Product Description

* Allows the reader to quickly and easily grasp the math, fundamentals, and general concepts involved in astronomy
* Covers techniques for using telescopes, the challenges of amateur astrophotography, and the special problems of observing the sky at "invisible wavelengths"
* Unlike most books on the topic, it presents general concepts first and details follow
* Contains quizzes, tests, and final exams ... Read more

Customer Reviews (5)

The Demystified series are great
I really am enjoying this book.It is interesting and insightfull.I am refreshing my college astronomy class, and this book fits the bill.

Great Self-teaching guide!
This book is one of the better ones in the series. Some such as the quantum mechanics and the relativity book(note: I do not have them but have read reviews) are more for college level students majoring in physics. This book is a great book. If you are interested in taking a summer course in astronomy but are disapointed by the material that is covered, or it is too expensive, this book is a valuable alternative. The beginning of the book is a little boring however. Also, in the preface the author recommends reading a chapter a week. I read a chapter in three days. Overall this book is great.

The writer can't keep facts straight
I have borrowed this book in a library, at first I hoped it would be interesting light reading, but when I got to chapters of Sun as well as chapters concerning stellar evolution, I was very disappointed -- the author can't keep his data straight when it comes to given star's fate, like the sun. In one chapter he's talking about Sun becoming a hard cold body and in another he makes it a black dwarf. All around, to me this book was a disappoitment.

I love the "Demystified" series
I am really enjoying this book. In fact I have the Physics, Calculus, Algebra books also. I find them very well explained. I am using these book as "self study" and find them very good for that purpose, but I can also see how they would be helpful to anyone in High School that needs some extra help, or wants to go beyond the level they are being taught. The end of topic reviews and tests help you see how much knowledge you are gaining and what areas you need to focus on.

Takes us on mind journeys
This is one of the most comprehensive basic astronomy courses I've ever seen. I especially like it because it includes information about the sky as seen from "down under." Half of the globe is, after all, south of the equator (even if most of the landmass is not). The imaginary journeys among the planets are fun. I wish the author had taken me on an intergalactic voyage, but maybe that is asking too much. ... Read more

Product Description
Supernova explosions are not only important to the ecology of the universe, seeding it, among other things, with the heavy elements necessary for the existence of life, but they are also a natural laboratory in which a host of unique physical phenomena occur. While still far from a complete understanding, scientists have made great advances during the last twenty-five years in understanding the nature and conse- quences of supernovae. This book presents the state of supernova studies at the beginning of the 1990's, as reported at a two-week meeting on the Santa Cruz campus of the University of California in July 1989 in- volving 177 astronomers and astrophysicists from 17 nations. The 110 papers contained in this volume report all aspects of the field - observations at all wavelengths from radio through gamma-rays, bolometric light curves and spectra, neutrino observations, the theory of stellar explosions, multidimensional models for mixing, nucleosynthesis calculations, synthetic spectral modeling, presupernova evolution, supernova remnants, supernova rates, supernovae as standard candles, the interaction of supernovae with their surroundings - and constitute the most comprehensive and up-to-date treatment of SN 1987A currently available. Astronomers and astronomy graduate students will find this an in valuable summary of the current state of supernova research. The informed layperson or undergraduate astronomy student will also find it a useful introduction and guide to the literature in the subject. ... Read more

Product Description
This unique text discusses the mathematical principles behind Megalithic stone circles, and how these were used for observing lunar cycles in prehistoric times. The author, A. Thom, shows that stone circles were precisely planned and laid out in accordance with certain geometric figures in the classic Pythagorean tradition. Containing some mathematical and astronomical details, along with notes on site survey and location, this book is ideal for amateur enthusiasts and academicians of archaeology, astronomy, and mathematics. ... Read more

Product Description
This focused, advanced undergraduate text provides broad coverage of astronomy and astrophysics with a strong emphasis on physics. Many researchers, faculty, and graduate students use this book as a reference. This text has an algebra and trigonometry prerequisite, but calculus is preferred.Features: * "Concept Applications" are fully worked-out, in-chapter problems that focus on an important concept found within that chapter. * "Key Equations and Concepts" neatly summarize the important equations and concepts found in each chapter.New to this edition: * Many new problems have been added, most 3rd Edition problems remain. * Physics Prelude serves as preview and preorganizer of the physics at a level appropriate to the book and the course. * Reorganization of Part 3--Chapters on stellar evolution are now consecutive. * Key new astronomical material further enhances the text. * "Hale-Bopp Comet Update" has been added after Chapter 26. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (13)

There are better books to be had for an intro astronomy class
Obviously Physical Universe: An Introduction to Astronomy (Series of Books in Astronomy) is the standard by which all introductory astronomy books must be measured. This book is more expensive, less clear, has more typos and even glaring errors. But it's newer, and more "up to date." I'd explain to the students that we're going to use an old book and I'd fill in newer research as needed as we go along. It's not as if there are fundamental changes to how stars work, Galaxies form, or how telescopes work. (Especially not at an introductory level.)

