Description: At first glance, the challenge of astrophotography may appear daunting. But not only are spectacular results possible, they are easy to learn with the step-by-step instructions provided in Stephan Seip's Digital Astrophotography: A Guide to Capturing the Cosmos. Today, amateurs can produce images that only twenty years ago a large professional observatory would have been proud of; and this book shows you how.

Learn how to:

• Set up your camera for optimum results
• Focus your camera for razor-sharp images
• Take beautiful night shots with a simple compact digital camera, a tripod, and a telescope
• Use a DSLR camera to shoot the Sun, Moon, stars, star clusters, and nebulae through your telescope
• Get brilliant images of planets with a Webcam
• Capture remote galaxies with a charge-coupled device (CCD) camera just like a pro

• Shoot RAW format images and improve them with calibration frames
• Take short exposures of faint deep-sky objects and combine them into a longer exposure
• Perform brightness, contrast, and color correction
• Make corrections to correct for vignetting and uneven field illumination
• Process your images for stunning results

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Description: In the last few years, cheap webcams have revolutionized amateur astronomy by providing a very inexpensive alternative to purpose-made astronomical CCD cameras, which use refrigerated imaging chips and are thus extremely expensive. Webcams are capable of more advanced work than 'normal' digital cameras because their simple construction makes it easy to remove the webcam's lens, allowing it to be interfaced directly to a telescope. Using a webcam is not difficult but most amateur astronomers who have tried to do this do not achieve the finest results, despite the webcam's potential. There are numerous imaging and image processing tricks and techniques, and all of them are needed to get the best results.

Lunar and Planetary Webcam Users Guide de-mystifies the jargon of webcams and computer processing, and provides detailed hints and tips for imaging the Sun, Moon and planets with a webcam. He looks at each observing target separately, describing and explaining all specialised techniques in context.

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Customer Review: This is an outstanding reference for you astronomy buffs who use webcams and RegiStax for planetary imaging. Mobberley's book is also sprinkled with all sorts of observations, like living in the Low Country on the coast can sometimes be an advatage for observing. This is not intuitive.
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Description: Not all amateur astronomers who live in a suburban location realize just how very effective a "chilled-chip" astronomical CCD-camera and software can be at cutting through seemingly impenetrable light-pollution. CCD Astrophotography from the Suburbs details one man's approach to the problem of getting high-quality astronomical images under light-polluted conditions. Adam Stuart has written this reference book for all amateur astronomers who are interested in CCD imaging, especially those who have to work under suburban conditions. The book outlines the materials and (commercially-available) equipment used for high-quality imaging.

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Customer Review: I was disappointed with it since it comes from the "Practical Astronomy" series. Mr. Stuart's set up is anything but practical. I know of few people who get into this hobby and instantly purchase their own dome, establish a network, and run their equipment from the convenience of their home. ...
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Description: This book on CD-ROM is a practical guide to astrophotography with digital single lens reflex (DSLR) cameras. It explains how digital cameras work and everything you need to know about how to take astrophotos with them. It also tells you how to process the images after you have shot them, with step-by-step directions that will produce beautiful results. With this book you will discover how easy it is to shoot the Sun, Moon, stars, nebulae, galaxies, and other celestial objects. Use your DSLR camera to shoot through your telescope. Determine the correct exposure and ISO to use for your astrophotos. Focus your camera for razor-sharp images. Perform brightness, contrast and color correction. Correct uneven illumination and vignetting. More than 100 Minutes of video tutorials with step-by-step instructions for complete image procesing and enhancement of both JPEG and Raw images are included on the CD-ROM. More...

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Customer Review: This CD by Jerry Lodriguss on astrophotography with a Digital SLR camera is the best written and informative product I have had the pleasure to own and learn from. I have more than 20 books on this subject in my collection and this is by far the best. I highly recommend it to all who are or may be interested in astrophotography.
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Description: The New CCD Astronomy is the #1 source of information about CCD astrophotography. It contains everything you need to know to become proficient at CCD imaging. Hundreds of detailed illustrations show you how to select equipment, take pictures, and process your images with a variety of software. This book cover everything you need to know: How a CCD camera works; How to achieve critical focus; How to choose the right equipment (mount, telescope, and CCD camera); How to autoguide, and more. You'll also learn the secrets of color imaging, the art of noise reduction, many image processing techniques, and specialized techniques for planets, nebulae, galaxies, etc. Free with purchase: a one-year subscription to the New CCD Astronomy web site, including: a complete online version of the book; additional fully-illustrated tutorials; discussion groups moderated by the author; searchable database of CCD imaging targets; and a number of free software tools to improve your CCD imaging results.

