Choosing and Using a New CAT

Catadioptric telescopes (CATs), such as the Schmidt Cassegrains, are increasingly popular with today's amateur astronomers and are capable of showing even the novice observer thousands of beautiful deep space wonders. Modern CATs, though, have become increasingly reliant on computers. This allows them to automatically point to and track celestial objects, making astronomy more accessible to more people than ever before.

Unfortunately, because of the high-tech nature of these telescopes, selecting one and learning how to use it is often a difficult experience for stargazers both old and new. That's where Choosing and Using the New CAT comes in. This book guides even the most greenhorn astronomer past the pitfalls encountered on the path to enjoying the beauties and mysteries of the universe.

Here you will learn not just which telescope is right for you but how to set up, operate, and maintain the most complex and electronics-laden CAT. There are plenty of tips for keeping the new CAT happy and working correctly, and there is even guidance on advanced applications, such as hooking computers to CATs and using these telescopes to take gorgeous pictures of planets and deep space objects.

This book gives readers the benefit of the author's thirty-five years experience using and enjoying catadioptric telescopes and solving the problems that inevitably crop up. If you dream of owning a telescope or are frustrated by the telescope you already own, this is the book for you!

Auteur

Rod Mollise is a test engineer for Northrop Grumman Mission Systems, and is affiliated to the University of South Alabama (Part Time Faculty (Physics Department)). He is the author of Choosing and Using a Schmidt Cassegrain Telescope (Springer), The Urban Astronomer's Guide (Springer), Introduction to Astronomy: Activities (University of South Alabama Physics Department (co-author), and a contributor to Night Sky, Sky and Telescope and Amateur Astronomy.

Résumé

Choosing and Using the New CAT will supersede the author's successful Choosing and Using a Schmidt-Cassegrain Telescope, which has enjoyed enthusiastic support from the amateur astronomy community for the past seven years.

Since the first book was published, a lot has changed in the technology of amateur astronomy. The sophistication and variety of the telescopes available to amateurs has increased dramatically. Computerized SCTs, Maksutov-Cassegrains, and most recently Meade's new and acclaimed Ritchey-Chrétiens have come to dominate the market. That means that all amateurs considering the purchase of a new telescope (not only a SCT, and not just beginners) will benefit from this detailed guide. Choosing the right telescope for particular kinds of observation (or even for general work) is far from easy but Rod Mollise gives invaluable advice and guidance.

Contenu
Why a CAT?.- What's a CAT?.- Inside a CAT.- Which CAT?.- Making Friends with a CAT.- Accessorizing a CAT.- CAT.- Enjoying a CAT.- Care and Feeding of a CAT.- Computerizing a CAT.- Taking Pictures with a CAT.- Choosing and Using a New CAT.- Keeping the Passion Alive.