 5 starsDetailed, well written guide

Excellent practical guide for doing useful astronomy on small scale. Practice these techniques and join groups of like minded enthusiasts and we'll make "crowd astronomy"... Read more

Published 21 months ago by J. Watson
5.0 out of 5 starsThe Best

This is the book!
Absolutely, the best astronomy book for advancement.
I keep going back to it after having it for a year.
Written extremely well.

Published 22 months ago by John F. Briol
5.0 out of 5 starsFantastic advanced projects book!

If you are an advanced amaetuer astronomer who wants to get more out of your hobby and help contribute to the science of astronomy, this is your book. Read more

Published on April 5, 2013 by Thomas M. Nathe
5.0 out of 5 starsFor Amateur Astronomers who want to expand their hobby

This is a fantastic book for those amateur astronomers who would like to expand their hobby to contribute to the science of astronomy. Read more

Published on December 26, 2011 by Barbara G. Harris
5.0 out of 5 starsbook review

This book has all the information you need to take your astronomy project to the next level. Thanks. Well thought out. cb

Published on November 20, 2011 by C. Bartholomew
5.0 out of 5 starsBetter Than I Thought

Most of the topics in this book will be somewhat beyond those that a casual amateur astronomer would want to pursue. Read more

Published on February 24, 2008 by Mac Observer

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