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All About The Night Sky
Amateur astronomy, a subset of astronomy, is a hobby whose participants enjoy studying celestial objects. It is usually associated with viewing the night sky when most celestial objects and events are visible, but sometimes amateur astronomers also operate during the day for events such as sunspots and solar eclipses. Amateur astronomers often look at the sky using nothing more than their eyes, but common tools for amateur astronomy include portable telescopes and binoculars.
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The field of amateur telescope making is considered an offshoot of the amateur astronomy community. Amateur telescope makers (sometimes called ATMs), as their name implies, are not paid professionals. They build their telescopes for the enjoyment of the hobby, or so they can make a personal contribution to the field of astronomy.
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http://astro.umsystem.edu/atm/
http://www.crickrock.com/cgi-bin/webring/list.pl?ringid=TelescopeMaking;siteid=telescopemaking
Skygazing is the practice of observing the sky. It is usually done for leisure, out of basic astronomical interest. It includes those amateur astronomy observations done generally with the naked eye or with basic optical aids. When approached with a practical stance, skygazing quickly reveals the magnificence of celestial objects.
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A Sidewalk Astronomer (2005) is a documentary film that introduces amateur astronomy.
Wikipedia: link
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http://www.sidewalkastronomers.us/
http://www.nytimes.com/2005/07/06/movies/06side.html
Sky & Telescope (S&T) is an American monthly magazine covering all aspects of amateur astronomy, including: current events in astronomy and space exploration *events in the amateur astronomy community *reviews of astronomical equipment, books, and computer software *amateur telescope making *astrophotography
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Astronomy (ISSN 0091-6358) is a monthly American magazine about astronomy. Targeting amateur astronomers for its readers, it contains columns on sky viewing, reader-submitted astrophotographs, and articles on new developments in astronomy and astrophysics that are readable by nonscientists.
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A telescope arms race is taking shape around the world. Astronomers are drawing up plans for the biggest, most powerful instruments ever constructed, capable of peering far deeper into the universe – and further back in time – than ever before.
A stargazer is a person who observes the stars, planets and other celestial objects or phenomena on a regular basis, whether it be for scientific study or for recreation. Virtually all astronomers and astrologers are stargazers. In fact, the term stargazer is actually an informal, vulgar term for an astronomer, and stargazing is an informal, vulgar term for astronomy. Many other people also observe celestial objects and phenomena mostly for personal enjoyment, hobbies, etc.
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Episode 7: Getting Started in Amateur Astronomy
Got your eye on that $40 telescope at Walmart? Wait, hear us out first! Fraser and Pamela discuss strategies for getting into amateur astronomy – one of the most worthwhile hobbies out there. We discuss what gear to get, where to look, and how to meet up with other astronomy enthusiasts.
Published On Mon, 23 Oct 2006 00:00 Rss Channel: http://www.astronomycast.com
Episode 66: How Amateurs can contribute to Astronomy
Astronomy is one of the few sciences where amateurs make meaningful contributions to discoveries. Many professional researchers work hand-in-hand with teams of amateurs to make discoveries that just wouldn’t be possible without this kind of collaboration. In fact, Pamela regularly relies on dedicated enthusiasts for her data on variable stars.
Published On Mon, 10 Dec 2007 00:00 Rss Channel: http://www.astronomycast.com
” About the Author: Mike Lynch is the author of “Mike Lynch’s Minnesota StarWatch…
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Authors:
Michael W. Lynch
Part primer on the science and history of astronomical observation, part love poem to the night sky, The Stargazing Year is an amateur astronomer’s beautifully written account of a year spent observing the cosmos and building an observatory in his New England backyard…
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Authors:
Charles Laird Calia
He also discusses unmanned space exploration, provides star maps for each month of the year, and explains such phenomena as the Big Bang and black holes…
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Authors:
Robin Kerrod
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…
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Authors:
Patrick Moore
Whether you’re using a telescope, binoculars, or just your eyes, Norton’s is your guide to what’s up there…
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Authors:
Ian Ridpath
HobbySpace
HobbySpace hosts an exhaustive collection of information and links about space-related hobbies, including amateur astronomy, satellite design, and rocketry for both beginners and experts.
Published On Sun, 2 Dec 2007 08:22 Rss Channel: http://www.metafilter.com/tags/telescope/rss
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Category:Observational astronomy
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Starry Night Pro Planetarium Software
“Pro?” Or as John Steed would say…”Talented Amateur.”
Published On Tue, 29 Apr 2008 00:00 Rss Channel: http://www.astromart.com/articles/
Buy a Telescope
So, you’ve been stargazing for a while with your naked eye or binoculars and you want to move up to a telescope. Buying a telescope is one of the biggest decisions for an amateur astronomer. If you are not really sure how to buy a telescope, it can be a daunting task. Follow these simple steps and we’ll tell you how to buy a telescope.
Published On Mon, 19 May 2008 10:46 Rss Channel: http://space.about.com/
Over 150 photographs, nearly 60 in full-color, portray the full splendor of the night sky and illustrate how each object appears when seen through telescopes, both amateur and larger…
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Authors:
Hervé Burillier
He is the author of nine books including Dictionary of Computer and Internet Terms, Seventh Edition (Barron’s, 2000), Astrophotography for the Amateur (Cambridge, 1999), PROLOG Programming in Depth (Simon & Schuster, 1996), Cambridge Eclipse Photography Guide (1993), and Syntactic Theory in the High Middle Ages (Cambridge, 1985)...
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Authors:
Michael A. Covington
For those amateur astronomers who are bored with making simple observations, chapters on photometry, spectroscopy and radio astronomy bring observational astronomy to a level where data of real scientific value can be acquired…
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Authors:
Gerald North
Denis Berthier has spent thirty years observing the night sky from within a city and his practical guide will enable amateur astronomers to observe and photograph stars, planets and other celestial objects from their own town…
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Authors:
Denis Berthier
Complete with trouble-shooting advice, practical tips for observing over 200 interesting celestial objects, and information about the latest products and resources, this set of Covington’s two books is an essential purchase for every new telescope owner…
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Authors:
Michael Covington
For budding astronomers and experienced amateurs alike, Star Ware, Second Edition gives you everything you need to make educated decisions, including: * Extensive reviews of leading model names and hard-to-find accessories on the market, along with dozens of new products to help you buy smart * A clear, step-by-step guide to all aspects of purchasing, from choosing the right binoculars and telescopes to buying eyepieces, filters, cameras, and film * Ten new do-it-yourself projects to help save you time and money-including a portable telescope case and performance-enhancing collimation tools * Easy maintenance, mapping, and photography tips of the trade to help you get the most out of your telescope and stargazing * Where to find everything astronomical: Internet sites and web resources with complete addresses for distributors, dealers, and conventions…
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Authors:
Philip S. Harrinfton
Philip S. Harrington
Written by an astronomer who is well known amongst the amateur and professional community for the skill and quality of his work, this book describes a wide range of research areas where amateurs are gathering new scientific data that is utilized by professional astronomers…
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Authors:
Robert K. Buchheim
There is a vast range of astronomical equipment available to the amateur astronomer and this pocket-sized handbook will help the amateur make an informed choice about which instruments are best suited to his or her needs covering binoculars, telescopes, eyepieces, filters, and motors…
Amazon Book: link
Authors:
Hervé Burillier
Christophe Lehenaff