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Observing the Sun with Coronado™ Telescopes
At around the turn of the millennium, the introduction of the Coronado range of solar telescopes and filters heralded the ‘coming of age’ of amateur solar astronomy. Before then, solar astronomy was mostly white-light only. Hydrogen-alpha systems were expensive and difficult to use, but today even the budget-priced Coronado PST (Personal Solar Telescope) provides a band pass of one Angstrom and is thermally stable. That means that today’s amateur solar observers can see – and image – sunspots, flares, prominences, plage, filaments, and active regions of the Sun, all in amazing detail.
Multiwavelength Mapping of Galaxy Formation and Evolution ; Proceedings of the ESO Workshop Held at Venice, Italy, 13-16 October 2003
The possibilities of astronomical observation have dramatically increased over the last decade. Major satellites, like the Hubble Space Telescope, Chandra and XMM Newton, are complemented by numerous large ground-based observatories, from 8m-10m optical telescopes to sub-mm and radio facilities. As a result, observational astronomy has access to virtually the whole electromagnetic spectrum of galaxies, even at high redshifts. Theoretical models of galaxy formation and cosmological evolution now face a serious challenge to match the plethora of observational data. In October 2003, over 170 astronomers from 15 countries met for a 4-day workshop to extensively illustrate and discuss all major observational projects and ongoing theoretical efforts to model galaxy formation and evolution. This volume contains the complete proceedings of this meeting and is therefore a unique and timely overview of the current state of research in this rapidly evolving field.
Modeling and Control of Antennas and Telescopes
Modeling and Control of Antennas and Telescopes presents the author’s research and field experience in the area of antenna modeling, dynamics, and control. The required spacecraft tracking accuracy of 1 mdeg was the impetus for the new approaches to the antenna controls that use model based controllers (LQG and H¥ ). Consequently, modeling also required a new approach using system identification techniques. Most of the material presented is new in the telescope industry. The methods have been not only analyzed and tested, but actually implemented, giving confidence in the final result, which is significantly increased antenna pointing accuracy.
High-Velocity Clouds
On the occasion of the retirement of Ulrich Schwarz, a symposium was held in Groningen in May of 1996, celebrating his contributions to the study of the int- stellar medium, including his work on the high-velocity clouds. The coming together of many specialists in the latter ?eld prompted the idea of compiling a book c- taining their contributions, and summarizing the status of our understanding of the high-velocity cloud phenomenon. This seemed especially worthwhile at the time, since many exciting developments were taking place. After the discovery of some H i clouds with high velocities, about 40 years ago, the subject had been dominated by 21-cm observations of H i emission. Starting in the mid-1980s much progress was being made because of the availability of new instruments, such as large ground-based optical telescopes and UV observatories in space. The connections between the work on high-velocity clouds and other studies of the properties of the (hot) interstellar medium also became clearer.
Galaxies and How to Observe Them
Satisfies the need for a modern, comprehensive review in combining the three major aspects: the physical background on the nature and data of galaxies, the relevant instrumentation and viewing techniques, and finally the targets and their individual appearance in telescopes of various apertures. To illustrate the latter, a comprehensive sample of galaxies, including quasars, groups and clusters of galaxies is presented. This combination of theoretical knowledge and practical information guarantees successful observing sessions. The book could become a standard source on galaxy observing for all kinds of amateur observers, from the beginner to the experienced.
Focusing telescopes in nuclear astrophysics
This volume is the first of its kind on focusing gamma-ray telescopes. Forty-eight refereed papers provide a comprehensive overview of the scientific potential and technical challenges of this nascent tool for nuclear astrophysics. The book features articles dealing with pivotal technologies such as grazing incident mirrors, multilayer coatings, Laue- and Fresnel-lenses - and even an optic using the curvature of space-time. The volume also presents an overview of detectors matching the ambitious objectives of gamma ray optics, and facilities for operating such systems on the ground and in space. The extraordinary scientific potential of focusing gamma-ray telescopes for the study of the most powerful sources and the most violent events in the Universe is emphasized in a series of introductory articles.
Fisica solare = Solar physics
An introduction to Solar Physics, intended to illustrate to those who intend to approach this discipline (students, PhDs, researchers) the physical mechanisms underlying the complex phenomena observed on our closest star. It does not claim to be exhaustive (suffice it to say that solar physics spans a wide range of disciplines, such as nuclear physics, thermodynamics, electrodynamics, atomic and molecular physics, spectroscopy across all bands of the electromagnetic spectrum, magnetohydrodynamics, plasma physics, the development of new instrumentation, optics, etc.). Rather, a number of topics of fundamental relevance to the current study of the Sun have been selected (especially with regard to ground-based observations with large telescopes), and an attempt has been made to provide a general overview of these topics, including their historical evolution, without going into excessive detail. Since Solar Physics can rightfully be considered the "Rosetta Stone" of all Astrophysics, the volume can also be considered a valid introduction to this subject.
