Digital Astrophotography: The State of the Art (The Patrick Moore Practical Astronomy Series)

Provides novice to accomplished amateur astronomers with a firm grounding in the basics and successful use of digital astrophotography. Provides examples of the best images, and gives readers hints and tips about how to get the best out of this extraordinary technology. Experts in CCD astronomy from North America and Europe have contributed to this book, illustrating their help and advice with many beautiful colour images – the book is in full color throughout. Techniques range from using simple webcams to highly technical aspects such as supernovae patrolling. Computer processing, stacking and image-enhancement are detailed, along with many hints and tips from the experts. Patrick Moore’s Practical Astronomy Series Digital Astrophotography The State Of The Art This Book Is The Successor To David Ratledge’s Much-acclaimed The Art And Science Of Ccd Astronomy. Ccd Cameras And Their Associated Technologies Have Continued To Make Great Strides Since The Original Book Was First Published Almost Eight Years Ago, Particularly In The Universal Availability Of Color Cameras And In The Dramatically Lower Cost Of Equipment. Digital Astrophotography: The State Of The Art Provides Examples Of The Latest And Best Images, And Describes How To Get The Best Out Of This Extraordinary Technology. Experts In Ccd Astronomy From North America And Europe Have Contributed, Illustrating Their Help And Advice With Many Beautiful Color Images. The Techniques Explained Here Range From The Use Of Inexpensive Webcams, Through To Highly Technical Aspects Such As Supernovae Patrolling. Computer Processing, Stacking And Image-enhancement Are Also Detailed, Along With Many Hints And Tips From The Experts. Afocal Photography With Digital Cameras -- An Introduction To Webcam Imaging -- Long-exposure Webcams And Image Stacking Techniques -- Deep-sky Imaging With A Digital Slr -- Iris: Astronomical Image-processing Software -- High-resolution Imaging Of The Planets -- High-resolution Ccd Imaging -- Out-smarting Light Pollution -- The Hybrid Image: A New Astro-imaging Philosophy -- Amateur Spectroscopy In The 21st Century -- Successful Patrolling For Supernovae. David Ratledge (ed.). Includes Bibliographical References And Index. In the years since The Art and Science of CCD Astronomy was?rst published, digital imaging has been transformed from what was, in reality, a minority int- est to mainstream. Not even the most committed of CCD devotees could have predicted the few years it would take for digital imaging to supplant?lm. We all probably guessed that a new age was dawning, but the speed at which silicon sensors came to dominate the photography market was simply staggering. New areas also appeared. No one predicted webcams would become the instrument of choice for imaging the planets. Afocal photography re-emerged in digital format. For mainstream imaging, color has become almost the norm. It was therefore time for a new book – and one in color! If you read the astronomical magazines, you are, no doubt, familiar with the names and images of our contributors. Sky & Telescope, Astronomy, Night Sky, Astronomy Now and other leading magazines from around the world have all included their work, in terms of both images for their gallery sections and feature articles. This volume on digital astrophotography is divided into three sections discussing equipment of increasing levels of sophistication and cost, and also includes contributions from experts in various specialisms