Appendix A: For Further Reading

Journals

Only the major and relatively widely available journals are listed. There are

numerous more specialized research-level journals available in academic libraries.

Popular

Astronomy

Astronomy Now

Ciel et Espace

Journal of the British Astronomical Association

New Scientist

Practical Astronomy

Publications of the Astronomical Society of the Pacific

Scientific American

Sky & Telescope

Research

Astronomical Journal

Astronomy and Astrophysics

Astrophysical Journal

Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Association

Nature

Science

C. R. Kitchin, Telescopes and Techniques, Undergraduate Lecture Notes in Physics,

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231

Other Books by the Author

Exoplanets – Finding, Exploring and Understanding Alien Worlds, Chris Kitchin,Springer, 2011.

Astrophysical Techniques 5th Edition, Taylor & Francis 2009.

Galaxies in Turmoil, Springer, 2007.Illustrated Dictionary of Practical Astronomy, Springer, 2002.Solar Observing Techniques, Springer-Verlag, 2001.Photo-Guide to the Constellations, Springer-Verlag, 1997.Seeing Stars, co-author R. Forrest, Springer-Verlag, 1997.Optical Astronomical Spectroscopy, IOP Publishing, 1995.

Journeys to the Ends of the Universe, co-author Adam Hilger, 1990.

Stars, Nebulae and the Interstellar Medium, co-author Adam Hilger, 1987.

Early Emission Line Stars, co-author Adam Hilger, 1982.

Star and Other Catalogs, Atlases, and Reference Books

Astronomical Almanac, HMSO/US Government Printing Office (published

annually).

Allen’s Astrophysical Quantities, A. N. Cox (Ed), Springer, 2001.

Cambridge Encyclopaedia of the Sun, K. R. Lang, Cambridge University Press,

2001.

Cambridge Star Atlas, W. Tirion, Cambridge University Press, 2011.

Deep Sky Observer’s Year, G Privett and P. Parsons, Springer-Verlag, 2001.

Deep Sky Observing, S. R. Coe, Springer-Verlag, 2000.Encyclopaedia of Astronomy and Astrophysics, edited by P. Murdin, Nature and

IoP Publishing, 2001.

Encyclopaedia of Planetary Sciences, edited by J. H. Shirley and R. W. Fairbridge,

Kluwer Academic Publishers, 2000.

Field Guide to the Deep Sky Objects, M. Inglis, Springer-Verlag, 2001.

Handbook of the British Astronomical Association, British Astronomical Associa-

tion (published annually).

Handbook of Double Stars: For the Use of Amateurs, E. Crossley, J. Gledhill, J. M.

Wilson, Cambridge University Press, 2011.

Norton’s Star Atlas, I. Ridpath, Addison Wesley, 2003.

Observing the Caldwell Objects, D. Ratledge, Springer-Verlag, 2000.Planetary Nebulae: A Practical Guide and Handbook for Amateur Astronomers,S. J. Hynes, Willmann-Bell, 1991.

Sky & Telescope’s Pocket Sky Atlas, R. W. Sinnott, Sky Publishing Corporation,

2006.

Sky Atlas 2000.0, W. Tirion, Sky Publishing Corporation, 2000.

232 Appendix A: For Further Reading

Sky Catalogue 2000, Volumes 1 and 2, A. Hirshfield and R. W. Sinnott, Cambridge

University Press, 1992.

3,000 Deep Sky Objects: An Annotated Catalogue, E. Aranda, Springer, 2011.Yearbook of Astronomy, Macmillan, published annually.

Practical Astronomy Books

Astronomical Spectroscopy for Amateurs, K. M. Harrison, Springer, 2011.

Astronomy with Small Telescopes, S. F. Tonkin, Springer-Verlag, 2001.Backyard Astronomer’s Guide, T. Dickinson, Firefly Books, 2007.

CCD Astrophotography: High Quality Imaging from the Suburbs, A, Stuart,

Springer, 2006.

Choosing and Using a Dobsonian Telescope, N. English, Springer, 2011.Choosing and Using a Schmidt-Cassegrain Telescope, R. Mollise, Springer-Verlag,

2001.

Choosing and Using a Refracting telescope, N. English, Springer, 2011.Complete Guide to the Herschel Objects: Sir William Herschel’s Star Clusters,Nebulae and Galaxies, M. Bratton, Cambridge University Press, 2011.

Deep Sky Companions: The Secret Deep, S. J. O’Meara, Cambridge University

Press, 2011.

Deep Sky Wonders: A Tour of the Universe, S. French, Firefly Books, 2011.

Digital SLR Astrophotography, M. A. Covington, Cambridge University Press,

2007.

How to Photograph the Moon and Planets with Your Digital Camera, T. Buick,P. Pugh, Springer, 2011.

Observational Astronomy: Techniques and Instrumentation, E. C. Sutton,

Cambridge University Press, 2011.

Observing the Messier Objects with a Small Telescope: In the Footsteps of a GreatObserver, P. Pugh, Springer, 2011.

Observing the Moon, P. Wlasuk, Springer-Verlag, 2000.

Using the Meade ETX, M. Weasner, Springer-Verlag, 2002.

Introductory Books

AstroFAQs, S. F. Tonkin, Springer-Verlag, 2000.Astronomy on the Personal Computer, O. Montenbruck, T. Pfleger, Springer-

Verlag, 2000.

Astrophysics is Easy! – An Introduction for the Amateur Astronomer, M. D. Inglis,

Springer, 2007.

Big Questions: The Universe, S. Clark, Quercus, 2010.

Appendix A: For Further Reading 233

Dark Side of the Universe: Dark Matter, Dark Energy, and the Fate of the Universe,I. Nicolson, Canopus, 2007.

Deep Space, S. Clark, Quercus, 2008.Discovering the Solar System, B.W. Jones, Wiley-Blackwell, 2007.

DK Illustrated Encyclopaedia of the Universe, Dorling Kyndersley, 2011.

Galactic Encounters: Our Majestic and Evolving Star-System, From the Big Bangto Time’s End, W. Sheehan, C. J. Conselice, J. Baum, Springer 2012.

Guidebook to the Constellations: Telescopic Sights, Tales and Myths, P. Simpson,

Springer, 2012.

