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book review: Books related to Astrophotography, Telescopes, Mountings, Optics, Celestial Coordinates, Sky Maps This list of reviews of literature dealing with telescopes, astrophysics and astronomy is ordered by the year of publishing. Please use the search function of your browser to find special authors or topics. Use the Menu Edit/Search with Internet Explorer. Most of the books are in english but some are in german and then the comment is also written in german language. International visitors may apologize this. 2002 Ron Wodaski The new CCD Astronomy This book was written for the beginner in CCD astrophotography. It gives an enormous amount of tips and basic information about all topics related to CCD astronomy. The author does not present too much mathematical detail. Most of the described techniques are only explained in their practical use and not in the underlaying theory. From that comes the only little downside of this book. Little mistakes here and there when it gets into the details. As an example the author claims that an electrical motor has its lowest torque when it has to run slow. In fact its just the other way round. The torque is max at slowest speeds. Anyway: this book is fantastic help as a first reading for all CCD interested beginners and highly recommended. If you only want to buy one single book - buy this! Main Topics Using a CCD camera Practical focusing (Fundamentals, Diffraction Effects, Optimal Focus Position, Automated Focusing, Implications of Focal Ratio) Practical Imaging (Setting up Telescope and Mount, Signal versus Noise, Sun/Moon/Planets, Deep Sky, Fun Science with CCD cameras) Taking Great Images (Solid Mounts, Selecting a Telescope, Choosing Camera and Software, Matching Camera - Scope - Mount, Imaging Options) Taking Guided Exposures (What does Guiding do?, Autoguiding Hardware, Mount Calibration) Increasing Image Quality (Image Reduction, Darks, Flats, Bias, Combining Frames, Light-Pollution Gradients) Advanced Image Processing (Color Imaging, Filter Wheel, Color Combining, Advanced Color Combining) Image Processing Fundamentals (Histogram, Clarity) Image Processing for Celstial Objects (Globular Clusters, Galaxies, Nebulae, Making Mosaics) 2002 Eugene Hecht Optics, Forth Edition This is a fantastic book! Eugene Hecht is able to explain even the most complicated matter in easy and understandable language. Next to the great descriptions there is a deep mathematical and physical deduction. There are many topics not directly related to astronomy like Holography, Microscopy and others. But a lot of chapters are fundamental in understanding what is really going on in lenses and mirrors. Several sub chapters are dealing directly with telescopes of various designs. Especially Abbe's Theory of image formation together with Fourier Optics is very interessting to know about. A must have for the amateur who wants to go beyond the wide-spread rules of thumb. Main Topics A Brief History Wave Motion Electromagnetic Theory, Photons and Light The Propagation of Light Geometrical Optics The Superposition of Waves Polarization Interference Diffraction Fourier Optics Basics of Coherence Theory Modern Optics: Lasers and Other Topics 2002 Axel Martin Astrofotografie in fünf Schritten Ein sehr gutes Buch über alle Aspekte der Astrofotografie. Leider bleibt die CCD-Fotografie in diesem Werk aussen vor. Etwas unverständlich für ein Buch des Jahres 2002. Main Topics Grundlagen, Kameras, Bildbestimmende Parameter, Aufbau des Films Die astrofotografische Montierung, azimutal, dobson, parallaktisch Teleskope für Astrofotografen, alle gängigen Typen, Kameraadapter, Brennweitenverlängerung, Filter Scharfstellung und Nachführung Arbeitsgebiete und Resultate 2000 Fred W. Price The Planet Observer's Handbook This is a book dedicated to planetary observation. Though this topic is touched by most of the more general books about amateur astronomy you will