This practical text provides those with access to even a modest telescope and a CCD camera the background and detailed steps to contribute to astronomical research, including joint projects in which they can take part, as well as techniques for gathering, analyzing, and publishing their data. The text helps the reader understand - and avoid - common pitfalls in the process, and offers detailed examples on how to obtain and analyze data. Under "choosing the right software," the author looks critically at the commercially-available packages, providing screen shots and useful advice. Amateur astronomers who want to go beyond CCD imaging will find everything they need to step into the world of "real" science.

Autorentext

Brian Warner has been an astronomer for 40 years. He ran the Minor Planet Observer for ten years, and has contributed more than 60 papers to the Minor Planet Bulletin, along with regular articles. He lives in Colorado, USA.

Klappentext

A Practical Guide to Lightcurve Photometry and Analysis provides, for
those with access to even a modest telescope and CCD camera, all the
information needed to take part in the scientific study of asteroids and
variable stars.

Using commercially available equipment, amateur astronomers can
determine the rotation rate, size, and shape of asteroids. Similarly, it
is possible to discover the size, temperature, and orbits of stars in
binary systems by using this powerful technique.

A Practical Guide to Lightcurve Photometry and Analysis contains all the
material needed for readers to understand the theory, and avoid the
practical pitfalls of lightcurve photometry. Detailed examples are
given for obtaining data, and of course for the exciting and rewarding
task of analyzing the data to determine the physical properties of the
object.

Any college student or amateur astronomer who wants to go beyond mere
imaging with a CCD camera and enter the challenging world of "real
science" via the lightcurves of asteroids and binary stars will find
everything necessary in this book.

Zusammenfassung
It is a pleasure and an honor to offer a few words of forward to Brian Warner's guide to photometry. In his preface, he makes a considerable point about amateurs and professionals, and those who dare or deign to step across the line supposedly dividing the two. Here I would like to make a few observations about the two monikers, and suggest that there is not, or at least should not be, a distinction - tween "amateur" and "professional. " In preparing these remarks I referred to W- ster's New Collegiate Dictionary (1960 edition; not so new anymore, but that was when my collegiate experience began): am´a·teur, n. [F. , fr. L. amator lover, fr. amare to love. ] 1. One who cultivates a particular pursuit, study, or science, from taste, without pursuing it professionally; also, a dabbler. 2. In sports and esp. athletics, one who is not rated as a professional. Well. . . a "dabbler" eh? "not rated as a professional"? No wonder we have an identity problem here. Somehow in my youth as an amateur astronomer I missed this connotation of the term. To me, the meaning of the term amateur was do- nated by its root, "to love," that is, one who does what he does out of love of the subject, not for remuneration (to the extent one can get away with that).

Inhalt
Getting Started.- Targets of Opportunity.- Photometry Fundamentals.- The Photometry Primer.- Photometric Reductions.- Second Order Extinction.- Telescopes and Cameras.- Imaging and Photometry Software.- Collecting Photons.- Analyzing the Data.- Period Analysis.- Building Star Systems.- Publishing Your Data and Results.