Book review
It was very good, reliable and the product is what I expected to be. Thank you for the safe shipping, I wish the shipping was a little faster though.

Not a bad reference book for astrophysics students
This book is an ok reference book, if you've already seen the material in the book.The price is way too high.Whatever you do don't pay 180 bucks for this book. The preliminary section is weirdly way harder than the main text of the book. I had as my freshman astrophysics course text book and nearly dropped the course because the prelimary section was so scary. My biggest problem is the book uses MKS not CGS units. This would make the book more acessible to the reader with a physics (but no astronomy) background, but only does a disservice to the reader who wishes to use this book as a bridge to more advanced astronomical literature.

Intro to Astronomy
Nicely written textbook for the first year student in astronomy and astrophysics.Clearly written.

An excellent introductory book in astronomy/astrophysics
I used this book in an independent study class in astronomy and astrophysics while I was an undergraduate.With the exception of the some errors in the equations in the opacity section I found this book to be clearly written and not too difficult.You will need to know your college physics and some math but that should be expected since this is not a descriptive text.If you want a descriptive astronomy text search elsewhere, if you want an introductory astrophysics text this is a good choice. ... Read more

Product Description
Comprehensive, authoritative coverage of interferometric techniques for radio astronomy

In this Second Edition of Interferometry and Synthesis in Radio Astronomy, three leading figures in the development of large imaging arrays, including very-long-baseline interferometry (VLBI), describe and explain the technology that provides images of the universe with an angular resolution as fine as 1/20,000 of an arcsecond.

This comprehensive volume begins with a historical review followed by detailed coverage of the theory of interferometry and synthesis imaging, analysis of interferometer response, geometrical relationships, polarimetry, antennas, and arrays. Discussion of the receiving system continues with analysis of the response to signals and noise, analog design requirements, and digital signal processing.

The authors detail special requirements of VLBI including atomic frequency standards, broadband recording systems, and antennas in orbit.Further major topics include:

• Calibration of data and synthesis of images
• Image enhancement using nonlinear algorithms
• Techniques for astrometry and geodesy
• Propagation in the neutral atmosphere and ionized media
• Radio interference
• Related techniques: intensity interferometry, moon occultations, antenna holography, and optical interferometry

Interferometry and Synthesis in Radio Astronomy, Second Edition is comprehensive in that it provides an excellent overview of most radio astronomical instrumentation and techniques. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

amazing engineering feats
You can think of this as a course in very specialised antenna design. Certainly, the broad concepts would be immediately recognisable to any engineer who has built antennas. But here the sources that are being detected are at far reaches indeed. Correspondingly, the sizes of each radio dish far exceeds your typical antenna in industrial or military use.

Of course, the book points out that radio telescopes further enhance their resolving power by positioning these dishes at precise distances from each other, and adjusting the phases of incoming signals accordingly. To someone new to radio astronomy, one of the impressive achievements is that an array of dishes can thus be combined into one large telescope, spanning several kilometers.

The book then shows how this is taken to a logical limit of VLBI. Where arrays at different locations across the globe might combine their signals, giving a telescope comparable to the size of the globe, for greater resolution. A tribute to how engineering helps drive advances in pure research. ... Read more

Product Description
This book emphasizes the synergy between high technology and our ability to study and comprehend the universe. It describes the key technologies and ways in which computers affect modern astronomy. The author discusses instrumentation for infrared, ultraviolet x-ray, radio and gamma-ray astronomy, and considers the new generation of telescopes. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (5)

Excellent book on instrumental astronomy
A very comprehensive text on contemporary observational astronomy with a specific focus on instruments, detectors, and their host telescope technologies. The book reflects the deep insights of the author and his extensive practical experience in this area at leading telescope facilities and institutions. The book is detailed, and covers important auxiliary material, such as data reduction methodologies required for the instruments and detectors described, and important chapters on instrument design as well as leading-edge science examples in contemporary observational astronomy. The book is at a senior undergraduate, specialist, or graduate student level, but provides a lot of supporting material so can be read at different levels of technical interest. It is a deep technical view of observational astronomy, but I highly recommend it, especially to those who wish to understand the instruments and detectors of modern observational astronomy. The book covers radio, O/UV/IR, and high-energy photon astronomy.

