Cataclysmic Cosmic Events and How to Observe Them (Astronomers' Observing Guides)

This book is about observing dramatic and often bizarre cosmic events. Observation of gamma ray bursts, cataclysmic variable star outbursts, distant supernovae, and even active galactic nuclei might be thought to be far beyond the range of amateur observers – but this is not the case. Recent technical developments in CCD equipment, powerful PCs, new observing and processing techniques, and professional satellite monitoring systems have opened a range of high-value niche areas of scientific astronomy to amateurs. **Cataclysmic Cosmic Events and How to Observe **them explains what these events are, what we know of their physics, and how amateur astronomers can observe them.**** For example, it might be thought that events as distant as gamma ray bursts (GRB) and active galaxies could not possibly be observed by amateur astronomers - but gamma ray bursts have been recorded using simple cameras with telephoto lenses. These incredibly powerful events fade dramatically, and once an orbiting satellite detects a GRB it is primarily a question of response time – so it is easily possible for amateur astronomers to be the first to respond. There are a dozen active galaxies which are easily visible in amateur telescopes visually, let alone with CCD equipment. In this era of CCDs and automated telescopes, amateur astronomers are reaching deeper than most professional astronomers were able to in the film-based era of the 1980s. The Internet allows rapid emailing of alerts, finder charts and large image files: this simply was not technically possible even 15 years ago. Monitoring cataclysmic variables is an increasingly popular aspect of amateur astronomy, with many visual observers checking dozens of these objects every clear night. Closer to home, amateurs are observing high-energy outbursts on the Sun. using the latest generation of H-alpha telescopes and filters and webcams. More and more of these outbursts will occur as we move towards the next sunspot maximum (in 2011) – possibly more than at any time since 1958. This will be an increasingly important field of amateur astronomy. Here is an exciting set of observational challenges related to some of the most spectacular events in astronomy today. It bridges the gap between the professionals, and the keen backyard amateurs wanting to contribute professional results.

This book is about observing dramatic and often bizarre cosmic events. Observation of gamma ray bursts, cataclysmic variable star outbursts, distant supernovae, and even active galactic nuclei might be thought to be far beyond the range of amateur observers – but this is not the case. Recent technical developments in CCD equipment, powerful PCs, new observing and processing techniques, and professional satellite monitoring systems have opened a range of high-value niche areas of scientific astronomy to amateurs.

Cataclysmic Cosmic Events and How to Observe them explains what these events are, what we know of their physics, and how amateur astronomers can observe them.

For example, it might be thought that events as distant as gamma ray bursts (GRB) and active galaxies could not possibly be observed by amateur astronomers - but gamma ray bursts have been recorded using simple cameras with telephoto lenses. These incredibly powerful events fade dramatically, and once an orbiting satellite detects a GRB it is primarily a question of response time – so it is easily possible for amateur astronomers to be the first to respond.

There are a dozen active galaxies which are easily visible in amateur telescopes visually, let alone with CCD equipment. In this era of CCDs and automated telescopes, amateur astronomers are reaching deeper than most professional astronomers were able to in the film-based era of the 1980s. The Internet allows rapid emailing of alerts, finder charts and large image files: this simply was not technically possible even 15 years ago. Monitoring cataclysmic variables is an increasingly popular aspect of amateur astronomy, with many visual observers checking dozens of these objects every clear night.

Closer to home, amateurs are observing high-energy outbursts on the Sun. using the latest generation of H-alpha telescopes and filters and webcams. More and more of these outbursts will occur as we move towards the next sunspot maximum (in 2011) – possibly more than at any time since 1958. This will be an increasingly important field of amateur astronomy.

Here is an exciting set of observational challenges related to some of the most spectacular events in astronomy today. It bridges the gap between the professionals, and the keen backyard amateurs wanting to contribute professional results.

In the Victorian era – or for non-British readers, the mid-to-late nineteenth century – amateur astronomy tended to center on Solar System objects. The Moon and planets, as well as bright comets, were the key objects of interest. The brighter variable stars were monitored, but photography was in its infancy and digital imaging lay a century in the future. Today, at the start of the twenty-first century, amateurs are better equipped than any professionals of the mid-twentieth century, let alone the nineteenth. An amateur equipped with a 30-cm telescope and a CCD camera can easily image objects below magnitude 20 and, from very dark sites, 22 or 23. Such limits would have been within the realm of the 100- and 200-inch reflectors on Mount Wilson and Mount Palomar in the 1950s, but no other observatories. However, even those telescopes took hours to reach such limits, and then the photographic plates had to be developed, fixed, and examined by eye. In the modern era digital images can be obtained in minutes and analyzed ‘on the fly’ while more images are being downloaded. Developments can be e-mailed to other interested amateurs in real time, during an observing session, so that when a cataclysmic event takes place amateurs worldwide know about it. As recently as the 1980s, even professional astronomers could only dream of such instantaneous communication and proc- sing ability. ASTRONOMERS’ OBSERVING GUIDES provide up-to-date information for amateur astronomers who want to know all about what it is they are observing. This is the basis of the first part of the book. The second part details observing techniques for practical astronomers, working with a range of different instruments. This book invites you to observe the most spectacular, high-energy events taking place in the cosmos. Even though these events may occur hundreds, thousands, millions or even billions of light-years away, you can witness them using the naked eye, binoculars, or telescopes. The book covers cataclysmic variable stars (CV’s), novae and dwarf novae, recurrent novae, solar flares, flare stars and prominences as well as the more distant supernovae, hypernovae, blazars, quasars, and gamma ray bursters. There are also sections on photometry, equipment, and software as well as many valuable observing tips based on the author’s own experience viewing these events. For the amateur astronomer who is ready to leave the confines of the Solar System and look out into deep space, this book offers a variety of exciting challenges and suggestions enabling you to contribute real scientific data on high energy outbursts and cataclysmic cosmic events with just your backyard telescope and a bit of know-how. Front Matter....Pages i-xv Cataclysmic Variables....Pages 1-46 Novae and Recurrent Novae....Pages 47-98 Solar Flares, Giant Prominences, and Flare Stars....Pages 99-120 Bright Supernovae and Hypernovae....Pages 121-149 Active Galaxies....Pages 151-175 Gamma Ray Bursters....Pages 177-196 How to Do Visual and CCD Photometry....Pages 197-227 Back Matter....Pages 229-238