Illustrated Guide to Astronomical Wonders: From Novice to Master Observer,R. B. Thompson, B. F. Thompson, O’Reilly Media, 2007.

Universe, RA Freedman and WJ Kaufmann III, WH Freeman, 2010.

Universe: Solar System, Stars and Galaxies, M. Seeds, D. Backman, Cengage

Learning Custom Publishing, 2011.

234 Appendix A: For Further Reading

Appendix B: Constellations

Constellation Abbreviation Constellation Abbreviation

Andromeda And Leo Leo

Antlia Ant Leo Minor LMi

Apus Aps Lepus Lep

Aquarius Aqr Libra Lib

Aquila Aql Lupus Lup

Ara Ara Lynx Lyn

Aries Ari Lyra Lyr

Auriga Aur Mensa Men

Bootes Boo Microscopium Mic

Caelum Cae Monoceros Mon

Camelopardalis Cam Musca Mus

Cancer Cnc Norma Nor

Canes Venatici CVn Octans Oct

Canis Major CMa Ophiuchus Oph

Canis Minor CMi Orion Ori

Capricornus Cap Pavo Pav

Carina Car Pegasus Peg

Cassiopeia Cas Perseus Per

Centaurus Cen Phoenix Phe

Cepheus Cep Pictor Pic

Cetus Cet Pisces Psc

Chamaeleon Cha Piscis Austrinus PsA

Circinus Cir Puppis Pup

Columba Col Pyxis Pyx

Coma Berenices Com Reticulum Ret

Corona Australis CrA Sagitta Sge

Corona Borealis CrB Sagittarius Sgr

Corvus Crv Scorpius Sco

Crater Crt Sculptor Scl

Crux Cru Scutum Sct

Cygnus Cyg Serpens Ser

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Constellation Abbreviation Constellation Abbreviation

Delphinus Del Sextans Sex

Dorado Dor Taurus Tau

Draco Dra Telescopium Tel

Equuleus Equ Triangulum Tri

Eridanus Eri Triangulum Australe TrA

Fornax For Tucana Tuc

Gemini Gem Ursa Major UMa

Grus Gru Ursa Minor UMi

Hercules Her Vela Vel

Horologium Hor Virgo Vir

Hydra Hya Volans Vol

Hydrus Hyi Vulpecula Vul

Indus Ind

Lacerta Lac

236 Appendix B: Constellations

Appendix C: Answers to Exercises

2.1. (a) x8,148

(b) 19,051

2.2. (a) x21, 35.7 mm

(b) x195, 3.8 mm

(c) 0.7500, 2.7 m, 5.55 m

2.3. 391 m

4.1. 2 h 53 min 9.5 s

1 h 4 min 0 s

6 h 11 min 50s

19 h 26 min 16 s

4.2. 46 � 310 1500

221 � 300 000

272 � 220 000

318 � 180 1500

4.3. 6 h 31 min 4 s

4.4. 4 h 42 min 55 s

4.5. 23 h 13 min 35 s

4.6. Sirius: 16 h 28 min 26 s

Betelgeuse: 17 h 18 min 25 s

Neither star would be visible

4.7. Altitude ¼ +70 � 200 5100; azimuth ¼ 107 � 070 5300 West

5.1. 50� 160 5100 East5.2. �8� 370

5.3. 6 h 46 min 14 s

�16� 410 0800

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5.4. Venus: 1.597 years

Jupiter: 1.092 years

Pluto: 1.004 years

5.5. (a) No; lunar eclipses can only occur at full Moon.

(b) Yes; the Moon’s orbit rotates in space once every 18.7 years, and so a solar

eclipse can occur sometime anywhere around Earth’s orbit.

6.1. You should get times near to 11 h 42 min p.m. and 4 h 42 min a.m.

8.1. Sixth magnitude star: 9.87 � 10�11 W m�2

8.2. Distance : 2.1 � 106 km

8.3. Distance: 4.8 mm

8.4. Height: 183 m (likely height in the range 150–200 m)

9.1. The galaxy extends from intensities of about 36,000–48,000. One (of many)

suitable gray scalings would thus be:

CCD intensity Monitor level

0–35 999 0

36 000–36 049 1

36 050–36 099 2

36 100–36 149 3

36 150–36 199 4

and so on up to

48 600–48 649 253

48 650–48 699 254

48 700–100 000 255

10.1. Mean ¼ 959.58

s ¼ 0.302

S ¼ 0.0955

Thus the final answer should be 959.6 � 0.1

10.2. 12.6 � 0.1

3.59 � 0.01

5000 � 100

0.012 � 0.0007 or 0.001 � 0.0007

3.1 � 106 � 105

3 � 1016 � 3 � 1016

10.3. Number of asteroids ¼ 91.64 m – 558.9. (Number of asteroids ¼ 90 m – 560

is more in line with the number of significant figures in the original data.)

Hence the number of asteroids in the range 15–16m (m ¼ 15.5) is 835. This

predicted number is likely to be far too small since the original data show a

much steeper than linear relationship (probably exponential) in the number of

asteroids with decreasing brightness.

238 Appendix C: Answers to Exercises

10.4. r ¼ 0.85. With nine degrees of freedom, we find from Fig. 10.3 that the

significance level < 1 %. The correlation of student numbers with tempera-

ture is therefore highly significant.10.5. t ¼ 2.59. The number of degrees of freedom is nine. So, from the graph in

Fig. 10.3, we may see that the result of Student’s t test is a probability in the

region between 5 % and 1 % (actually just slightly less than 5 %). Therefore,

the result is significant and there is greater than 95 % chance that the stars’

separation has changed with time.

10.6.

NA ¼ 15 XA ¼ 8.305 sA ¼ 0.017

NB ¼ 12 XB ¼ 8.285 sB ¼ 0.021

Giving

t ¼ 2.67

The number of degrees of freedom is 25. So from the graph in Fig. 10.3,

we may see that the result of Student’s t test is a probability slightly less

than 1 %. Therefore the result is highly significant, and there is greater than

99 % chance that the star is a variable.

11.1. Magnitudes: 4.67, 7.91

11.2. 27 pc (for Jupiter to have an apparent magnitude of +28 – see Table 8.2); thus

Jovian-sized planets could be detectable out to a few tens of parsecs.

