As 'distributed' astronomical projects multiply, this text on how to produce professional-quality space imaging will be welcome to many amateurs equipped with today's powerful telescopy. It offers a thorough grounding in the scientific principles and methods.

Scientific Astrophotography is intended for those amateur astronomers who are looking for new challenges, once they have mastered visual observing and the basic imaging of various astronomical objects. It will also be a useful reference for scientifically inclined observers who want to learn the fundamentals of astrophotography with a firm emphasis on the discipline of scientific imaging. This books is not about making beautiful astronomical images; it is about recording astronomical images that are scientifically rigorous and from which accurate data can be extracted.

This book is unique in that it gives readers the skills necessary for obtaining excellent images for scientific purposes in a concise and procedurally oriented manner. This not only gets the reader used to a disciplined approach to imaging to maximize quality, but also to maximize the success (and minimize the frustration!) inherent in the pursuit of astrophotography. The knowledge and skills imparted to the reader of this handbook also provide an excellent basis for beautiful picture astrophotography!

There is a wealth of information in this book a distillation of ideas and data presented by a diverse set of sources and based on the most recent techniques, equipment, and data available to the amateur astronomer. There are also numerous practical exercises. Scientific Astrophotography is perfect for any amateur astronomer who wants to go beyond just astrophotography and actually contribute to the science of astronomy.

Teaches the amateur how to do scientifically useful astronomical imaging at a professional level Explains how to produce useful data in the fields of astrometry and photometry Details the steps amateurs must take to begin collaborations with professional astronomers Includes supplementary material: sn.pub/extras

Autorentext

Jerry Hubbell, currently President of the Rappahannock Astronomy Club (raclub.org), has been an avid amateur astronomer since he was a teenager. However, he developed his passionate interest in astrophotography, and in particular, astrophotography that supports scientific investigation, only about 4 years ago. In that short time, Jerry has become known as a superior astrophotographer, amateur scientist, and mentor to other amateurs who want to foster scientific investigation in the amateur ranks. His career as a nuclear Instrumentation and Controls (I&C) and software engineer for Dominion Virginia Power has trained him well for the attention to detail and precision required for scientific astrophotography. In this book, Jerry refers often to everyday examples from ordinary life, his job, and aviation. He's also a pilot for the Virginia Defense Force Aviation Battalion, the Commonwealth's military reserve. His Six Sigma Black Belt training is evident in his careful but accessiblestep-by-step explanations of how to build your astronomical imaging system, choose your astronomical targets, design a plan to photograph them, avoid the pitfalls, and apply the appropriate methods to obtain scienfitically relevant data suitable for contribution to the larger scientific community. As an active member of the Association of Lunar and Planetary Observers (ALPO), the American Association of the Variable Star Observer's (AAVSO), and as the owner of a certified observatory location I24 for the IAUs Minor Planet Center, Jerry practices what he preaches in performing his scientific astrophotography. He has had several images published in the ALPOs Lunar Section newsletter, The Lunar Observer, and his work has been acknowledged in Sky and Telescope magazine. Jerry's minor planet observations have been published in the scientifically peer reviewed Minor Planet Circulars, Minor Planet Circulars Supplement, and ALPOS Minor Planet Bulletin.

Klappentext

Scientific Astrophotography is a work for those amateur astronomers looking for new challenges, once they have mastered visual observing and the basic imaging of various astronomical objects. It is a wonderful reference for scientifically-inclined observers who want to learn the fundamentals of astrophotography with a firm emphasis on the discipline of scientific imaging.

This book is a wealth of information and a distillation of ideas presented by a diverse set of sources and based on the most recent techniques, equipment, and data available. It also includes numerous exercises for the reader, to maximize the success and minimize the frustration inherent in the pursuit of this specific craft. Scientific Astrophotography is perfect for any amateur astronomer who wants to go beyond just the process of making beautiful images and actually contribute to the science of astronomy!

"...Gerald Hubbell's new book, Scientific Astrophotography, is the perfectcompanion for anyone dipping their toe into the digital imaging realm for the first time. The author answers all the questions people have when starting out, such as how do I get the most bang for my buck, and how do I select the right CCD for my telescope?"

• Mike Simonsen, American Association of Variable Star Observers

  Inhalt

Foreword.- Acknowledgements.- About the Author.- Table of Contents.- List of Figures.- List of Tables.- Preface.- Chapter 1: Introduction to Scientific Astrophotography.- PART I: Astronomical Imaging System (AIS).- Chapter 2: The "Perfect AIS".- Chapter 3: The Astrograph - The Imaging Telescope.- Chapter 4: CCD Chip Performance, CCD Camera Basics, and Image Scaling Factors.- Chapter 5: Telescope Mount Factors.- Chapter 6: Imaging Filters and Auxiliary Optical/Mechanical/Electrical Components.- Chapter 7: Astrograph and CCD Combinations.- Chapter 8: Environmental and External Factors.- PART II: Astronomical Imaging System (AIS) Integration and Operation.- Chapter 9: The Practical AIS - The Sum is Greater than the Parts.- Chapter 10: Planning and Executing the AIS Data Acquisition Process.- Chapter 11: Image Acquisition and Calibration.- Chapter 12: Field Practical Exercises (FPE) - Putting It All Together.- PART III: Scientific Image Data Analysis and Advanced Amateur Scientific Projects.- Chapter 13: Scientific Image Data Uses and Innovations in AIS Components and Systems.- Chapter 14: An Introduction to Scientific Image Data Analysis.- Chapter 15: Your Scientific Imaging Program and How to Submit Your Data to Scientific Organizations.- Chapter 16: Amateur Astronomer Access to Professional-Level Observatories.- Appendices.- Index.