A book for amateur astronomers that injects fun into a stimulating hobby. Complex subject matter is made easy and entertaining to read. Each chapter includes a series of observing challenges that will entertain and push the reader to continually higher levels of achievement.

This book is intended for amateur astronomers who are readers of Sky and Telescope magazine or similar astronomy periodicals or are at least at the same level of knowledge and enthusiasm. It begins with teaching astronomers to use their most important astronomy tool, their eyes. Then it discusses how to select the right telescope. Subsequent chapters take the readers on a tour of the solar system as they have never viewed it before through their own eyes. The book brings the challenge and fun back to a hobby that goes stale far too quickly for too many budding amateur astronomers. It takes complex subject matter and makes it easy and entertaining to read. Written by a jet pilot instructor and amateur astronomer each chapter includes a series of observing challenges that will entertain and push the reader to continually higher levels of achievement.

Brings challenge and fun back to a hobby that goes stale far too quickly for too many budding amateur astronomers Takes complex subject matter and makes it easy and entertaining to read and understand Readers will learn how to use the most important astronomical tool they have, their eyes, to maximum advantage An amateur with 30 years' experience shows them around the universe, pointing out subtle observational details that probably no-one ever showed them before

Autorentext

Michael Borgia is a jet pilot instructor for Flight Safety International, and in his spare time a member of Delmarva Stargazers Astronomy Club. He has been an amateur astronomer for 30 years since his childhood. He believes that he has been in every situation, asked every relevant and irrelevant question, and experienced every frustration known to amateur astronomy. He is the author of numerous training documents for Flight Safety and American Flyers, including full-length technical training texts.

Klappentext

This book is not for beginners.

Nor is it for experts instead it addresses the needs of practical amateur astronomers who want to make the jump to the new challenges of serious visual observing.

Second Steps in Observational Astronomy begins by teaching you, as an amateur astronomer, to use the most important tool you have: your eyes. Visual observing is very definitely a skill that can be learned. Of course it is important to have your other optical equipment telescope and accessories set up and operating as perfectly as possible. This book describes how.

After these vital preliminaries, subsequent chapters include a series of observing challenges that will entertain you and push your observing skills to continually higher levels of excellence for years to come.

Take a tour of the solar-system as you never viewed it before, then beyond into the realm of deep space using just your own eyes to reveal more detail than you ever thought possible.

Inhalt
The Integrated Observing System. Part I:Your Eyes.- The Integrated Observing System. Part II:Your Equipment.- Putting the Integrated Observing System Together.- First Night Out.- Mysteries of the Moon.- Secrets of the Sun.- Mercury, Venus, and the Inner Solar System.- The Enigmas of Mars, the Red Planet.- Comets and Asteroids, the Cosmic Leftovers of Creation.- Jupiter and Saturn, Kings of Worlds.- The Outer Worlds; Uranus, Neptune, Pluto, and Beyond.- Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star (Now Knock It Off!).- Faint, Fuzzy Things. Part I:P henomena Galactica.- Faint, Fuzzy Things. Part II:The Island Universes.