11.3. For Betelgeuse, MV ¼ �6.05, and BC ¼ 1.7 so from Equation (11.3),

MBol ¼ �7.75

So from Equation (11.4)

Luminosity ¼ 3.8 � 1031 W.

Betelgeuse is thus 94,000 times brighter than the Sun.

12.1. 496 km s�1 towards Earth.

Appendix C: Answers to Exercises 239

Appendix D: SI and Other Units

SI Prefixes

Prefix Multiplier Symbol

atto 10�18 a

femto 10�15 f

pico 10�12 p

nano 10�9 n

micro 10�6 mmilli 10�3 m

centi 10�2 c (not recommended)

deci 10�1 d (not recommended)

deca 101 da (not recommended)

hecto 102 h (not recommended)

kilo 103 k

mega 106 M

giga 109 G

tera 1012 T

peta 1015 P

exa 1018 E

SI Units

Physical quantity Unit Symbol

Angle radian rad

Capacitance farad F (s4 A2 m�2 kg�1)

Electric charge coulomb C (A s)

Electric current ampere A

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Physical quantity Unit Symbol

Electrical resistance ohm O (m2 kg s�3 A�2)

Energy joule J (m2 kg s�2)

Force newton N (kg m s�1)

Frequency hertz Hz (s�1)

Length meter m

Luminous intensity candela cd

Magnetic flux density tesla T (kg s�2 A�1)

Mass kilogram kg

Power watt W (m2 kg s�3)

Pressure pascal Pa (kg m�1 s�2)

Solid angle steradian sr

Temperature kelvin K

Time second s

Voltage volt V (m2 kg s�3 A�1)

Other Units in Common Use in Astronomy

Unit Symbol Equivalent

Angstrom A 10�10 m

Astronomical unit AU 1.495 978 70 � 1011 m

Atmosphere atm 1.013 25 � 105 Pa

Bar bar 105 Pa

Dyne dyn 10�5 N

Electron volt eV 1.6022 � 10�19 J

Erg erg 10�7 J

Gauss G 10�4 T

Jansky jy 10�26 W m�2 Hz�1

Light year ly 9.4605 � 1015 m

Micron m, mm 10�6 m

Parsec pc 3.0857 � 1016 m

Solar luminosity L� 3.8478 � 1026 W

Solar mass M� 1.9891 � 1030 kg

Solar radius R� 6.960 � 108 m

242 Appendix D: SI and Other Units

Appendix E: The Greek Alphabet

Letter Lower case Upper case

Alpha a BBeta b ΒGamma g GDelta d DEpsilon e ΕZeta z ΖEta Z ΗTheta y YIota i I

Kappa k K

Lambda l LMu m M

Nu n ΝXi x XOmicron o ΟPi p PRho r ΡSigma s STau t ΤUpsilon u ΥPhi f FChi w ΧPsi c COmega o O

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Index

A

Aberration (optical)

astigmatism, 12, 19, 48–51

chromatic, 6–8, 12–14, 19, 48, 49

coma, 12, 19, 48–50

distortion, 14, 48–51

field curvature, 19, 48, 49

spherical, 6–9, 12, 19, 22, 48, 49

Aberration (stellar), 6–9, 12–14, 19, 22, 40, 42,

48–50, 102, 115–116, 181, 197

Absolute magnitude, 169, 212–213, 215, 218

Absorption cell, 227

Achromat, 12, 14

condition for achromatism, 48

Achromatic doublet. See Lens, achromatic

Active supports. See Mirror, active supports

Adaptive optics. See Atmospheric

compensation, adaptive optics

Airy disc, 33

Alidade, 105, 106

ALMA. See Atacama Large Millimeter

Array (ALMA)

Almagest, 109

Alt-alt mounting. See Mounting (telescope)

Alt-az mounting. See Mounting (telescope)

Altitude, 8, 22, 56, 75–80, 93, 98, 104, 105,

135, 136, 149, 154, 215, 236

Analemma, 81, 83, 85

Andromeda Galaxy, 37, 174, 175

Angular measure, 23, 78, 79

Antarctic circle, 103

Anti-blooming CCD, 212

Anti-reflection coating, 42

Apastron, 122

Aperture synthesis. See also Interferometer

e-MERLIN, 30

filled aperture, 30, 53

unfilled aperture, 30

very large array, 29

Aphelion, 115, 122, 126

Apocynthion, 122

Apogee, 117, 122

Apojove, 122

Apparent magnitude, 167, 168, 210, 212,

213, 237

Archives, 192, 196, 208–210

Arctic circle, 103

Arecibo radio telescope. See Radio telescope,

Arecibo

Artificial guide star. See Atmospheric

compensation

Astigmatism. See Aberration (optical)

Astrolabe, 104–106

Astronomical Almanac, 84, 86, 87, 91, 151,161, 230

Astronomical refractor, 5

Yerkes, 14

Atacama Large Millimeter Array

(ALMA), 26, 29. See also Aperture

synthesis

Atmosphere, 15, 22–25, 34, 41, 56, 57, 99,

102–104, 122, 123, 138, 146, 151,

154, 158, 159, 167, 175, 199, 204

Atmospheric compensation

adaptive optics, 25

artificial guide star, 25

correcting mirror, 24, 25

guide star, 24, 25

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Atmospheric compensation (cont.)Hartmann sensor, 24

multi-conjugate adaptive optics, 25

tip-tilt mirror, 25

Atmospheric refraction, 99, 103, 138

Atomic clock, 82

Autoguider, 138

Autumnal equinox, 77, 84

Avalanche photodiode, 217

Averted vision, 38, 173, 179, 181

Azimuth, 22, 56, 75–80, 93, 98, 100, 126, 135,

136, 149, 236

B

Background signal subtraction, 190

Bacon, F.R., 5

Barlow lens, 35, 45

Bayer, J., 165

Bearing, 75, 128, 131

Bell metal, 10

Binary star, 170, 171, 213

visual, 91, 171

Binoculars

gyro-stabilised, 65

night vision, 37, 65

Black body, 214

Bolometric correction, 215, 216

Bolometric magnitude, 215–217, 219

Brown dwarf, 213, 224, 226

C

c. See Velocity of light (c)Caldwell catalogue, 175

Camera

digital, 185, 186

Schmidt (see Schmidt camera)

