Stargazing Under Suburban Skies: A Star-hopper's Guide (the Patrick Moore Practical Astronomy Series)

Anyone interested in astronomy battles with the conveniences of modern living – street lights, advertising and security lighting, tall buildings, and even the occasional tree. More than 85% of the population now lives in crowded and light-polluted towns and cities. This book is for those who live in or near towns and cities and own relatively modest equipment, although observers with larger instruments will still find many of the target objects of interest. The book encourages the use of star-hopping techniques to find objects in the night sky.Included is a list of 100 popular deep sky objects, ranked according to how difficult they are to find. Each object is described and has companion star-hopping charts, images and sometimes sketches. As a result, readers can gain a sense of their own backyard view from Earth. There is also a top 30 list of lunar objects, a section on planetary observing, annotated lists of popular astronomy apps and software, and tips on how to make the most of your location.__Stargazing Under Suburban Skies: A Star-Hopper’s Guide__ is the essential companion to what can be seen and how, regardless of the obstacles. Dedication 5 Foreword 6 Acknowledgments 7 About the Authors 9 Contents 11 Chapter 1: Seeking Out the Dark 13 From Messier to the Modern Day 13 A Companion for Observers Based in Suburban Skies 15 Bronze, Silver and Gold Designations 17 Tools, Techniques and Other Astronomical Phenomena 18 A Society Project 19 Chapter 2: Observing in Suburban Skies 20 Making the Most of Your Location 20 Observing from a Flat or Apartment 20 Garden Astronomy 21 Backyard Observatories 23 Observing in Town and With Others 25 Holidays and Hotels 25 Making the Most of the Sky 27 Starter Objects 28 Which Equipment Helps? 28 Star-Hopping: Triangles, Squares and Diamonds 28 Understanding Field of View and Degrees 29 Imaging 30 Some Helpful Suggestions 31 Making the Most of You 32 Keeping Your Eyes in Observing Shape 32 Give Your Eyes a Chance to Dark Adapt 32 Keep Comfortable and Warm 33 Take Plenty of Breaks 33 Practice, Practice, Practice! 33 Chapter 3: Equipment for Suburban Skies 35 What’s Best? 35 The Naked Eye 36 Binoculars 36 Refracting Telescopes 38 Reflecting Telescopes 43 Newtonians 43 Other Catadioptrics 43 Telescope Mounting Systems 44 Eyepieces 46 Equipment Maintenance 48 Star Diagonals 48 The Finder Scope Alternative – Red Dot Finders (RDF) 50 Dew Heaters and Dew Bands 51 The Red Flashlight 51 Cameras and Imaging 52 Notebooks and Sketching 52 Observing Chairs 54 Filters 55 Deep Sky Filters 55 Moon and Planetary Filters 57 Filter Wheels 57 Atmospheric Dispersion Corrector (ADC) 58 Barlow Lenses and Powermates for Imaging 58 Using Laptops and Phone-Driven Equipment 60 Final Word: Keeping It Simple 60 Chapter 4: Observing the Deep Sky 61 How to Use the Guide and Charts 61 Orientation 61 Location Data 62 Views in Different Types of Instruments 62 Star Names and Designations 62 Constellation-Naming Conventions 63 The Star-Hopper’s Guide Objects 64 Stars 65 Constellations and Asterisms 65 Open Star Clusters 65 Globular Clusters 66 Double and Multiple Stars 66 Variable Stars 66 Nebulae 66 Galaxies 67 Why We Like It 68 When Best To See It 68 How Best To See It 68 How To Find It 68 Why We Like It 70 When Best To See It 70 How Best To See It 70 How To Find It 70 Why We Like It 72 When Best To See It 72 How Best To See It 72 How To Find It 72 Why We Like It 74 When Best To See It 74 How Best To See It 74 How To Find It 74 Why We Like It 76 When Best To See It 76 How Best To See It 76 How To Find It 76 Why We Like It 78 When Best To See It 78 How Best To See It 78 How To Find It 78 Why We Like It 80 When Best To See It 80 How Best To See It 80 How To Find It 80 Why We Like It 82 When Best To See It 82 How Best