find much more detailed information here. The author is giving profound information for every planet - from the historical instruments to the CCDs of today. Main Topics The Solar System The Celestial Sphere Telescopes and Accessories The Atmosphere and Seeing Constructing Maps and Planispheres Planetary Photography and Videography Photoelectric Photometry Detailed Description of all Planets 2000 Steve B. Howell Handbook of CCD Astronomy This book was written for the astronomical student. All the topics are mostly for the professionel CCD cameras coupled to professionel telescopes. Some chapters like the image reduction are useful for the amateur too. A very sientific book of limited use for the amateur especially for the ones who are only ineteressted in pretty pictures (like me:). Main Topics CCD Manufacturing and Operation Characterization of Charge-Coupled Devices CCD Imaging Photometry and Astrometry Spectroscopy with CCDs CCDs USe in Space and at short Wavelength 1999 Peter R. Lawson Principles of Long Baseline Interferometry Mr. Lawson edited a book cleary intended for professional astronomers dealing with interferometry. But the various authors are giving very useful explanations and the derivations of the math behind it for a lot of problems the amateur is faced with too. Examples are atmospherical seeing or the principal of wave propagation in a telescope's finite aperture as well as noise in imagers. Main Topics Why build Stellar Interferometers? Elementary Theory of Interferometry Beam Combination and Fringe Measurement Noise and Sensivity in Interferometry Observing through the Turbulent Atmosphere Design of Stellar Interferometers Visibility Estimation and Calculation Phase and Group Delay Estimation Phase Referencing Wide-Angle Astrometry Ground-Based Narrow-Angle Astrometry Interferometry with two Telescopes An Introduction to Closure Phases Interferometry Design for Synthesis Imaging Data Reduction for Synthesis Imaging Nulling Interferometry and Planet Detection Binary Stars Future Ground-Based Interferometry 1999 Michael A. Covington Astrophotography for The Amateur / Second Edition This book was like a treasure for me. It covers almost every aspect of astrophotography. If I would only be allowed to buy one book this one would be the choice. Main Topics Photographing Stars without a Telescope Comets, Meteors, Aurorae and Space Dust Moon Eclipses Coupling Cameras to Telescopes, Prime-Focus, Afocal Coupling, Positive Projection, Negative Projection, Compression (Focal Reducer) The Solar System Deep-Sky Photography Cameras, Lenses and Telescopes Film, Hypersensitization, Film Speed Developing, Printing, photographic Enhancement Computer Image Enhancement, Retouching CCD Imaging Appendices: Exposure Tables, Mathematical Analysis of Polar-Axis Misalignment, Plans for an electronic Drive Corrector, Film Data, Photographic Filters, Organizations and Resources 1999 R. N. Wilson Reflecting Telescope Optics II This book is for professionels! It deals with the real big telescopes only. It is full of formula for very special cases in the operation of these scientific telescopes. Though a very good book it is of very limited use for my *tiny* 10 inch aperture. Main Topics Manufacture and Test Procedures Sensivities and Alignment of Telescopes Modern Telescope Developments: Pupil Segmentation and Techniques to reduce Mass Image Quality Specification and optical Efficiency Criteria Atmospheric Optics, adaptive Optics, Telescope Qualitiy for Interferometry Mirror reflecting Coats: Production and Cleaning Adapters and Beam Combination Aspects, Baffles Maintenance and Operation of Telescope Optics 1998 W. Paech / T. Baader Tipps & Tricks für Sternfreunde Die Autoren bringen in diesem Buch eine Vielzahl von Tipps zu allen Belangen der Astronomie. Aber auch die vielen nützlichen Formeln rechtfertigen den Kauf dieses Taschenbuches. Ein sehr gelungenes, verständlich geschriebenes Werk. Main Topics Strahlungsempfänger