Choosing and Using a Schmidt-Cassegrain Telescope : A Guide to Commercial SCTs and Maksutovs (Practical Astronomy.)

Amateur astronomy is becoming more and more popular, mostly because of the availability of relatively low-cost astronomical telescopes of superb quality - commercially-made Schmidt-Cassegrain and Maksutovs. Rod Mollise's book contains everything amateur astronomers need to know about these telescopes. Featuring (but not exclusively) the ubiquitous __Meade__ and __Celestron__ ranges, he describes what these instruments will do, how to use them, and which are the best to choose. This book includes everything! There are sections on accessories, observing techniques, and hints and tips gleaned from his 25 years experience with this type of telescope: cleaning, collimating, maintaining the telescope and mounting; using the telescope in various conditions; computer control; imaging (wet, digital and CCD). This is the perfect book for amateur astronomers who are about to invest in a new Schmidt-Cassegrain or Maksutov telescope, or for those who already have one and want to get the best out of it.

amateur Astronomy Is Becoming More And More Popular, Mostly Because Of The Availability Of Relatively Low-cost Astronomical Telescopes Of Superb Quality - Commercially-made Schmidt-cassegrain And Maksutovs. Rod Mollise's Book Contains Everything Amateur Astronomers Need To Know About These Telescopes. Featuring (but Not Exclusively) The Ubiquitous meade And celestron Ranges, He Describes What These Instruments Will Do, How To Use Them, And Which Are The Best To Choose. This Book Includes Everything! There Are Sections On Accessories, Observing Techniques, And Hints And Tips Gleaned From His 25 Years Experience With This Type Of Telescope: Cleaning, Collimating, Maintaining The Telescope And Mounting; Using The Telescope In Various Conditions; Computer Control; Imaging (wet, Digital And Ccd). This Is The Perfect Book For Amateur Astronomers Who Are About To Invest In A New Schmidt-cassegrain Or Maksutov Telescope, Or For Those Who Already Have One And Want To Get The Best Out Of It.

"The commercial availability of high-quality Schmidt-Cassegrain Telescopes (SCTs) has been a major factor in the upsurge of interest in amateur astronomy." "Modern SCTs and other CATs - catadioptric (lens-mirror) telescopes - are incredibly capable tools for amateur astronomers. Models range from 3 1/2-inch portable instruments to 16-inch giants, and all sizes now have computer-control at least as an option. But because they are real scientific instruments, using them can sometimes be tricky. Rewarding but tricky." "Choosing and Using a Schmidt-Cassegrain Telescope is exactly what this book is about. It's a compilation of the hints, tips and general wisdom of many experienced SCT users, distilled by Rod Mollise, who has used SCTs himself for some 25 years."--Jacket Amateur astronomy is becoming increasingly popular, mostly because of the availability of relatively low-cost astronomical telescopes such as the Schmidt-Cassegrain and Maksutovs. The author describes what these instruments will do, how to use them, and which are the best - he draws on 25-years of experience with telescopes. There are sections on accessories, observing techniques, and hints and tips on: cleaning, collimating, maintaining the telescope, mounting, using the telescope in various conditions, computer control, and imaging (wet, digital and CCD). This is the perfect book for amateur astronomers who are about to invest in a new Schmidt-Cassegrain or Maksutov telescope, or for those who already have one and want to get the most out of it. Front Matter....Pages i-vii Why a CAT?....Pages 1-10 What’s a CAT?....Pages 11-18 Inside a CAT....Pages 19-40 Which CAT?....Pages 41-102 The SCT Out-of-Box Experience: Initial Telescope Assembly and Checkout....Pages 103-125 Accessories for your CAT....Pages 127-161 From That Very First Night: Field Setup, Checkout and Observing....Pages 163-218 Care and Feeding of a CAT: Alignment, Testing, Maintenance, and Troubleshooting....Pages 219-257 Keeping Your CAT Happy: Hints, Tips and Projects....Pages 259-294 The Advanced CAT: Imaging and Computers....Pages 295-346 Afterword: 25 Years with a CAT — How to Keep Going....Pages 347-354 Back Matter....Pages 355-360 If you have even the slightest interest in the fascinating world of telescopes and astronomy, you have probably seen one of those short, stubby and wonderfully high-tech looking Schmidt-Cassegrain telescopes (SCTs).