SLR, 185

Camera obscura, 5

Cardinal point, 72

Cassegrain, L., 11

Cassegrain telescope, 11

Cassini, G., 8

Catadioptric, 19

Catoptric, 19

CCD camera

astronomical, 139, 186, 211, 212

astronomical cooling, 186

CCD photometry, 211–212

CCDs. See Charge coupleddevices (CCDs)

Celestial latitude, 90, 96, 97

Celestial longitude, 90, 96, 97

Celestial pole, 56, 71, 95, 128

Celestial sphere, 71–76, 93, 99, 101, 112

Centre de Donnees astronomiques de

Strasbourg, 166, 208

Cerenkov radiation, 144

Chandler wobble, 83

Charge coupled devices (CCDs), 138,

181–189, 191, 211, 212, 215, 218

anti-blooming, 212

array, 47, 48, 50, 184, 186, 188, 189

charge coupling, 183

detection efficiency, 185

detection mechanism, 182, 192

electron-hole pair, 182, 186, 192

mosaic, 47, 48, 50, 188, 189

Chaucer, G., 106

Chromatic aberration. See Aberration(optical)

Circle of least confusion, 49

Circular polarisation, 145

Circumpolar object, 101–103

declination, 101, 103

Citizen science, 196, 208–210

Civil time, 80–85, 87, 88, 100, 134, 152

Coating, 15, 42, 62, 150, 185

anti-reflection, 42, 160

Coelostat, 135, 163

Collimator, 222

Colour index, 215

Colour vision, 169, 172, 180

Coma. See Aberration (optical)

Comparison spectrum, 226, 227

Compass point, 72

Conjunction

inferior, 116

superior, 125, 126

Constellation, 25, 56, 74, 75, 102, 104, 110,

111, 137, 151, 158, 164, 165, 230,

232–234

Contrast stretching, 190, 196

Copernican model. See Solar systemCopernicus, N., 109

Correcting lens

Maksutov telescope, 20

prime focus, 16

Schmidt camera, 19

Schmidt-Cassegrain telescope, 20

Correcting mirror. See Atmospheric

compensation, correcting mirror

Correlation coefficient, 197–201,

203–206

Cosine rule. See Spherical trigonometry

246 Index

Cosmic rays effects, 143, 189, 196

Coude focus, 16, 46

Coude system, 16, 17

Coude telescope, 16, 46

Cross wire eyepiece, 135, 138

D

Dark adaptation, 37, 170, 180

Dark noise, 186

Dark signal subtraction, 190

Data analysis, 186, 196, 199–207

Data mining, 208–210

Data processing, 51, 53, 195–210

Data reduction, 196–197, 199

Day-time observing, 175–176

Dec. See DeclinationDeclination, 54, 55, 72, 77–81, 83, 85, 88–90,

99–101, 103, 111, 113, 128, 133,

134, 136, 137, 149, 151, 152, 165, 166

axis, 54, 90, 128, 149

Deferent, 109

Degree, 23, 60, 69, 76, 79, 83, 90, 95, 98, 99,

103, 109, 114, 117, 136, 147, 151, 153,

189, 199, 204–206, 218, 237

Degree of freedom, 204–207, 237

della Porta, G., 5

Detector, 19, 26, 27, 31, 36, 40, 46, 50, 56, 115,

135, 138, 143–145, 149, 172, 179–194,

211, 215, 217, 221, 222

photon counting, 47

Dewing-up, 150

Diffraction, 19, 23, 24, 33–35, 38, 41, 47, 57,

61, 151, 160, 171, 222, 223

airy disc, 33

Diffraction limit, 23, 24, 33–35, 38, 41, 47, 57,

61, 151, 159, 171

Digges, L., 3, 4

Digital camera

active focusing, 185

passive focusing, 185

Dioptric, 19

Direct vision, 223

Dispersion, 12, 221–224

Distortion. See Aberration (optical)

Diurnal motion, 99–100

Dobsonian mounting. See Mounting

(telescope)

Dollond, J., 12

Dome, 11, 14, 34, 154

Double star, 41, 120, 158, 169–172, 174,

210, 230

Dove prism, 132

E

Earth

orbit, 75, 81, 91, 115, 117, 122, 155, 236

perihelion, 103, 115, 122

rotation, 16, 28, 54, 56, 71, 76, 77, 82,

83, 89, 99, 102, 107, 112, 117, 127,

128, 131, 133

Eclipse

annular solar, 121

limits on occurrence, 122

lunar, 107, 118, 122, 123, 126

partial solar, 121

solar, 117–121, 126

total solar, 117, 120

Ecliptic, 74, 75, 80, 81, 84, 90, 96, 97, 102,

104, 112–115, 117, 126

E-ELT. See European Extremely Large

Telescope (E-ELT)

Effective focal length, 45–48, 57

Electro-magnetic radiation

amplitude, 144–146

circular polarisation, 145

electric vector, 144, 145

elliptical polarisation, 147

frequency, 143, 146

intensity, 144

interactions with matter, 145

linear polarisation, 146, 147

phase, 144, 146

photon, 144–145

polarisation, 145

refractive index, 143

velocity, 143, 144

wavelength, 143–146

Electron-hole pair, 182, 186, 187

Electron volt (eV), 144, 145, 240

Ellipsoid. See Telescope mirror,

secondary-ellipsoidal

Elliptical polarisation, 147

e-MERLIN. See Aperture synthesis, e-MERLIN

English mounting. See Mounting (telescope)

Epicycle, 109

Epoch, 113, 114

Equation of time, 82, 83, 84, 102

Equator, 69, 71, 72, 78, 80, 81, 84, 88–90, 97,

102, 104, 112, 136

Equatorial mounting. SeeMounting (telescope)

Equatorial platform, 64, 65, 131

Equilux, 103

Equinox, 77, 81, 83, 102, 103

Errors (in data), 138, 157, 197–199, 206, 217

ESO. See European Southern Observatory’s

(ESO)

Index 247

European Extremely Large Telescope

(E-ELT), 22, 23, 32, 168, 169, 177

European Southern Observatory’s (ESO), 18,

22, 23, 26, 98, 120, 123, 128, 131,

173, 189, 208, 223

eV. See Electron volt (eV)

