Posts Tagged ‘Moore’s’
Last Updated on Sunday, 8 August 2010 08:26 Written by Administrator Sunday, 8 August 2010 08:26
Amateur Telescope Making (Patrick Moore’s Practical Astronomy Series)
Many amateur astronomers make their own instruments, either because of financial considerations or because they are just interested. Amateur Telescope Making offers a variety of designs for telescopes, mounts and drives which are suitable for the home-constructor. The designs range from simple to advanced, but all are within the range of a moderately well-equipped home workshop. Thus each chapter begins with reasons for undertaking the project, then looks at theoretical consideration before finishing with practical instructions and advice. An indication is given as to the skills required for the various projects. Appendices list reputable sources of (mail order) materials and components. The telescopes and mounts range from “shoestring” (very cheap) instruments to specialist devices that are unavailable commercially.
Rating: 
(out of 7 reviews)
List Price: $ 54.95
Price: $ 33.22
Tags: Amateur, Astronomy, Making, Moore's, Patrick, Practical, Series, Telescope | Posted under Telescope Book Reviews | 5 Comments
Last Updated on Wednesday, 21 July 2010 06:20 Written by Administrator Wednesday, 21 July 2010 06:20
My Heavens!: The Adventures of a Lonely Stargazer Building an Over-the-Top Observatory (Patrick Moore’s Practical Astronomy Series)
My Heavens! charts the progress of the author’s own substantial observatory (with additional material from amateur constructors of large observatories elsewhere) from conception, through design, planning and construction, to using an observatory of the kind that all amateur astronomers would aspire to own.
This book tells the “warts and all” story of small beginnings in amateur astronomy, leading to the construction of a “top of the range” observatory at a house on the edge of a country village between Oxford and London. The author is a qualified building surveyor, and looks at building the observatory from his own professional perspective. There were of course many errors, problems, technical and organizational difficulties along the way, and the author never shies away from admitting his mistakes – and in doing so he reduces the chances of others falling into the same traps. Comparisons are made with similar large projects in the USA, taking a look at the differences and similarities in planning and building regulations, and in construction methods on both sides of the Atlantic.
Eventually an observatory materialized, set up to facilitate the taking of very high quality images of the deep sky on those special days of best seeing.
The story doesn’t end with the construction of the observatory, but goes on to describe the author’s choice of equipment, setting it up, and his own techniques for obtaining superb astronomical images like the ones he shows in his book.
List Price: $ 34.95
Price: $ 18.56
Tags: Adventures, Astronomy, Building, Heavens, Lonely, Moore's, Observatory, OvertheTop, Patrick, Practical, Series, Stargazer | Posted under Telescope Book Reviews | Comments Off
Last Updated on Sunday, 18 July 2010 05:33 Written by Administrator Sunday, 18 July 2010 05:33
Setting-Up a Small Observatory: From Concept to Construction (Patrick Moore’s Practical Astronomy Series)
This is the book to tell the intermediate-level amateur astronomer what he needs to know about observatories. It draws on the author’s practical experience and that of many other experienced amateur astronomers.
It is an ideal complement to Patrick Moore’s More Small Astronomical Observatories which is a compendium of ideas for different observatory designs. Setting-up a Small Observatory covers the details of design, siting and construction once a basic type has been decided upon.
It is written in a way that is equally applicable to the USA and UK (where there are slightly different building regulations) and deals with matters that are basic to building and commissioning any amateur observatory. Uniquely, David Arditti also considers the aesthetics of amateur observatories – fitting them in with family and neighbors, and maybe disguising them as more common garden buildings if necessary.
Every amateur astronomer who wants a purpose-built observatory (and that is most of them!) will find this book absolutely invaluable both during the planning and the construction stages.
Rating: 
(out of 4 reviews)
List Price: $ 29.95
Price: $ 19.45
Tags: Astronomy, Concept, Construction, from, Moore's, Observatory, Patrick, Practical, Series, SettingUp, Small | Posted under Telescope Book Reviews | 4 Comments
Last Updated on Saturday, 17 July 2010 10:17 Written by Administrator Saturday, 17 July 2010 10:17
Telescopes and Techniques: An Introduction to Practical Astronomy (Patrick Moore’s Practical Astronomy Series)
This second – completely revised – edition of Chris Kitchin’s easy-to-read book provides a carefully structured introduction to the tools of astronomy. Beginning with an in-depth look at astronomical telescopes, it progresses through a coverage of positions and motions of astronomical objects, to observing instruments and techniques. New to this edition are sections on modern small telescopes and their design, revised material on the computer processing of data, and extended appendices. Like the first edition, questions (with answers) are given so that students and enthusiastic amateur astronomers can check their progress.
Rating: 
(out of 2 reviews)
List Price: $ 49.95
Price: $ 24.82
Tags: Astronomy, Introduction, Moore's, Patrick, Practical, Series, Techniques, Telescopes | Posted under Telescope Book Reviews | 2 Comments