Formeln zu Teleskopberechnungen Formeln zur Astrofotografie Die gängigen visuellen und photographischen Systeme des Amateurs Okulare Reinigung der Optik Justieren von Teleskopen Teleskopantrieb Justierung von Montierungen, Scheiner, Teilkreise Zubehör, Barlow-Linse, Shapley-Linse, Fadenokular.Mikrometer, Filter, Dreifarbenphotographie, UBVRI-Filtersatz zur Photometrie, Taukappe, Photo, Film, CCD Anmerkung zum Teleskopkauf Anmerkung zu CCD-Kameras Tabellen, Sternkarten, Literaturverzeichnis 1998 Phillip S. Harrington Star Ware Second Edition The Amateur Astronomer's ultimate guide to choosing, buying and using telescopes and accessories. The author is not promising too much. This is an excellent book for every beginner and even useful for skilled amateurs. The use of accessories like focal reducers, barlow lenses, guiding aids and moore is explained in detail and even the circumstances when you cannot use it. Main Topics Different Telescope Types like Newtonians, Refractors, Catadioptrics Comments about the Manufactorers Lists of Ressources and Organisations Eyepiece Marketplace Astronomer's Survival Guide 1998 Herbert Friedman The Astronomer's Universe This book is dedicated to give a roundtrip of all kinds of professionel astronomy. It explains the basic fundamentals of astrophysics. It is well written an profound but of little help for the everyday work of the amateur astronomer. Main Topics From Celestial Mechanics to Astrophysics, the Big Bang The Tools of Astronomy, New-Technology Telescopes, Hubble Space Telescope The invisible Universe of Radiowaves and Infrared The violent Universe of High-Energy Astronomy Astronomical Discovery, Sun, Red Giants, White Dwarfs, Supernovae, Burned-Out Stars, Black Holes The cosmic Perspective, Dark Matter, Bubble Universes, Shape and Scale of the Universe The Search for Life in the Universe, Mars, distant Stars and their Planets, Starship Daedalus, Project Orion 1997 David Ratledge (Editor) The Art and Science of CCD Astronomy The Editor gives an introduction about how CCD cameras work and what is important about matching the CCD camera to the telescope. The rest of the book is dedicated to little essays of CCD users. They all have their special way to use CCD cameras and their special goal. Hence the reader gets a nice overview of the possibilities of CCDs in astronomy. A nice to read book. Main Topics Introduction to CCDs Lunar Imaging with the Cookbook CCD camera Solar CCD Imaging High-Resolution planetary Imaging The Comet Watch Program Imaging Comets Nebulae and Galaxies in High Resolution Wide-FIeld-Imaging CCD Imaging from the City Overcoming Light Pollution Tri-Colour CCD Imaging Beyond pretty Pictures Appendices: Manufacurers, Size of some Deep Sky Objects, Bibliography, Image Processing Software, Glossary and Terms 1996 Patrick Moore (Editor) Small Astronomical Observatories This book is a compilation of articles about the design of observatories. If you plan to build one this book is a must! Main Topics Roll-off Roof Observatory Wooden Dome Observatory Run-off Sheds Glass Fibre Dome Observatory Ancient Birr Castle Observatory of the Leviathan (Lord Rosse) 1995 Patrick Moore (Editor) The modern Amateur Astronomer This book is a compilation of articles about all kinds of topics around astronomy. Like all the books of Mr. Moore it is of a high standrad. Main Topics Optical Principles Buying a Telescope Commercially made Telescopes Observatories and Telescopes Making your own Telescope Auxiliary Equipment Electronics and the Amatuer Astronomer First Steps in Astronomical Calculations Astronomoical Spectroscopes Astrophotography Astronomical Societies 1995 Jean Dragesco High Resolution Astrophotography Jean describes in detail what is necessary to achieve high resolution pictures. Being one of the best photographers of this time there is a lot to tell for him! A profound book with a tremendous number of tips and tricks. Main Topics Atmosphere Turbulence Telescope Optics