Exit pupil, 34, 35

Exoplanet, 57, 120, 208, 227, 230

Extended source

image brightness, 31, 36, 168

surface brightness, 36, 37, 172

Eye

colour vision, 169, 179, 180

cone cells, 31

dark adapted (see Dark adaptation)

fovea centralis, 37, 179, 181

pupil, 31, 34, 35, 37, 180

resolution, 34, 35, 57, 176, 179, 181

retina, 37, 38, 144, 162, 176, 179–181

rod cells, 31, 180

sensitivity, 6, 37, 172, 179, 180, 181, 215

structure, 37, 179, 185, 221

Eyepiece

crosswire, 135, 138, 155

Erfle, 42

guiding, 41, 137–139

Huyghenian, 42

Kellner, 42

maximum focal length, 41

micrometer, 41, 155, 169–171

multi-lens, 14

Nagler, 42

orthoscopic, 42

parfocal, 42, 44

Plossl, 42

projection, 45, 163

Ramsden, 42

wide angle, 41, 42

Eye relief, 34, 35, 42

F

False observations, 176–177

Feed. See Radio telescope

Fibre optic, 22, 30, 46, 222

Field curvature. See Aberration (optical)

Field of sharp focus, 15, 18, 19. See alsoField of view

Field of view. See also Field of sharp focus

eyepiece, 35, 36, 127, 152

telescope, 35, 36, 47, 138, 151, 152, 180, 188

Field rotation. See Mounting (telescope),

alt-az-field rotation

Filled aperture. See Aperture synthesis,filled aperture

Filter

comet, 46

full aperture, Sun, 45, 161, 162, 164

H-a, 46H-a cut-off, 46

light pollution rejection, 46

Nebula, 46

U, B, V, 215

Finder chart, 152, 153

Finding, 6, 24, 64, 89, 135, 136, 149,

151–153, 156, 161, 162, 171,

173, 175, 217, 230

First point of Aries (FPA), 84, 88–90,

102, 112

Five parts rule. See Spherical trigonometry

Flamsteed, J., 165

Flat fielding, 181, 191, 196

Focal correction, 175, 176

Focal length, 3, 5, 8, 11, 32, 35, 41, 42,

45–48, 56, 57, 175, 176

effective, 45–48, 57

Focal plane, 22, 46, 48, 50, 223

Focal point, 11

Focal ratio, 8, 14, 32, 162, 163

Focus, 3, 5, 6, 9–12, 15, 16, 18, 19, 21, 22,

26, 38, 46–50, 57, 65, 132, 163, 175,

177, 185

Focusing, 6, 63, 175, 185, 222

Ford, D., 106

Fork mounting. See Mounting (telescope)

Foucault test, 39

Four parts rule. See Spherical trigonometry

FPA. See First point of Aries (FPA)f-ratio. See Focal ratioFringe, 52

interferometer, 51, 52Full aperture filter, 162

G

Gaia spacecraft, 110

Galactic latitude, 90

Galactic longitude, 90

Galilean refractor, 3–5

Galilean satellites, 116–118, 160

Galileo, 3, 5, 7

Gamma ray, 166, 214, 215

Gemini telescope, 25

German mounting. See Mounting (telescope)

Giant Magellan Telescope (GMT), 22, 81,

82, 84, 98

248 Index

Glass

crown, 12, 49

flint, 12, 49

GMT. See Giant Magellan Telescope;

Greenwich Mean Time

Gran Telescopio Canarias (GTC), 22

Grating, 222, 223

Great circle, 72, 76, 77, 93, 95, 111

Greatest elongation, 116, 158

Greek alphabet, 241

Greenwich mean time (GMT), 22, 82, 84, 98

Gregorian telescope, 9, 11

Gregory, J., 9, 10

Grossetest, B.R., 5

GTC. See Gran Telescopio

Canarias (GTC)

Guide star, 24, 25, 165

artificial (see Atmospheric compensation,

artificial guide star)

Guiding

autoguider, 138

off-axis, 138

H

HA. See Hour angle (HA)Hadley, J., 12

Half-wave dipole. See Radio telescope

Hall, C.M., 12

Hartmann sensor. See Atmospheric

compensation

Heliocentric model, 109

Heliocentric time, 91

Herschelian telescope, 12, 16, 57

Herschel, J., 166, 174

Herschel, W., 12, 14, 57, 166, 174

1.2-metre reflector, 14

HET. See Hobby Eberly Telescope (HET)

Hevelius, J., 8

Hipparchus, 112, 166, 167

Hipparchus’ star catalogue, 166

Hobby Eberly Telescope (HET), 22

Horizon, 72, 73, 75, 76, 99–101, 103, 104,

123, 175

Horseshoe mounting. See Mounting

(telescope)

Hot spots, 190

Hour angle (HA), 54, 55, 77–80, 84, 88–90, 95,

98, 99128, 133, 134, 137, 151

HST. See Hubble Space Telescope (HST)Hubble Space Telescope (HST), 11, 25, 38,

39, 62, 165

Huygens, C., 6, 8

I

Image brightness. See also Light grasp

extended source, 31, 36, 37, 47, 51

point source, 31–36, 49

Image compression, 191

Image de-rotator, 133

Image processing

background signal subtraction, 190

contrast stretching, 190

cosmic rays effects, 189, 191, 196

dark signal subtraction, 190

flat fielding, 189

hot spots, 190

image compression, 191

Image scale (IS), 46–47

Infra-red, 18, 22, 25, 28, 57, 145, 146, 159, 162,

185, 193, 224

Interference fringes, 33

Interferometer. See alsoAperture synthesis

base-line, 27, 110

fringe, 52, 53

operation, 53

path difference, 27, 52, 53

resolution, 25, 27, 30, 51–53

two-element, 52

very-long base-line, 27, 110

Intermediate frequency. See Radio telescope

International Atomic Time

(TAI), 82, 83

Irradiation, 179

J

James Webb Space Telescope

(JWST), 22–24

Jansky, K., 26, 240

Julian date

heliocentric, 91

modified, 91

Julian day, 91

Julian day number, 91

Jupiter, 5, 25, 116, 117, 120, 122, 158, 160,

168, 213, 236, 237

satellites, 5, 116, 160

JWST. See James Webb Space Telescope

(JWST)