First Light in the Universe : Saas-Fee Advanced Course 36. Swiss Society for Astrophysics and Astronomy
The exploration of the first billion years of the history of the Universe, from the so-called Dark Ages to cosmic reionisation, represents one of the great challenges of contemporary astrophysics and one of the main drivers for future observational facilities. The book contains the elaborated notes of lectures given at the 36th Saas-Fee Advanced Course "First Light in the Universe" by three eminent scientists in the field: Abraham Loeb, Andrea Ferrara, and Richard Ellis. The formation of the first stars and black holes, the initial mass function, feedback effects, early dust formation, the history of cosmic star formation, distant galaxies, cosmic reionisation and the cosmic infrared background are the main topics treated. This book provides an accessible and up-to-date review of the field and will be useful to graduate students of astronomy, cosmologists, physicists and researchers.
Fare astronomia con piccoli telescopi = Are astronomy with small telescopes
Giant tools are not necessarily required to produce scientifically valid results in the field of astronomy. Even the amateur with a small telescope, with a diameter of only 8-9 cm, can contribute to the science of the sky by making useful observations of the Sun, the Moon, planets, comets, asteroids, double or variable stars, nebulae and star clusters. The manual of M.K. Gainer explains what the minimum equipment is (a small telescope, a computer, a simple digital camera), how to use it, and what are the appropriate techniques to be adopted in the observations. It also offers schemes for interpreting and reducing the collected data, as well as forms to be filled in and sent to international collection centers.
Electronic Imaging in Astronomy : Detectors and Instrumentation
The second edition of Electronic Imaging in Astronomy: Detectors and Instrumentation describes the remarkable developments that have taken place in astronomical detectors and instrumentation in recent years – from the invention of the charge-coupled device (CCD) in 1970 to the current era of very large telescopes, such as the Keck 10-meter telescopes in Hawaii with their laser guide-star adaptive optics which rival the image quality of the Hubble Space Telescope. Authored by one of the world’s foremost experts on the design and development of electronic imaging systems for astronomy, this book has been written on several levels to appeal to a broad readership. Mathematical expositions are designed to encourage a wider audience, especially among the growing community of amateur astronomers with small telescopes with CCD cameras.
Cores to Clusters : Star Formation with Next Generation Telescopes
Toward the second half of this decade, several major telescope facilities operating in the infrared, sub-millimeter, and millimeter wave bands will become operational. These missions are expected to throw much light on our understanding of the star formation phenomenon, which is one of the primary science goals in these wave bands. This book contains the proceedings of the "Cores to Clusters" workshop held at Centro de Astrofisica da Universidade do Porto. The mission of the workshop was to discuss current and future issues in star formation physics in the light of these Next Generation Telescopes. This book is comprised of a mixture of articles that provide a comprehensive coverage of current topics including both low and high mass star formation. It serves as a practical compendium for graduate students and young researchers working in the field of star formation.
Lenses and Waves : Christiaan Huygens and the Mathematical Science of Optics in the Seventeenth Century
this book offers the first account of the development of Huygens’ mathematical analysis of lenses and telescopes and its significance for the origin of the wave theory of light. As Huygens applied his mathematical proficiency to practical issues pertaining to telescopes – including trying to design a perfect telescope by means of mathematical theory – his dioptrics is significant for our understanding of seventeenth-century relations between theory and practice. With this full account of Huygens’ optics, this book sheds new light on the history of seventeenth-century optics and the rise of the new mathematical sciences, as well as Huygens’ oeuvre as a whole. Students of the history of optics, of early mathematical physics, and the Scientific Revolution, will find this book enlightening.
L'astrofilo moderno = The modern amateur astronomer
In less than two decades, amateur astronomy has changed its face. The reason, of course, is technological progress. Cheap but high-quality telescopes, computer-controlled "go-to" mounts, autoguiders, CCD cameras, video cameras and (as always) computers and the Internet are just some of the elements that revolutionized 21st century astronomy. Not only have they made amateur astronomy more "friendly" and fun, but they have also greatly expanded the potential of the amateur astronomer. Martin Mobberley first tackles the basic issues and then analyzes in depth what tools are available on the market. From here he starts to review the revolutionary possibilities that open up for amateur astronomers, from imaging, to spectroscopy, to photometry, to the surveillance of Near-Earth objects - comets and asteroids that can come dangerously close to the Earth.