Suitable Mountings Astrophotography of the main Solar System Bodies (Moon, Planets, Sun) Short Biographies of the Specialists in HiRes Astrophotography 1994 Harold Richard Suiter Star testing astronomical Instruments This is a fantastic book! First it explains all kinds of aberrations, obstruction, scratches, misalignment and so on and the influence in the practical use of a telescope. But second this book gives a cookbook how to check all these 'defects' od a telescope by only using a star, high magnification and - a clear and steady night. Additionally practical aspects like aligning all kinds of telescopes are explained too. A great book for everyone who wants to know how things are really working in a telescope and how to improve the own one. Main Topics Abbreviated Star-Test Manual Telescopes are Filters (Modulation Transfer Function MTF) Diffraction (Diffraction and Focusing, Fresnel Zones, Nodes and Antinodes, The Pupil Function) Conducting the Star-Test (Defocusing and Sensivity, Artificial Sources, Performing the Test) Misalignment Air Turbulence and Tube Currents Pinched and Deformed Optics Obstruction and Shading Spherical Aberration Circular Zones and Turned Edges Chromatic Aberration Roughness Astigmatism Accumulated Optical Problems Other Tests (Foucault, Hartmann, Ronchi, Null Test, Interferometry) Minor Axis and Offset Derivation of a Newton Secondary Mirror 1992 Richard Berry Choosing and Using a CCD Camera Although a bit outdated this book is still a high quality source of everything about CCD cameras. It gives enough tables and formula to make own calculations but can still be easily read. Main Topics What you need to know about CCDs, Photosites, Noise, Digital Output The six Types of CCD Image, Raw Image, Bias Frame, Dark Frame, Thermal Frame, Flat-Field Frame, calibrated Image Match your Telescope and your CCD Camera, Resolving Power, Field of View, the ASA of a CCD Prepare your Telescope for CCD Imaging, Super Finder, Blacken, Baffle, Clean, Collimate How to take an Image Set, Acquire the Field, Attain critical Focus, Shoot the Frames The Morning after: Calibrating an Image Set Image Processing Displays Information, Dynamic Range, Enhance Detail Share Images with your Friends, Photographing a Computer Monitor, Hard Copies from Inkjets and Lasers 1992 Patrick Martinez Astrophotographie Dieses an sich hervorragende Buch leidet etwas unter der mässigen deutschen Übersetzung sowie dem scheusslichen *Schreibmaschinen-Layout*. Neben vielen praktischen Hinweisen und einer profunden Diskussion der Eignung diverser Optiken bringt der Autor auch ausreichend Formeln für eigene Berechnungen. Der Autor hat viele Aufnahmen beigesteuert, die er selbst am Pic du Midi Observatorium belichtet hat. Dennoch richtet sich das Buch vorallem an Amateuere mit kleineren Optiken. Naturgemäss wird man in diesem Buch, das 1985 in Deutschland erstveröffentlicht wurde, nichts über CCD-Aufnahmen finden. Es ist trotzdem iin sehr empfehlenswertes Werk! Main Topics Prinzip des Photoapparates Astronomische Fernrohre Gesetze der Optik Die Photographie ohne Teleskop Die Photographie mit Teleskop Film, Entwickler, Filter Moderne Theorie der Bildübertragung, Körnigkeit, Signal/Rausch-Verhältnis Porobleme bei langen Belichtungszeiten Astronmisch verwendete Filme Photographie der Planeten, Sonne, Kronographen Photographie schwacher Objekte Praktische Hinweise, Polausrichtung, Spektrographie, Dunkelkammertechnik Instrumentelle Probleme, Refraktor oder Reflektor?, Montierungen, Vergrösserung durch Okular oder Barlowlinse, Kameragehäuse, Vignettierung Anhang: Grenzhelligkeit, Helligkeitsverhältnisse, Luftunruhe, Nützliche Adressen 1991 Agnes Acker Praxis der Astronomie, ein Leitfaden für den Astrofotografen Der Untertitel dieses Buches verspricht zu viel! Über die Technik der Astrofotografie und den dazu notwendigen Geräten erfährt man in diesem Buch nicht wirklich viel. Besser sind die Kapitel über Astrophysik und die Himmelskörper. Aber