K

Keck telescope, 32, 39

Kepler, J., 109

Kepler spacecraft, 48, 120, 124, 218

Index 249

L

Large Binocular Telescope (LBT), 22

Latitude, 69–71, 77, 78, 81, 87, 89, 96–101,

103–106, 132–134, 149, 163

LBT. See Large Binocular Telescope (LBT)Least squares equation, 201

Lens

achromatic, 12, 48

apochromatic, 12, 13

converging, 3, 5, 11, 12

correcting (see Correcting lens)

diverging, 3, 5, 12, 45

relay, 8

simple, 6, 7, 12, 13, 35

Libration, 108, 155

Light

photon (see Photon)wave nature, 32

Light gathering power, 22. See alsoLight grasp

Light grasp, 31, 32, 36, 47, 64.

See also Light gathering power

Linear polarisation, 146, 147, 175

Linear regression, 197, 200–204

Lippershey, H., 3, 5

Local sidereal time (LST), 84–90,

98, 133, 134

Longest day, 102

Longitude, 69, 70, 77–82, 84, 87, 90,

96–98, 137

LST. See Local sidereal time (LST)

Luminosity type, 226

M

M31, 37, 90, 174

M104, 172, 173

Magnetic declination, 72

Magnetic deviation, 72

Magnetic variation, 72, 74

Magnification

maximum, 151

minimum, 34–37, 41, 44

Magnitude

bolometric, 212, 215–217

limiting, 169, 173

photographic, 215

photo-visual, 215

visual, 169, 211, 214, 215

Maksutov telescope, 20, 160

Martian canals, 176, 179

Mean sun, 80, 81, 84

Medicean stars, 5

Meridian

Greenwich, 69, 78, 79, 84

right ascension, 136

Messier, C., 174

Messier object, 152, 174

Metius, J., 5

Microwave, 12, 145–146

Minute-of-arc, 15, 18, 23, 90, 136

Mirror. See also Telescope mirror

active supports, 40, 54

correcting (see Atmospheric compensation,

correcting mirror)

figuring, 39, 61

flat, 10, 15, 62, 135

grinding, 38, 61, 135

honeycomb, 40

lightweight, 16

metal-on-glass, 15

multi (see Multi-mirror telescope)

off-axis, 12, 22, 39

polishing, 38, 39, 61, 135

surface accuracy-1/8 wavelength

requirement, 38, 61, 160

tip-tilt (see Atmospheric compensation,

tip-tilt mirror)

Mirror coating

aluminium, 62

silicon dioxide, 62

silver, 62

MKK system, 224

Modified English mounting.

See Mounting (telescope)

Moon

libration, 155

motion, 107

orbital motion, 107, 116, 155

phase, 107, 116, 118, 154

rotation, 107

Moon maps, 153, 154

orientation, 153–154

Moore, P., 175

Mount Hopkins telescope, 21

Mounting (Camera)

barn door, 56

Haig, 56

Scotch, 56

Mounting (telescope)

alignment, 135–138

alt-alt, 135

alt-az, 16, 18, 54, 56, 59, 64, 75, 89,

128–135, 140, 149, 152

alt-az-field rotation, 56, 132, 133, 149

alt-az-zero field rotation, 56, 133, 134

250 Index

basic requirements, 127

DIY construction, 131

Dobsonian, 64, 65, 132

English, 128, 129

equatorial, 16, 54, 55, 64, 89, 128, 129,

131, 133, 135, 136, 149

fixed, 16, 22, 135, 136, 163

fork, 128, 129, 131

German, 129, 139

horseshoe, 128, 131

modified English, 128, 129

yoke, 129

Multi-conjugate adaptive optics.

See Atmospheric compensation,

multi-conjugate adaptive optics

Multi-mirror telescope, 21

N

Nadir, 72

Nasmyth focus, 16, 18

Nasmyth system, 17

New general catalogue (NGC), 174

Newton, I., 10, 38

Newtonian telescope, 10, 19, 32, 61, 62, 64,

160, 176

Night vision glasses, 65

Noise

dark, 186

thermal, 186, 190, 217

O

Objective. See Telescope objectiveObservatory, 18, 19, 25, 56–57, 69, 80, 81, 86,

