The Sky is Your Laboratory

This is THE book for the amateur astronomer who is ready to take the next step in his or her astronomical journey. Till now there has been no text that points curious amateur astronomers to the research possibilities open to them. This book plugs that hole.

This book is for experienced amateur astronomers who are ready to take a new step in their astronomical journey and use their skills to help farther advance science. Written by an astronomer who is well known amongst the amateur and professional community for the skill and quality of his work, this book describes a wide range of research areas where amateurs can gather new scientific data that is then utilized by professional astronomers. For each research area, the book provides a concise explanation of the purpose and value of the amateurs' observations, a description of the equipment that is needed, specific observing procedures, complete data reduction instructions, and an explanation of how, and where, to submit results so that they will be available to the professional users.

The first modern, practical guide to how the backyard observer can contribute to astronomical science Projects are more advanced; new sections on meteors, meteor showers, novas and supernovas, and extrasolar planets Describes a wide range of research areas where amateurs are gathering new scientific data that will be utilised by professional astronomers Describes the essential ways in which an amateur's scientific contribution differs from casual 'backyard observing' Provides a concise explanation of the purpose and value of the amateur astronomers' observations Identifies the equipment that is needed, observing procedures, data reduction techniques and how and where to submit results

Autorentext

Mr. Buchheim received his first telescope when he was about 10 years old, and he has been interested in the stars ever since. He received his BS degree in Physics from Arizona State University and has completed a Program Management Course at Defense Systems Management College as well as UCLA Executive Program 88-1. He has published a number of articles and is the inventor of the "Rotary-Acting Pilot Valve." He currently lives and works in California.

Inhalt
Meteor Studies.- Visual meteor counts of major meteor showers.- Characterization of minor meteor showers.- Characterizing Sporadic meteors, and discovering unrecognized showers.- Automating your Meteor Observations.- Radio Meteor Monitoring.- Additional Reading and Resources.- Occultations.- Lunar Occultation Timing.- Grazing Lunar Occultations.- Asteroid Occultation Timing.- International Occultation Timing Association.- Additional Reading and Resources.- Visual Observing.- Variable Star Observing.- AAVSO.- CCD Photometry.- General Principles of Aperture Photometry.- Selection of Comp Stars.- Software Packages for Photometry.- Absolute vs. Differential Photometry.- CCD Photometry of Variable Stars.- Determining Asteroid Lightcurves.- Signal, Noise, and Photometric Accuracy.- Extra-Solar Planet Transits.- Absolute Photometry on the B-V-R system.- Asteroid Phase Curves.- CCD Astrometry.-Basic Principles of Astrometry.- Equipment needed.- Making the Observations.- Reducing and Analyzing your Results.- Asteroid astrometry.- Binary Stars: Separation and Position Angle.- Discovery projects.- Lunar Meteor Impacts.- Asteroid Hunting and Discovery.- Comet Hunting.- Nova and Supernova Hunting.- Nova Search.- Supernova Search.- Serendipitous discoveries.- Some Notes on Time.- Some Background on Astrometric Concepts.- The scientist's record book.