This enriching book shows amateur astronomers how to measure planetary sizes and distances for themselves, as well as orbital speeds. Written in an entertaining, anecdotal style, only a basic knowledge of geometry is required.

Instead of taking somebody's word for it about the basic size and distance statistics for the solar system, this book shows amateur astronomers how to measure these things for themselves. This is an enriching experience for any amateur astronomer - to understand and personally measure some fundamental astronomical quantities and distances.

A basic knowledge of geometry is required, but it is amazing how simple the geometry can be. Readers are led through the geometry as gently as possible - and in a light-hearted way - presuming that most non-academics will have half-forgotten most of their mathematics.

The practical astronomical equipment recommended is no more than a typical commercially-made amateur telescope and a camera of some sort - these days a webcam works very well. Apart from that all the reader will need is access to a computer, the know-how to download free software, and an enthusiasm to expand his knowledge of the basis of scientific astronomy.

Shows amateur astronomers how they can measure planetary sizes and distances for themselves, as well as orbital speed Improves the reader's appreciation and perspective of what he or she might see and image in the sky A small step (but also a giant leap) into astrometry written in an entertaining, anecdotal style Measurements require simple math early on and more subtle concepts appear only towards the final chapters

Autorentext
John Clark holds a Bachelor of Science, first class honors, in Physics, from London University, England, and a Ph. D. in Physics from Warwick University, England. He is a Fellow of the Institute of Physics, and spent two years as a post-doctoral researcher at Case Western Reserve University in the USA. Currently he is Managing Director of Fine R and D Limited. He has been an active amateur astronomer for many years.

Klappentext

Instead of taking somebody's word about the basic size and distances for the solar system's objects, this book shows amateur astronomers how to measure these things for themselves. This is an enriching experience for any amateur astronomer - to understand and personally measure fundamental astronomical quantities and distances.

A basic knowledge of geometry is required, but it is amazing how simple the ideas can be. Readers are led through the details as gently as possible - and in a light-hearted way - presuming that most will have half-forgotten most of the mathematics.

The practical astronomical equipment recommended is no more than a typical commercially-made amateur telescope and a camera of some sort - these days a webcam works very well. Apart from that all the reader will need is access to a computer with internet service, the know-how to download free software, and an enthusiasm to expand his knowledge of the basics of scientific astronomy.

Inhalt
How Do We Know That Venus Orbits The Sun?.- How Big is the Earth?.- How Far Away and How Big is the Moon?.- Jupiter's Moons: Where You Can Watch Gravity Do Its Thing.- Sunrise, Sunset.- Getting Further from the Sun: How do you Ride an Epicycle?.- Size Matters.