Brian Cudnik

Faint Objects and How to Observe Them

Broschiertes Buch

Produktbeschreibung

Astronomers' Observing Guides provide up-to-date information for amateur astronomers who want to know all about what it is they are observing. This is the basis of the first part of the book. The second part details observing techniques for practical astronomers, working with a range of different instruments.
Faint Objects and How to Observe Them is for visual observers who want to "go deep" with their observing. It's a guide to some of the most distant, dim, and rarely observed objects in the sky, with background information on surveys and object lists -- some familiar and some not.
Typically, amateur astronomers begin by looking at the brighter objects, and work their way "deeper" as their experience and skills improve. Faint Objects is about the faintest objects we can see with an amateur's telescope -- their physical nature, why they appear so dim, and how to track them down.
By definition, these objects are hard to see! But moderate equipment (a decent telescope of at least 10-inch aperture) and the right techniques can reveal a surprising number of 'almost invisible' objects. The book provides basic tips on the type of telescope to use, how to record observations, and where to find lists and those all important finder charts.
Here is a "one-stop shop" for those who are interested in taking their observational pursuits to the next level, and who want to see the most distant parts of the universe accessible to backyard telescopes.

Produktdetails

• Astronomers' Observing Guides
• Verlag: Springer / Springer New York / Springer, Berlin
• Artikelnr. des Verlages: 80014936
• 2013
• Erscheinungstermin: 31. Oktober 2012
• Englisch
• Abmessung: 235mm x 177mm x 14mm
• Gewicht: 446g
• ISBN-13: 9781441967565
• ISBN-10: 1441967567
• Artikelnr.: 29728645

Autorenporträt

Brian Cudnik has been an amateur astronomer for over 30 years and manages the Physics laboratories at Prairie View A& M University (a part of the A&M University of Texas). He has been the coordinator of the Lunar Meteoritic Impact Search section of the Association of Lunar and Planetary Observers (ALPO) since January 2000. Cudnik began at ALPO two months after it made the first confirmed visual observation of a meteoroid impact on the Moon during the Leonid storm of November 1999. Cudnik has an MSc and has published papers and posters on various astronomical subjects, both peer-reviewed and amateur. He has served as a board member of the Houston Astronomical Society, is presently an Associate member of the American Astrononmical Society, a member of the American Association of Variable Star and a regular contributor of observations to the International Occultation Timing Association. He teaches astronomy at the University of St. Thomas two evenings per week each semester.

Inhaltsangabe

Introduction: Pushing the Envelope in Visual Astronomical Observations.- Part I: The Physical Nature of Faint Objects.- Chapter 1: An Historical Background of Astronomical Surveys and the Astronomers with Conducted Them I: The Surveys- Chapter 2: An Historical Background of Astronomical Surveys and the Astronomers II: The Astronomers.- Chapter 3: The Nature of the Objects I: Star Clusters and Nebulae.- Introduction.- Star Clusters.- Nebulae.- Accessibility of these Objects.- Chapter 4: The Nature of the Objects II: Galaxies and Galaxy Clusters.- Introduction.- Galaxy Types and Contents.- Interacting Galaxies, Clusters, and Superclusters.- Conclusion: Galaxy Similarities (and Differences) with the Milky Way.- Chapter 5: The Nature of the Objects III: Quasars and Other Exotics.- Active Galactic Nuclei / Seyfert Galaxies.- Quasars.- Other Exotic Objects.- In Conclusion: Why are Faint Objects so Faint?.- Chapter 6: Into the Depths - Current Ground and Space-Based Observations of the Most Distant Parts of the Universe.- Some Notable Observatories, Ground- and Space-Based.- A Sample of Astronomical Surveys Currently and Recently Active (as of March 2012).- The Giant Magellan Telescope.- The James Web Space Telescope: The Ultimate in Faint Objects Astronomy.- Conclusions.- Part II: How to Observe Faint Objects.- Chapter 7: Requirements and General Guidelines for Observing Faint Objects.- Chapter 8: Preparation and the Observing Session.- Chapter 9: An Overview of Suggested Observing Projects.-Chapter 10: Suggested Projects by Survey and Source.- Chapter 11: Recording Your Observations and Other Tips to Help You Stick with the Program.- Chapter 12: The Scientific Side - Citizen Science Activities and Search for Supernovae.- Acknowledgments.- Appendices.- Index.