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Customer Review: This book does a wonderful job in taking the reader from the basics to advanced concepts of astrophotography with CCD cameras. It has an excellent section that explains how to choose a Telescope, the Mount, and the Camera. I wish I had read this section before I purchased my first Telescope and CCD camera. ...
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Description: With this extraordinary handbook, you, too, can frame the stars and have them hanging on your livingroom walls. Astrophotography for the Amateur provides a complete guide to taking pictures of stars, galaxies, the Moon, the Sun, comets, meteors and eclipses, using equipment and materials readily available to the hobbyist.

Based on suggestions from readers of the first edition, the new edition has been completely updated and expanded to include new chapters on computer image processing and CCD imaging; expanded advice on choosing cameras and telescopes; completely updated information about films; a much larger bibliography; and hundreds of new photographs (in color and black and white) demonstrating the latest equipment and techniques. Astrophotography for the Amateur has become the standard handbook for all amateur astronomers. This new edition provides an ideal introduction for beginners and a complete handbook for advanced amateurs. It will also appeal to photography enthusiasts who will discover how to take spectacular images with only modest equipment.

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Customer Review: Micheal Covington's book covers all aspects of astrophotography starting from objects, from camera selection to films, exposure methods, mounts and drives, guiding of the mount & guiding accuracy/errors, and of course the CCD imaging. I also gives ideas on how to build a simple barn door mount. ...
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Sky & Telescope Review: March 2000 p.80-81

Description: This essential reference book remains your complete guide to capturing images of the night sky on video! The newly revised edition includes expanded sections on webcams and the new generation of high-sensitivity video cameras. Youll learn how to use ordinary camcorders, webcams, and digital video cameras to record images of the Moon and planets, deep-sky objects, and fleeting celestial events such as occultations, meteor showers, and eclipses. An updated manufacturer listing and reference section are included.

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Customer Review: The revised/second edition is still limited by small illustrations but does a wonderful job of illustrating and describing the newer video technologies that now allow us to photograph faint objects like galaxies ,nebulae, supernova and comets.
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Description: The CCD (Charge-Coupled Device) has revolutionised optical astronomy during the past 20 years, and specialised astronomical CCD cameras are now even more affordable, colour is standard, and they provide spectacular results. Digital Astrophotography: The State of the Art, provides some examples of the best images, and gives readers hints and tips about how to get the best out of this extraordinary technology. Experts in CCD astronomy from North America and Europe have contributed to this book, illustrating their help and advice with many beautiful colour images -- the book is in full colour throughout. Techniques range from using simple webcams to highly technical aspects such as supernovae patrolling. Computer processing, stacking and image-enhancement are detailed, along with many hints and tips from the experts.

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Customer Review: Let me start by saying - Do not make this your primary source for information on digital astrophotography. It has a ton of good info for a total beginner like me, but it also leaves out a lot on info. ...
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Description: Do you relish viewing and identifying celestial objects? Whether you're a first timer or an advanced hobbyist, you will find Astronomy Hacks makes a brilliant cosmic companion. Why use the traditional approach in admiring and studying the stars when you can turn computers, handheld devices, and telescopes into star gazing tools for an out-of-this-world experience.

This handy field guide covers the basics of observing, and what you need to know about tweaking, tuning, adjusting, and tricking out a 'scope. Expect priceless tips and tools for using a Dobsonian telescope, the large-aperture telescope you can inexpensively build in your garage.

Astronomy Hacks begins the space exploration by getting you set up with the right equipment for observing and admiring the stars in an urban setting. Along for the trip are first rate tips for making most of observations. The hacks show you how to:

• Dark-Adapt Your Notebook Computer
• Choose the Best Binocular
• Clean Your Eyepieces and Lenses Safely
• Upgrade Your Optical Finder
• Photograph the Stars with Basic Equipment

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Customer Review: I really enjoyed this book. Where other Astronomy books focus exclusively on the hardware, or on the heavens, this book covers a wider range of topics. From telescope tricks, to how to meet up with astronomy buffs, to what to drink (or not drink) on your viewing nights. While the other books are helpful to teach the theory, this book is the glue that binds the night sky theory with the telescope in the back of the car on a mountain side reality.
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