Astronomy: a Handbook
Published on 7. October 1994
Book
XVIII, 568 pages
978-3-540-56273-3 (ISBN)
Description
Several decades have elapsed since the publication of any similar book in the German language. The lack of such a book has been felt keenly by all friends of astronomy. In our space age, astronomical knowledge arouses public interest more and more. Practical observation at the telescope depends more than anything else on such knowledge. The educational value of such a training is undisputed. On the other hand, the work of the amateur astronomer can also contribute essentially to the work of the professionals. It is from these points of view that this handbook aims to help with versatile advice. At the same time, the book intends to show the wide range of applied astronomy, as it presents itself to the friend of the stars; in mathematical-physical fields, in precision mechanics and optics, and last but not least in the area of social relations. Beyond the circle of amateur astronomers the book is addressed to lecturers, teachers, students and pupils. It wishes to serve them as a guide to "astronomical experiments", which we suggest should be performed in primary and secondary schools, specialist colleges, and extramural courses.
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Content
1 / Introduction to Astronomical Literature and Nomenclature.- 1.1 The Universe and the Amateur Astronomer.- 1.2 Astronomical Literature.- 1.3 Charts and Catalogs.- 1.4 Almanacs.- 1.5 Reduction of Observations.- 2 / The Observing Instruments of the Amateur Astronomer.- 2.1 The Performance of Astronomical Observing Instruments.- 2.2 The Components of Astronomical Observing Instruments.- 3 / Optical Radiation Receivers.- 3.1 Introduction.- 3.2 The Human Eye.- 3.3 The Photographic Emulsion.- 3.4 The Photoelectric Cell.- 3.5 Television Technique.- 4 / Radio Astronomy for Amateur Astronomers.- 4.1 Introduction.- 4.2 Fundamentals of Radio Astronomy.- 4.3 The Instruments.- 4.4 The Radio-Astronomical Objects.- 4.5 The Instrumental Possibilities of the Amateur Astronomer.- 5 / The Terrestrial Atmosphere and Its Effects.- 5.1 General Remarks Concerning the Earth's Atmosphere.- 5.2 Weather-Dependant Phenomena.- 5.3 Permanent Atmospheric Phenomena.- 6 / Fundamentals of Spherical Astronomy.- 6.1 Introduction.- 6.2 The Coordinates.- 6.3 The Time and the Phenomena of Daily Motion.- 6.4 Changes in the Coordinates of a Star.- 6.5 Calendars, Years, Julian Dates, and Normal Times.- 6.6 Variability of the Rotation of the Earth, Ephemeris Time and the Definition of the Second.- 6.7 Spherical Trigonometry.- 7 / Modern Sundials.- 7.1 Introduction.- 7.2 The Equinoxial Sundial.- 7.3 Design of a Horizontal Dial and of a Vertical East-West Dial.- 7.4 The Construction of a Horizontal and a Vertical East-West Dial.- 7.5 The Vertical Declining Dial.- 8 / Applied Mathematics for Amateur Astronomers.- 8.1 Introduction.- 8.2 Theory of Errors.- 8.3 Interpolation and Numerical Differentiation and Integration.- 8.4 Photographic Astrometry.- 8.5 Determination of the Position and Brightness of Planets and of the Planetographic Coordinates.- 8.6 The Reduction of Star Occultations.- 9 / The Sun.- 9.1 Introduction.- 9.2 Observation of the Sun.- 9.3 Phenomena on the Sun's Disc.- 9.4 Determination of Positions of Solar Phenomena.- 9.5 Photography of the Sun.- 9.6 Conclusions.- 10 / Observation of Total Solar Eclipses.- 10.1 Photography of the Solar Corona.- 10.2 Special Astronomical Programs.- 10.3 Special Terrestrial Programs.- 10.4 The Observing Station.- 11 / The Moon.- 11.1 Problems and Ideas of Lunar Observations.- 11.2 Conditions of Visibility.- 11.3 The Lunar Formations.- 11.4 Optical Observations.- 11.5 The Grid of Lunar Maps.- 12 / Lunar Eclipses.- 12.1 Introduction.- 12.2 Prediction of Lunar Eclipses.- 12.3 Enlargement of the Earth's Shadow.- 12.4 Photometry of Lunar Eclipses.- 12.5 Photography of Lunar Eclipses.- 13 / The Observation of Star Occultations.- 13.1 General Remarks.- 13.2 Predictions.- 13.3 Optical Requirements.- 13.4 Time Measurement.- 13.5 Evaluation of the Observational Results.- 13.6 Occultations of the Planets.- 14 / Artificial Earth Satellites.- 14.1 Nature and Purpose of the Satellites.- 14.2 Conditions of Visibility.- 14.3 Optical Observations.- 14.4 Time Services.- 14.5 Radio Observations.- 14.6 Elementary Calculation of the Orbit.- 14.7 Elliptical Orbits.- 15 / The Observation of the Planets.- 15.1 The Observation of Planetary Surfaces.- 15.2 The Observation of the Various Planets.- 15.3 Star Occultations by Planets.- 15.4 The Photography of Planetary Surfaces.- 15.5 Micrometer Measurements and Photometry of the Planetary Surfaces.- 16 / The Observation of Comets.- 16.1 Introductory Remarks.- 16.2 Visual Observations.- 16.3 Visual Determination of Position.- 16.4 Photographic Determination of Position.- 16.5 Observations of Cometary Structure.- 16.6 Photometry.- 16.7 Spectrum and Polarization.- 17 / Meteors and Fireballs.- 17.1 General Notes About Meteors.- 17.2 Methods of Observation.- 17.3 Special Observational Problems.- 17.4 Determination of Meteor Orbits.- 18 / Noctilucent Clouds, Aurorae, Zodiacal Light.- 18.1 Introduction.- 18.2 The Zodiacal Light.- 18.3 Observation of Aurorae.- 18.4 Noctilucent Clouds.- 18.5 Luminous Bands.- 18.6 The Blue Sun.- 19 / The Photometry of Stars and Planets.- 19.1 On the Measurement of the Sensitivity of the Eye.- 19.2 The Photometric Capabilities of the Eye.- 19.3 Sources of Error in the Estimation and Measurement of Brightness.- 19.4 The Preparation of a Brightness Estimate.- 19.5 Brightness Estimates.- 19.6 Brightness Measurements.- 19.7 The Reduction of Photometric Observations of Variable Stars.- 19.8 On the Photometry of the Major Planets.- 19.9 On the Photometry of the Minor Planets.- 19.10 Notes on the Measurement of Colors.- 20 / Double Stars.- 20.1 The Visual Double Stars.- 20.2 Micrometers and Visual Measurements.- 20.3 Photographic Observations.- 20.4 Orbital Elements and Ephemerides.- 21 / The Milky Way and the Galaxies.- 21.1 Introduction.- 21.2 The Instruments.- 21.3 The Most Important Objects.- 22 / Appendix.- 23 / Bibliography.