auch das kann insgesamt den Preis nicht rechtfertigen. Dieses Buch muss man nicht besitzen. Main Topics Technik der Astrofotografie Formen und Farben Die Gaswolken zwischen den Sternen Einige ausgewählte Himmelskörper 1991 Christian Buil CCD Astronomy Though this book is from 1991 it is still one of the best sources to get the understanding and the mathematical formula to operate a CCD camera. For sure it is missing the latest technologies of some CCD frames like HyperHAD from Sony. But it covers all kinds of topics about the practical use of a CCD camera including electronics and image reduction. The author gives detailed formula of high practical use in calculating signal to noise ratio of a CCD in real use. A highly recommended standard text for everyone who wants to go to the limits of his own equipment. Main Topics Principles and Performance of the CCD, Quantum Efficiency, Spatial Resolution, Dark Current, Electroluminesence, Blooming, Linearity, Cosmic Defects, Noise The Electronics of a CCD camera Cooling the CCD, Conduction, Convection, Radiation Image Processing, Fourier Transformation and all Kinds of Filters Operating a CCD, Radiometric Correction, Measurement of Flux, Photometric Reduction, Deep Sky Imaging, Planetary Imaging 1989 G. D. Roth (Herausgeber) Handbuch für Sternfreunde Dieses zweibändige Werk ist wohl der deutsche Standard. Viele namhafte Autoren liefern ihren Beitrag zu praktisch allen Themen der Amateur-Astronomie. Wie bei allen Übersichtswerken fehlt bei allen Kapiteln der letzte Tiefgang, aber dazu gibt es dann ja vertiefende Literatur. Alles in allem sehr empfehlenswert. Inhalt Optische Teleskope und Zusatzinstrumente Teleskopmontierungen Astrophotographie Radioastronomie Sonnenuhren Grundbegriffe der spärischen Astronomie Mathematik für Amateurastronomen Grundlagen der Spektralanalyse Grundlagen der Photometrie Die irdische Atmosphäre und ihre Wirkung Allgemeines Literaturverzeichnis Die Sonne (inkl. Finsternisse) Der Mond (inkl. Finsternisse) Sternbedeckungen durch den Mond Künstliche Erdsatelliten Beobachtung der Planeten Kometen Sternschnuppen und Feuerkugeln Leuchtende Nachtwolken, Polarlichter, Zodiakllicht Die Sterne (Veränderliche Sterne, Doppelsterne) Die Milchstrasse Extragalaktische Objekte Anhang über Lehrmittel, Organisationen, Abkürzungen, Zeitschriften usw. 1983 Jean Texereau How to make a Telescope / Second Edition This book is a compilation of articles about all kinds of topics around astronomy. Like all the books of Mr. Moore it is of a high standrad. Main Topics Basic Principles and a proposed Telescope, Reflector versus Refractor, Rayleigh Criterion Making the Main Mirror, All steps in great Detail The plain Diagonal Mirror Mechanical Structure The Alt-Azimuth Mounting Making a Cassegrainian Telescope Making the Primary Cassegrainian Mirror Making the Secondary Cassegrainian Mirror Mechanical Design of the Cassegranian The Telescope Window, Clear Aperture Cover The Eyepiece The Equatorial Mounting Accessories, Mirror Coating, Paint and Metal Part Finishing Adjustments of Mirrors and Mountings Atmospheric Turbulence 1971 J.B. Sidgwick Amateur Astronomer's Handbook This is a very good book about almost every topic for the amatuer astronomer. It is very profound and detailed and includes a lot of formulas. Because of the publishing date the topics about mounting drives are funny to read! Main Topics Light Grasp / Resolution Magification and Field Size Aberrations / Glass / Materials Oculars Optical Designs Dewing and Tube Currents Testing Mountings and Drives Observing Hits Micrometers / Spectroscopes Photography Choice of Instrument The Atmosphere and Seeing If you have own experience with that piece, please...   [1] [2] [3] [4] [5] [6] [7] [8] [9] [10] Found a mistake? Any comments? then please click here to write a comment! © 1997 - 2010 astroscopic labs for design and web programming - photo or article is copyrighted by the photographer or author, respectively