Outstanding, Simply Outstanding!
If you have even a little bit of interest in learning about imaging technology in the field of Astronomy then this is definitely the first book you should be grabbing. What really separates this book from others like it is how its meticulously set up for all levels of experience and interest. In other words whether your a seasoned professional, a college student, or just an amateur backyard astronomer, this book has something to offer you.

If there was ever a time for a book like this its now as imaging technology in general has seen just massive breakthroughs in recent years and astronomy is one of the fields that has really benefited the most from such breakthroughs. In fact one could argue that astronomy has actually benefited more from such breakthroughs than photography itself. Of course photography is a huge part of astronomy so such arguments are pretty much futile. The bottom line is that imaging in astronomy is light years ahead of where it was even 20 years ago and this book will bring you up to date in regards to those technologies. It covers everything from the invention of CCD's right up to the use of adaptive optics. Overall Its extremely well written and is packed with a lot of great diagrams and mathematical equations.

I am actually an architectural photographer but I have been getting into astrophotography more and more in recent years and its now to the point where its one of my main focuses in regards to my personal work. A little while back I just really started getting the urge to learn about this technology from the ground up and I have been doing just that ever since. I have now read 4 different books on CCD's and imaging technology and this book is easily the best one I have read yet. If you want to take your understanding of such technologies to the next level then this is without a single doubt the place to start. Even if you already have a good understanding of such material, this book will still have plenty to offer you. In fact, anyone even half serious about imaging technology should have this on their bookshelf, period!

The bottom line - This is one book that anyone even remotely interested in imaging technology should have!!

5 Stars!!

Excellent book for beginner and expert
I have worked most of my career in scientific detectors for astronomy, for both ground and space, and my career includes positions at some of the major ground-based astronomical observatories (European Southern Observatory, W.M. Keck Observatory), and I now work at a leading detector manufacturer. I am a collector of books on technology for astronomical imaging, and Ian McLean's book is the best introduction and reference I have found for electronic imaging in astronomy. Ian McLean's book provides an excellent introduction to those who wish to learn about electronic imaging and it is a very good reference for those working in astronomy and other fields that require high performance imaging. The information on instrumentation and detectors is both broad and deep, with excellent compilation of references for those who seek more detail.I have ordered 3 copies of this book for my colleagues at work, and this book is often referenced in our discussions.I strongly recommend Professor McLean's book.

James W. Beletic, Ph.D.
Director of Astronomy & Civil Space
Teledyne Imaging Sensors

Very nice book!
I just wanted to mention how much I enjoy this book, Electronic Imaging in Astronomy (2nd ed.). I am nowhere near a professional in this field (I'm a mathematician, but do astronomical spectroscopy for fun), but the book's friendly writing style, wide scope, and clear explanations make the topics engaging and completely accessible. A work like this bespeaks a wide and deep knowledge of the field, as well as, I am sure, no small amount of perseverence! So kudos to the author from a layman for a really nice book!

best for the CCD ultra-enthusiast
An odd combination of the most detailed description of CCD and infrared arrays (their history,use, calibration, optical and electronic properties, drive waveforms, etc.), plus a shallow and general coverage of generaloptics, software (including a flow chart for software development plus afew screen shots!), telescopes, and adaptive optics.

It is hard toimagine someone who would get something useful out of every chapter; theultra beginner could learn the basics better elsewhere, but would find thetechnical chapters hard slogging, while the CCD enthusiast will make thecomplementary choices.

Exercises suggest the author may have imaginedthis to be a text book, but the poor general coverage and excellenttechnical coverage make this instead a reference for techies. ... Read more

Product Description

The field of ultraviolet astronomy offers unequalled scientific promise yet has not been blessed with a multitude of space missions (as has been the case for other spectral domains). This book contains a distillation of the community’s views on the topic and the desires for future observational facilities. As such, it provides the most up-to-date information on the topic of ultraviolet astronomy from a very broad point of view, presenting a compilation of lectures given at a specialist meeting and combining theoretical arguments with observational reports and detailed instrumental information.

Product Description

Observing the Messier Objects with a Small Telescope contains descriptions and photographs of the 103 Messier objects, with instructions on how to find them without a computerized telescope or even setting circles. The photographs show how the objects appear through a 127mm Maksutov (and other instruments, where applicable). The visual appearance of a Messier object is often very different from what can be imaged with the same telescope, and a special feature of this book is that it shows what you can see with a small telescope.

