EXPLORE THE WEBSITE BY CHAPTER



Under each Chapter you'll find three main categories of topics...

Supplements......provide additional information to expand the content of the book. In some cases, the supplement contains material that we could not squeeze into the book.

Updates......
provide updates of book content such as news and reviews of new telescope models, accessories or software, current hot films for astrophotography, and CCD imaging techniques.

Links......provide links to our favorite sites on the web related to the chapter topic. We also provide an extensive set of links to manufacturers of amateur astronomy hardware and software.

Chapter 1: Amateur Astronomy
Getting started in backyard astronomy

Section One

Chapter 2: Binoculars
Picking binoculars for astronomy


Chapter 3: Telescopes
A buyer's guide to telescopes


Chapter 4: Eyepieces and Filters
Picking the right eyepiece and filter


Chapter 5: Accessories
The useful and useless surveyed


Chapter 6: Using a Scope
How to set up an equatorial telescope


Section Two

Chapter 7: Naked Eye Astronomy
Things to see without optical aid


Chapter 8: Observing Site
Picking the best viewing site

Chapter 9: Sun, Moon and Comets
Includes eclipse information

Chapter 10: The Planets
What you can see and how to see it

Chapter 11: Finding Your Way
How the sky works plus star charts and software


Chapter 12: Deep Sky
Observing stars, clusters, nebulas, and galaxies


Section Three

Chapter 13/14: Astrophotography
Camera-on-tripod, piggyback and telescopic techniques

Chapter 15: CCD Imaging
Using CCD cameras for thru-the-telescopic imaging




Appendix

Available only on the Web

Adobe Acrobat is needed to read Appendix PDF files
(4.82MB)
(3.71MB)
(6.47MB)
(3.37MB)