Jets from Young Stars II : Clues from High Angular Resolution Observations
This volume contains the edited lecture notes of the Second JETSET School on Jets from Young Stars: Clues from High Angular Resolution Observations organised by the Marie Curie Research Training Network JETSET: Jet Simulations, Experiments and Theory. After the opening two chapters on jet emission, readers can learn the fundamental background of modern high-spatial-resolution techniques, and how such methods have impacted on our understanding of young stars.
Care of Astronomical Telescopes and Accessories : A Manual for the Astronomical Observer and Amateur Telescope Maker
guide for anyone who wants to understand more than just the basics of astronomical telescopes and accessories, and how to maintain them in the peak of condition. The latest on safely adjusting, cleaning, and maintaining your equipment is combined with thoroughly updated methods from the old masters. Here, too, are details of choosing new and used optics and accessories, along with enhancements you can make to extend their versatility and useful lifetime. This book is for you. Really. Looking after an astronomical telescope isn’t only for the experts - although there are some things that only an expert should attempt - and every serious amateur astronomer will find invaluable information here, gleaned from Barlow Pepin's many years’ experience working with optical instruments.
Binocular astronomy
Anyone who has used a binocular telescope or even wide-field binoculars to look at the night sky will know just how breathtakingly beautiful the view can be when you observe with both eyes. Observing galaxies and nebulae with ‘regular’ prismatic binoculars is just a beginning. Binocular eyepieces and adapters can be added to almost any commercially-made astronomical telescope, and of course specialized astronomical binoculars can be assembled or purchased complete. These range from modest instruments to giants that are basically two large telescopes mounted together. Binocular Astronomy contains everything you’ll need to know about this exciting branch of astronomical observing.
Astronomy with a home computer
Here is a one-volume guide to just about everything computer-related for amateur astronomers!Today’s amateur astronomy is inextricably linked to personal computers. Computer-controlled "go-to" telescopes are inexpensive. CCD and webcam imaging make intensive use of the technology for capturing and processing images. Planetarium software provides information and an easy interface for telescopes. The Internet offers links to other astronomers, information, and software. The list goes on and on.
Astrobiology : Future perspectives
Astrobiology, a new exciting interdisciplinary research field, seeks to unravel the origin and evolution of life wherever it might exist in the Universe. The current view of the origin of life on Earth is that it is strongly connected to the origin and evolution of our planet and, indeed, of the Universe as a whole. We are fortunate to be living in an era where centuries of speculation about the two ancient and fundamental problems: the origin of life and its prevalence in the Universe are being replaced by experimental science. The subject of Astrobiology can be approached from many different perspectives. This book is focused on abiogenic organic matter from the viewpoint of astronomy and planetary science and considers its potential relevance to the origins of life on Earth and elsewhere. Guided by the review papers in this book, the concluding chapter aims to identify key questions to motivate future research and stimulate astrobiological applications of current and future research facilities and space missions. Today’s rich array of new spacecraft, telescopes and dedicated scientists promises a steady flow of discoveries and insights that will ultimately lead us to the answers we seek.
African Cultural Astronomy : Current Archaeoastronomy and Ethnoastronomy research in Africa
Astronomy is the science of studying the sky using telescopes and light collectors such as photographic plates or CCD detectors. However, people have always studied the sky and continue to study the sky without the aid of instruments this is the realm of cultural astronomy. This is the first scholarly collection of articles focused on the cultural astronomy of Africans. It weaves together astronomy, anthropology, and Africa. The volume includes African myths and legends about the sky, alignments to celestial bodies found at archaeological sites and at places of worship, rock art with celestial imagery, and scientific thinking revealed in local astronomy traditions including ethnomathematics and the creation of calendars. Authors include astronomers Kim Malville, Johnson Urama, and Thebe Medupe; archaeologist Felix Chami, and geographer Michael Bonine, and many new authors.
A buyers and users guide to astronomical telescopes & binoculars
Provides an extensive overview of astronomical binoculars and telescopes. It includes detailed up-to-date information on sources, selection and use of virtually every major type, brand, and model of such instruments on today’s market. A Buyer’s & User’s Guide to Astronomical Telescopes and Binoculars is written for amateur astronomers and would-be amateur astronomers. Anyone planning to purchase binoculars or telescopes for astronomy – whether as a first instrument or as an upgrade to the next level – will find this book a treasure-trove of information and advice. But that is just the first part of the book. The second part is crammed with hints and tips on using astronomical telescopes or binoculars – in effect, how to get the best possible results from your purchase.