It will also contain binocular descriptions of some objects.

Messier published the final version of his catalog in 1781 (it contains 103 different onjects), a catalog so good that it is still in common use today, well over two centuries later. In making a catalog of all the 'fixed' deep-sky objects that observers might confuse with comets, Messier had succeeded in listing all the major interesting deep-sky objects that today are targets for amateur astronomers.

Messier's telescope (thought to be a 4-inch) was, by today's amateur standards, small. It also had rather poor optics by modern standards. Thus - and despite the fact that he was a master observer - all the things Messier saw can be found and observed by any observer using a commercial 127 mm (5-inch) telescope. Observing the Messier Objects with a Small Telescope lets the reader follow in Messier's footsteps by observing the Messier objects more or less as the great man saw them himself!

Product Description
This guide provides comprehensive practical information for both beginning and advanced amateur astronomers on how to make scientifically significant observations.The book explains in detail how to observe every conceivable astronomical object--from meteors to distant galaxies.It presents a wide variety of methods ranging from the simplest visual observations, such as making pencil drawings of the surface of the Moon, to the use of highly sophisticated equipment, such as CCD cameras and photoelectric photometers.It also explains how to record and catalog observations using recognized professional terminology and classification schemes. The volume's emphasis throughout is on giving amateur astronomers sound information to use at the telescope. The most effective and efficient techniques are presented so that observers can apply those that are most suitable to their own equipment and degree of experience.This comprehensive survey of practical methods of observation will develop the observational skills of the avid novice and will also satisfy the more demanding needs of the experienced amateur astronomer. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Excellent book on making scientific observations
This two-volume work (vol 1 on the solar system, vol 2 on everything else) is indispensible in learning how to make scientifically useful observations with modest or expensive equipment. Comprised of separate articles onspecific subjects, like "Spectroscopy", "Double Stars","Jupiter", or "Photometry", each section delves deeplyinto how to make accessories or observations that are of scientific value. It is incredibly detailed.My only detraction is that the text istranslated from the French and once in a while the text can be confusing(especially the description of the "V" micrometer in the doublestar section which, in my opinion, is nearly unintelligible). ... Read more

Product Description
The Vatican Observatory: In the Service of Nine Popes records the history of the Vatican Observatory (Specola Vaticana). It was originally published in 1991 on the occasion of the one-hundredth anniversary of the foundation of the observatory by Pope Leo XIII. This revised edition brings together many facts hidden in archival material, correspondence, previous publications on the observatory's history, as well as fresh material derived from interviews. Of particular interest is new research on the difficult period in the observatory's history as it moved from an institute struggling to establish research programs to a true astronomical observatory. The volume presents the most complete written history of the Vatican Observatory. ... Read more

Product Description
Providing a definitive history of the formative years of radio astronomy, this book is invaluable for historians of science, scientists and engineers. The whole of worldwide radio and radar astronomy is covered, beginning with the discoveries by Jansky and Reber of cosmic noise before World War II, through the wartime detections of solar noise, the discovery of radio stars, lunar and meteor radar experiments, the detection of the hydrogen spectral line, to the discoveries of Hey, Ryle, Lovell and Pawsey in the decade following the war, revealing an entirely different sky from that of visual astronomy. Using contemporary literature, correspondence and photographs, the book tells the story of the people who shaped the intellectual, technical, and social aspects of the field now known as radio astronomy. The book features quotes from over a hundred interviews with pioneering radio astronomers, giving fascinating insights into the development of radio astronomy. ... Read more

Product Description
This volume is concerned essentially with the modern developments in reflecting telescope optics. In the last twenty years, modern technology has revolutionized not only manufacturing and test procedures but also the whole area of quality specification with the introduction of active control into the functioning telescope. Other subjects covered here are alignment of telescope optics, atmospheric optics, including adaptive optics, reflecting coatings and ancillary equipment (adapters and baffles). Although an independent work, Vol. II is heavily cross-referenced with Vol. I. It is richly illustrated and gives, together with Vol. I, the most complete list of references available; it can also therefore be regarded as a source book. ... Read more

