Make Time for the Stars: Fitting Astronomy into Your Busy Life (The Patrick Moore Practical Astronomy Series)

Make Time for the Stars: Fitting Astronomy into Your Busy Life Antony Cooke Hungry for an opportunity to study the stars but have little or no time to do it? Then this book is for you! Perhaps you have a telescope from years ago, which you used a few times, then put it away in a closet, where it has been gathering dust ever since. Could you still use that telescope, or do you have to buy a new one? And what about all the gadgets on the market now? Which ones do you really need? About how much will it all cost you, and what should you look for when you finally have a night out to look? Antony Cooke will give you those answers, and outline a program for star (and Solar System) gazing that you will be able to fit into your busy life. He tells why it is imperative to get yourself the right equipment from the start (without breaking the bank!) and why he thinks it is important to focus on live viewing rather than fancy gadgetry and imaging techniques. Full of sound advice and lots of encouragement, you will come away from this book prepared to take up your old hobby with new vigor and finally get the pleasure you knew was possible from studying our neighbors in space. Many amateur astronomers are short of time. A full-time career usually takes up most waking hours, and there very often simply isn’t time for leisurely observing sessions, at least a few hours’ sleep being something of an imperative during the week. Fortunately, modern technological advances such as computer-controlled telescopes equipped with GPS, north-seeking and level detection, have made setting up a telescope much quicker. Today’s imaging systems enable time-pressed astronomers to take excellent astrophotographs of many objects without the hours-long exposures that used to be a feature of this aspect of astronomy. This book explains what to attempt in a short timescale (and what not to), and how to use today’s top-value commercially-made equipment to get the most astronomy out of the least time. Make Time for the Stars showcases a wide array of quickly performed astronomical projects, including various novel or new approaches to observing. There are also useful tips for maximizing and enhancing the user’s time at the telescope, extracting optimal performance, efficient set-up, and easily carried out optical maintenance. Significantly, the book features detailed information on alternative imaging techniques, which can provide exceptional levels of realism for far simpler and less time-consuming effort. There is also guidance on equipment, such as, what to look for and also what to avoid, so that the reader may acquire only what is appropriate, and not more, for the kind of results he/she may have in mind. A wide range of available budgets is taken into account. The book concludes with a guide for the efficient organization of deep-space observing (an area which is often frustrating and unproductive when time is limited), easy daytime observing projects, and an extensive Internet resource section. Many amateur astronomers are short of time. A full-time career usually takes up most waking hours, and often there simply isn't time for leisurely observing. Fortunately, modern technologies such as computer-controlled telescopes, GPS, north-seeking and level detection, have made telescope set-up much quicker. Today's imaging systems enable astronomers to take excellent astrophotographs without the hours-long exposures. Make Time for the Stars explains what to try on a tight schedule, and how to use today's equipment to get the most astronomy out of the least time. This book showcases a wide array of quickly performed astronomical projects, including various novel or new approaches to observing. There are also practical tips for maximizing time at the telescope, extracting optimal performance, quick and efficient set-up, and easily carried out optical maintenance. Significantly, the book features detailed information on alternative imaging techniques with simple and less time-consuming efforts. Front Matter....Pages i-xii Front Matter....Pages 2-2 Introduction....Pages 3-7 Making the Right Equipment Choices....Pages 9-24 How to Expand Your Potential....Pages 25-45 Maximizing Your Time at the Telescope....Pages 47-59 Front Matter....Pages 62-62 The First Port of Call....Pages 63-66 The Moon: Close Up and Personal....Pages 67-81 Instant Imaging of the Moon....Pages 83-89 The Lunar Terminator....Pages 91-98 Front Matter....Pages 100-100 A Quick Guide to the Solar System....Pages 101-108 Planetary Imaging on a Time Budget....Pages 109-125 Spectacles in Our Neighborhood....Pages 127-150 The Far In and Far Out....Pages 151-167 Daytime Astronomy....Pages 169-181 Front Matter....Pages 184-184 Viewing Deep Space Objects....Pages 185-203 Deep Space Imaging....Pages 205-214 Astronomy via the Internet....Pages 215-226 A Guide for Viewing Sessions....Pages 227-254 Back Matter....Pages 255-259