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Telescopes and Techniques

C.R. Kitchin

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Description for Telescopes and Techniques Paperback. In its 3rd edition, this book is a guide to the mathematics, physics and practical techniques needed to use telescopes ranging in sophistication from small amateur models to the larger instruments installed at many colleges, and to observe objects in the sky. Series: Undergraduate Lecture Notes in Physics. Num Pages: 274 pages, 120 black & white illustrations, 13 colour illustrations, biography. BIC Classification: PG; PNFS; TTB. Category: (P) Professional & Vocational. Dimension: 238 x 162 x 17. Weight in Grams: 430.
“Telescopes and Techniques” has proved itself in its first edition, having become probably one of the most widely used astronomy texts, both for numerate amateur astronomers and for astronomy and astrophysics undergraduates. The first and second editions of the book were widely used as set texts for introductory practical astronomy courses in many universities.

This book guides the reader through the mathematics, physics and practical techniques needed to use telescopes (from small amateur models to the larger instruments installed in many colleges) and to observe objects in the sky. Mathematics to around Advanced Placement standard (US) or A ... Read morelevel (UK) is assumed, although High School Diploma (US) or GCSE-level (UK) mathematics plus some basic trigonometry will suffice most of the time. Most of the physics and engineering involved is described fully and requires no prior knowledge or experience.

This is a ‘how to’ book that provides the knowledge and background required to understand how and why telescopes work. Equipped with the techniques discussed in this book, the observer will be able to operate with confidence his or her telescope and to optimize its performance for a particular purpose. In principle the observer could calculate his or her own predictions of planetary positions (ephemerides), but more realistically the observer will be able to understand the published data lists properly instead of just treating them as ‘recipes.’ When the observer has obtained measurements, he/she will be able to analyze them in a scientific manner and to understand the significance and meaning of the results.

“Telescopes and Techniques, 3rd Edition” fills a niche at the start of an undergraduate astronomer’s university studies, as shown by it having been widely adopted as a set textbook. This third edition is now needed to update its material with the many new observing developments and study areas that have comeinto prominence since it was published. The book concentrates on the knowledge needed to understand how small(ish) optical telescopes function, their main designs and how to set them up, plus introducing the reader to the many ways in which objects in the sky change their positions and how they may be observed. Both visual and electronic imaging techniques are covered, together with an introduction to how data (measurements) should be processed and analyzed. A simple introduction to radio telescopes is also included. Brief coverage of the most advanced topics of photometry and spectroscopy are included, but mainly to enable the reader to see some of the developments possible from the basic observing techniques covered in the main parts of the book. Show Less

Product Details

Format

Paperback

Publication date

2012

Publisher

Springer-Verlag New York Inc. United States

Number of pages

276

Condition

New

Series

Undergraduate Lecture Notes in Physics

Number of Pages

255

Place of Publication

New York, NY, United States

ISBN

9781461448907

SKU

V9781461448907

Shipping Time

Usually ships in 15 to 20 working days

Ref

99-15

About C.R. Kitchin

Chris Kitchin is Emeritus Professor of Astronomy at the University of Hertfordshire and has a lifelong interest in astronomical instrumentation, using telescopes of all sizes, studying the rapidly growing number of planets known to orbit other stars, and trying to communicate his own excitement at the recent explosion of discoveries about the universe. When not a hundred light years from ... Read more

Reviews for Telescopes and Techniques

From the reviews of the third edition: “Telescopes And Techniques is a book that would be helpful for every new telescope owner, and of interest to also more seasoned amateur astronomers, but it will be a real gem for students just starting to learn about observational astronomy. … Kitchin’s ‘Telescopes And Techniques’ bridges the gap between being a textbook ... Read more

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Telescopes and Techniques

C.R. Kitchin

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