87, 90, 101, 150, 163, 165, 180, 186,

192, 207–209

Observing site, 24, 56–57, 150, 151, 153, 158,

164, 169

requirements, 56

Occultation, 95, 96, 116, 117, 120, 158, 160

Old Moon in the new Moon’s arms, 154, 155

Opera glass, 3

Opposition, 116, 123, 158, 166

Orbital period, 123, 126, 170. See alsoSidereal period

P

Paraboloid. See Telescope mirror,

primary-paraboloidal

Parallax, 102, 114–115

Parallax angle, 114

Parsec, 110, 114, 212

Parsons, W., 14, 15

1.8-metre reflector, 14

Peltier cooling, 186

Periastron, 122

Pericynthion, 122

Perigee, 122, 157

Perihelion, 103, 115, 122, 126, 166

Perijove, 122

Phase, 5, 107, 116, 118, 119, 144, 146, 154

Photographic, 12, 19, 45, 144, 181, 185, 186,

191–193, 196, 208, 211, 215, 217, 222

Photographic magnitude, 215

Photographic photometry, 45, 211, 215,

217, 222

Photography

detection mechanism, 182, 192

developing, 193

electron-hole pairs, 186, 192

fixing, 193

latent image, 192, 193

negative image, 193

print, 193

silver bromide, 192, 193

Photometer, 15, 40, 46, 127, 138, 157, 217–219

Photometry

CCD, 211–212

observing procedure, 218

Photomultiplier, 144, 194, 212

Photon, 47, 144–145, 173, 182, 183, 186, 192

Photon counting, 47

Photo-visual magnitude, 215

p-i-n photodiode, 181, 193–194, 211, 212, 217

Pixel, 47, 186, 188–190, 194, 211, 212,

217, 218

Planck curve, 145

Planet

direct motion, 108

motion, 102, 106, 108, 109

retrograde motion, 108

Planisphere, 104–106, 134, 151

Pleiades, 174

Pogson, N., 167

Pogson’s equation, 167

Point source, 5, 10, 27, 31–36, 48–53, 169,

181, 211

Polar axis, 54, 89, 128, 135–137, 149

Polarimetry, 147

Polaris, 101, 112, 113, 136, 168, 213, 225, 226

Polarisation, 145–147, 175, 206

Positions in the sky, 52, 69–97, 113

Precession, 75, 84, 102, 112–114, 152

Prime focus telescope, 16, 22, 26, 46, 47

Index 251

Prime meridian, 77–79, 133

Prism, 65, 132, 222, 223

Prominence spectroscope, 164

Proper motion, 109–111, 113, 114, 208

Ptolemy, 109

Purkinje effect, 180

Pyrex, 40, 61

Q

Quadrature, 117

R

Radial velocity, 226–227

Radian, 23, 33, 47, 52, 275

Radio telescope

Arecibo, 27, 135

dish, 25, 26, 29, 135

feed, 22, 26, 46

half-wave dipole, 26

intermediate frequency, 27

RATAN-600 (see RATAN-600 radio

telescope)

receiver, 27, 60, 140, 185

resolution, 25–27

super-heterodyne, 27

Yagi, 26

RATAN-600 radio telescope, 27

Rayleigh limit, 34

Receiver. See Radio telescope

Reflection, 8, 9, 24, 44, 63, 185

law of, 6

Reflector, 10, 12, 14, 15, 18–20, 53, 54, 61,

64, 160

Refraction, 8, 12, 99, 103, 132

atmospheric, 138

Refractive index, 49, 143

Refractor

astronomical (see Astronomical refractor)

Galilean (see Galilean refractor)

Resolution

airy disc, 33

diffraction-limited, 23, 171

interferometer, 25, 27–30, 50–53

Rayleigh limit, 34

spectral, 221–223

Rete, 105, 106

Rhodopsin, 37, 179, 180

Right ascension (RA), 55, 88–91, 93, 95–97,

100, 108, 110–111, 113, 114, 128, 133,

136–139, 151, 165, 166

Rising, 99–101, 103, 104

Ritchey-Chretien telescope, 15, 18,

38, 64

Romer, O., 118

S

Safety, 150–151, 162

SALT. See South African Large

Telescope (SALT)

Saturn

Cassini division, 8

rings, 8, 65, 160

satellites, 8, 106, 160

Schmidt, B., 18

Schmidt camera, 18–20, 38, 47, 49

Schmidt-Cassegrain telescope, 20, 40, 41,

59–60, 150, 186, 195

Schmidt-Newtonian telescope, 19

Scintillation, 22, 24, 211, 217

Seasons, 102–104

Second-of-arc, 23–25, 34, 47, 48, 78, 79, 90,

113, 114, 128, 155–157

Seeing, 24, 44, 149–151, 158, 159,

176, 208

Seidel aberration. See Aberration (optical)

Serrurier truss, 53, 54

Setting, 90, 99–101, 103, 104, 135–137, 152,

167, 175, 185, 190, 218

Setting circle, 90, 128, 135–137, 149, 151, 152,

158, 161, 173, 175

Shortest day, 102

Short, J., 11

Sidereal clock, 77

Sidereal day, 54, 76–77, 83, 86, 89, 99, 128

Sidereal period, 123–126. See alsoOrbital period

Sidereal time

approximate, 87, 88

calculation, 100

definition, 77

local, 82, 83, 87–88, 100, 134, 137

relation with HA and RA, 95

Signal-to-noise ratio, 46, 47, 196

Significance level, 205, 207

Silver mirror test, 62

Sine rule. See Spherical trigonometry

SI units and prefixes, 207, 239–240

Slit, 147, 164, 222

SLR camera, 185

Solar clock, 77

Solar day, 77, 86, 91

mean, 76, 83

Solar diagonal, 44–45

252 Index

Solar system

Copernican model, 7 (see alsoHeliocentric model)

heliocentric model, 109 (see alsoCopernican model)

Solar time, 81–82, 84, 86, 134

mean, 77, 80–82, 84

Solstice, 77, 85, 100, 102

Sombrero galaxy, 172, 173

South African Large Telescope

(SALT), 22, 135

Space telescope, 11, 20–25, 38, 39, 62, 165

Spectral resolution, 221–223

Spectral type, 216, 218, 223–226

MKK system, 224

Spectrograph, 223, 227

Spectrophotometry, 227–228

Spectroscope

absorption cell, 227

basic, 222, 223

collimator, 222

comparison spectrum, 226–227

direct vision, 223

dispersion, 222–224

grating, 222, 223

prism, 222, 223

radial velocity, 226–227

resolution, 221–223

slit, 222

spectrophotometry, 227–228

Spectroscopy, 147, 149, 193, 217,

221–228

Speculum metal, 10, 14, 15

Spherical aberration. See Aberration (optical)

Spherical polar coordinates, 69–71, 75, 89

Spherical triangle. See Spherical trigonometry

Spherical trigonometry

cosine rule, 93, 94, 96

five parts rule, 95

four parts rule, 94, 96

sine rule, 92, 94

spherical triangle, 94, 95

Spider, 62, 64

Spring equinox, 77

Square kilometer array (SKA) radio

telescope, 208

Standard deviation, 197, 198, 204,

206, 207, 208

Standard error of the mean, 197–199, 204,

206, 207, 209

Standard star, 167, 211, 218

Star colour, 179

Star diagonal, 42–44

Stellar magnitude, 167, 169, 181, 196, 212.