To See It 82 How To Find It 82 Why We Like It 84 When Best To See It 84 How Best To See It – 84 How To Find It 84 Why We Like It 86 When Best To See It 86 How Best To See It 86 How To Find It 86 Why We Like It 88 When Best To See It 88 How Best To See It 88 How To Find It 88 Why We Like It 90 When Best To See It 90 How Best To See It 90 How To Find It 90 Why 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329 When Best To See It 329 How Best To See It 329 How To Find It 329 Chapter 6: Observing the Planets 331 Mercury 332 Venus 333 Mars 335 Jupiter 336 Saturn 338 Uranus 339 Neptune 340 Planetary Tables 340 Chapter 7: Software and Apps to Help the Suburban Astronomer 348 Planetarium Software and Apps 348 Catalog and Observing Apps 350 Weather-Based Apps 350 Lunar and Planetary Observing Apps 351 Software for Imaging 352 Image Processing of Lunar images 353 Files and Storage for Imaging 356 Software – A Final Word 357 Chapter 8: Other Astronomical Phenomena 358 Meteor Observing 358 Comets 360 Eclipses – Lunar and Solar 360 Transits 362 Occultations 362 Planetary Conjunctions 364 Minor Planets (Asteroids) 364 Artificial Satellites 364 Aurorae 365 Weather Phenomena 365 Halos 365 Parhelia (Sundogs) 366 Noctilucent Clouds 367 Solar Observing 367 And Finally.... Look Up! 370 Appendix A: Instruments and Methods 372 Andy Gannon (Waltham Abbey, Essex, UK) 372 Alan Marriot (Stevenage, Hertfordshire, UK) 373 Martin Peston (Ilford, Essex, UK) 373 Paul Julier (Enfield, Middlesex, UK) 374 Malcolm Zack (Chigwell, Essex, UK) 374 John McRoberts (Dunmow, Essex, UK) 374 Jonathan Daniels (London) 374 Appendix B: Deep Sky Objects: Listed 1 to 100 375 Appendix C: Deep Sky Objects: Listed by Bronze, Silver and Gold 380 Appendix D: General Sky Reference Charts 383 Appendix E: Lunar Features: Listed 1 to 30 388 Appendix F: Full Disc Lunar Reference Charts 390 Bibliography and References 395 Sources 395 Online Sources 396 Software References 396 Index 397 Anyone interested in astronomy battles with the conveniences of modern living – street lights, advertising and security lighting, tall buildings, and even the occasional tree. More than 85% of the population now lives in crowded and light-polluted towns and cities. This book is for those who live in or near towns and cities and own relatively modest equipment, although observers with larger instruments will still find many of the target objects of interest. The book encourages the use of star-hopping techniques to find objects in the night sky. Included is a list of 100 popular deep sky objects, ranked according to how difficult they are to find. Each object is described and has companion star-hopping charts, images and sometimes sketches. As a result, readers can gain a sense of their own backyard view from Earth. There is also a top 30 list of lunar objects, a section on planetary observing, annotated lists of popular astronomy apps and software, and tips on how to make the most of your location. Stargazing Under Suburban Skies: A Star-Hopper’s Guide is the essential companion to what can be seen and how, regardless of the obstacles. Front Matter ....Pages i-xiv Seeking Out the Dark (Malcolm Zack, Andrew Gannon, John McRoberts)....Pages 1-7 Observing in Suburban Skies (Malcolm Zack, Andrew Gannon, John McRoberts)....Pages 9-23 Equipment for Suburban Skies (Malcolm Zack, Andrew Gannon, John McRoberts)....Pages 25-50 Observing the Deep Sky (Malcolm Zack, Andrew Gannon, John McRoberts)....Pages 51-257 Observing the Moon (Malcolm Zack, Andrew Gannon, John McRoberts)....Pages 259-321 Observing the Planets (Malcolm Zack, Andrew Gannon, John McRoberts)....Pages 323-339 Software and Apps to Help the Suburban Astronomer (Malcolm Zack, Andrew Gannon, John McRoberts)....Pages 341-350 Other Astronomical Phenomena (Malcolm Zack, Andrew Gannon, John McRoberts)....Pages 351-364 Back Matter ....Pages 365-401