Product Description
On a clear night, the vastness and beauty of the star-filled sky is awe inspiring. In Stargazing: Astronomy without a Telescope Patrick Moore, Britain's best known astronomer, tells you all you need to know about the universe visible to the naked eye. With the aid of charts and illustrations, he explains how to "read" the stars, to know which constellations lie overhead, their trajectory throughout the seasons, and the legends ascribed to them. In a month-by-month guide he describes using detailed star maps of the night skies of both the northern and southern hemispheres. He also takes a look at the planets, the Sun and the Moon and their eclipses, comets, meteors, as well as aurorae and other celestial phenomena--all in accessible scientific detail. This captivating book shows how, even with just the naked eye, astronomy can be a fascinating and rewarding hobby--for life. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)

Excellent guide to the night sky
I own the first edition of this book, which is excellent. For the northern and southern hemispheres, Patrick Moore gives sky maps for the different seasons, so it is fairly easy to get to an appropriate place. What I like most, though, is that he shows useful outlines of constellations, instead of classic ones: What the book illustrates is much more likely to match what you see in the night sky of a city than what you would find in other sources. In addition, his instructions on finding specific stars are very easy to follow.

I'd strongly recommend this book for anyone who wants to be more familiar with the stars they see at night, as well as anyone with a high interest in astronomy in general.

Before you buy a telescope...
...learn the constellations. You will find this advice on many astronomy forums and I generally concur with it. I would just enhance it a little: knowing the costellations (and your way around the night sky) will help you enjoy your telescope.
This book will help you with the learning.The charts are not crowded (with the non-constellation stars) and easy to read; there is a separate chart or set of charts for each month and a corresponding description of what you can expect to see. Since I live in a light-polluted suburb I found that having a pair of binoculars helped me find all the stars in the constellations (and so did clear sky :-)

Excellent introduction to the night sky
I enjoyed this book very much.I liked the fact that the author goes through each month of the year and does an excellent job of describing the constellations, and provides maps to help find the stars he mentions.He even covers both the Northern and Southern Hemispheres.While I obviously live in the Northern Hemisphere, and so the Northern Hemisphere's sky maps are the most helpful in my own stargazing, I thought it was fun to read about how the sky in other parts of the world compares with my own backyard sky.He also gives helpful advice for finding each of the planets visible with the naked eye.He also describes comets, meteors, and other astronomical phenomona visible with the naked eye.I highly recommend this book for those who want to enjoy astronomy without necessarily spending a lot of money on equipment. ... Read more

Product Description

With information and scale as central themes, this comprehensive survey explains how to handle real problems in astronomical data analysis using a modern arsenal of powerful techniques. It treats those innovative methods of image, signal, and data processing that are proving to be both effective and widely relevant. The authors are leaders in this rapidly developing field and draw upon decades of experience. They have been playing leading roles in international projects such as the Virtual Observatory and the Grid.
The book addresses not only students and professional astronomers and astrophysicists, but also serious amateur astronomers and specialists in earth observation, medical imaging, and data mining. The coverage includes chapters or appendices on: detection and filtering; image compression; multichannel, multiscale, and catalog data analytical methods; wavelets transforms, Picard iteration, and software tools.

This second edition of Starck and Murtagh's highly appreciated reference again deals with topics that are at or beyond the state of the art. It presents material which is more algorithmically oriented than most alternatives and broaches new areas like ridgelet and curvelet transforms. Throughout the book various additions and updates have been made.

Product Description
Originally published in 1909.This volume from the Cornell University Library's print collections was scanned on an APT BookScan and converted to JPG 2000 format by Kirtas Technologies.All titles scanned cover to cover and pages may include marks notations and other marginalia present in the original volume. ... Read more

Product Description
Originally published in 1887.This volume from the Cornell University Library's print collections was scanned on an APT BookScan and converted to JPG 2000 format by Kirtas Technologies.All titles scanned cover to cover and pages may include marks notations and other marginalia present in the original volume. ... Read more

Product Description
Originally published in 1917.This volume from the Cornell University Library's print collections was scanned on an APT BookScan and converted to JPG 2000 format by Kirtas Technologies.All titles scanned cover to cover and pages may include marks notations and other marginalia present in the original volume. ... Read more

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Customer Reviews (1)

Well written account
Yerkes observatory, of the University of Chicago, played a major role inthe development of astrophysics in the early 20th century. Though quicklyovershadowed by the larger telescopes of Mt. Wilson and Mt. Palomar inCalifornia, Yerkes in Wisconsin managed to stay near the forefront ofscientific research throughout the 1930's through the 1950's, largelythrough the efforts of director Otto Struve. Osterbrock's excellent book islargely the story of Struve's success as a director and research leader.Well written and thoroughly documented, this book is an important additionto the history of astronomy in the US. ... Read more