See also Absolute magnitude; Apparent

magnitude; Magnitude

Stellar nomenclature

Bayer system, 165

catalogue number, 165

Flamsteed number, 165

pulsars, 166

variable stars, 165

Student’s t test, 200, 203–207Subaru telescope, 47

Summer solstice, 77, 85, 100

Summer triangle, 102

Sun, 5, 25, 44, 45, 71, 74–76, 80, 81, 83–85,

91, 99, 100, 102–104, 106, 107, 109,

115–120, 122–124, 140, 146, 151, 154,

158, 160–164, 167, 168, 175, 177, 213,

214, 216, 217, 224–226

motion, 75, 81

Sundial, 81, 82

Superconducting tunnel junction, 27, 194

Super-heterodyne. See Radio telescope

Surface brightness, 36, 37, 172

Synodic period, 123–126

T

Tear-drop effect, 177, 181

Telecompressor, 45

Telephoto property, 11, 18

Telescope. See also Catadioptric; Catoptric;

Dioptric; Reflector; Refractor

aerial, 8, 26

alignment, 21, 53, 60, 105, 135–137, 140

alignment-completely automatic, 60,

140, 169

alignment-data base, 60, 171

alignment onto object, 53, 60, 100, 117,

122, 135–137, 140

alignment-semi-automatic, 60

cassegrain (see Cassegrain telescope)

collimation, 63, 64, 127

commercial, 105, 135, 139

Coude (see Coude telescope)DIY construction, 131

field of view (see Field of view, telescope)

Gregorian (see Gregorian telescope)

Herschelian (see Herschelian telescope)

large, 11, 12, 15, 18, 21, 22, 24, 46, 47, 132,

147, 221, 222

major, 15, 16, 46–48, 56, 127–128, 131,

181, 186, 195, 211–212

Maksutov (see Maksutov telescope)

Index 253

Telescope. (cont.)mounting (see Mounting (telescope))

multi-mirror (see Multi-mirror telescope)

Newtonian (see Newtonian telescope)

objective, 14, 38–40, 128, 160, 217

objective lens, 32, 65

objective mirror, 9, 32, 38

prime focus (see Prime focus telescope)

radio (see Radio telescope)

Ritchey-Chretien (see Ritchey-Chretientelescope)

Schmidt-Cassegrain (see Schmidt-

Cassegrain telescope)

Schmidt-Newtonian (see Schmidt-

Newtonian telescope)

second hand, 60, 63

small, 10, 15, 19, 38, 40, 42–44, 56, 59–65,

127, 128, 132, 157, 158, 172, 174, 179,

195, 221

space (see Space telescope)terrestrial (see Terrestrial telescope)tube, 9, 53, 62, 127, 128, 150, 160, 161, 163

tube-Serrurier truss, 53–54

Telescope mirror

primary, 9, 11, 12, 15, 16, 19, 21–23, 38,

53, 54, 61–63, 135, 162, 185

primary-hyperboloidal, 11, 15, 21

primary-paraboloidal, 9, 12, 21, 61

primary-spherical, 9, 10, 12, 19, 22, 48

secondary, 9, 11, 12, 15, 19–21, 46, 53, 62,

64, 159, 160

secondary-ellipsoidal, 9

secondary-hyperboloidal, 11, 15, 21

Telescope objective, 14, 38–40, 160, 217

Telescope tube, 9, 53, 62, 127, 128, 150,

160–163

Terrestrial telescope, 8

Thermal noise, 186, 217

Thirty meter telescope (TMT), 22, 25

Tide, 107, 117

Time, 3, 10–12, 22, 24, 25, 28, 40, 41, 59–62,

71, 72, 76–91, 99, 100, 102, 104, 105,

107–111, 113, 116–118, 123, 125–128,

131, 133–137, 140, 144, 145, 149–155,

157, 158, 162–164, 173, 188, 193, 195,

198, 208, 209, 217, 218, 224

heliocentric, 91

Time zone, 81, 82, 86–88, 133, 134

Timocharis, 112, 166

Tip-tilt mirror. See Atmospheric compensation

Tracking, 6, 54, 56, 128, 131, 138, 217

Transit, 116–118, 120, 136, 160, 177

exoplanet detection, 120, 124, 208, 227

Twilight, 158

astronomical, 102–103

civil, 103

nautical, 103

Twinkling, 24, 151

U

U, B, V filters, 215

Ultra low expansion (ULE), 40, 61

Ultra-violet, 22, 146, 159, 215

Uncertainties (in data), 197–199, 201, 218

Unfilled aperture. See Aperture synthesisUniversal time (UT), 82–83

Ursa Major, 111

change of shape with time, 111

V

Velocity of light (c), 118, 143, 144, 227Venus, 5, 25, 32, 116–119, 158, 160, 168, 176,

177, 213

phase, 5, 116, 119

Vernal equinox, 77, 81, 84, 102

Very large array (VLA). SeeAperture synthesisVery large survey telescope (VLST), 189

Very large telescope (VLT)

Antu, 18, 173

ISAAC, 10, 18

Melipal, 223

Very-long base-line (VLBI).

See Interferometer

Virtual observatory, 196, 208–209

Vision, 37, 38, 65, 169, 172, 174, 179–181,

195, 223

averted, 38, 174, 179, 181

Visual binary star, 91, 171

Visual magnitude, 169, 214, 215

Visual observing

day-time observing, 175–176

false observations, 176–177

finding, 149, 151–153, 156, 161, 162, 172,

174, 176

galaxies, 151, 170, 172–175

moon, 46, 153–158, 160, 164, 168, 175

moon-occultations, 158, 160

moon-TLPs, 157

nebulae, 46, 152, 172–175

planets, 151, 158–160, 172, 174, 175, 177

problems, 45, 132, 150–152, 154,

161, 176

safety, 150–151, 162

star hopping, 152, 158, 174

254 Index

stars, 45, 151–153, 157–159, 164–172,

173–175

stars-magnitude estimation, 171

sun, 44, 151, 154, 158, 160–164, 167, 168,

175, 177

sun-eyepiece projection,

45, 163

sun-full aperture filter, 45,

162, 164

sun-H-a filter, 164

sun-prominence spectroscope, 164

sun-warnings and precautions, 150, 158,

161, 175, 193

sun-Zurich sunspot number, 163

Visual purple, 37, 179

von Fraunhofer, J., 14

W

Wave front, 24, 25

Weber-Fechner law, 166

Wien’s law, 214

Winter solstice, 77, 85, 102

X

X-ray, 144–146, 160

Y

Yagi. See Radio telescope

Yoke mounting. See Mounting (telescope)

Z

Zenith, 42–43, 62, 72, 75–77, 99, 103,

131, 135

Zenith distance, 62, 75–76, 103

Zerodur, 40, 61

Zodiac, 74–75

Zodiacal constellations, 74, 75

Zurich sunspot number, 163

Index 255