Rumistrzewicz A Visual Astronomer's Photographic Guide to the Deep Sky

A Pocket Field Guide
1. Auflage 2010
ISBN: 978-1-4419-7242-2
Verlag: Springer
Format: PDF
Kopierschutz: 1 - PDF Watermark

E-Book, Englisch, 344 Seiten

Reihe: Astronomer's Pocket Field Guide

Over the last 15 years or so there has been a huge increase in the popularity of astrophotography with the advent of digital SLR cameras and CCD imagers. These have enabled astronomers to take many images and, indeed, check images as they scan the skies. Processing techniques using computer software have also made 'developing' these images more accessible to those of us who are 'chemically challenged!' And let's face it - some of the pictures you see these days in magazines, books, and on popular web forums are, frankly, amazing! So, why bother looking through the eyepiece you ask? Well, for one thing, setting up the equipment is quicker. You just take your 'scope out of the garage or, if you're lucky enough to own one, open the roof of your observatory, align the 'scope and off you go. If you have an equatorial mount, you'll still need to roughly polar align, but this really takes only a few moments. The 'imager' would most likely need to spend more time setting up. This would include very accurate polar alignment (for equatorial mounts), then finding a guide star using his or her finder, checking the software is functioning properly, and c- tinuous monitoring to make sure the alignment is absolutely precise throu- out the imaging run. That said, an imager with a snug 'obsy' at the end of the garden will have a quicker time setting up, but then again so will the 'visual' observer.

My love affair with the cosmos began, probably, when I stared, open-jawed, for two hours at the film Star Wars. Although I was only three at the time, I can remember subsequently drawing pictures of stars and planets and 'X-wings.' I quickly became a science fiction addict, watching re-runs of Star Trek and various other series. And so, I desperately wanted a way of seeing some of these objects for myself. My parents bought me a cheap (supermarket) 'scope when I was 11, which I then proceeded to set up in my sister's room (the only one with a southernly view) and stargaze through her window. Neither my father nor I could ever get it to focus properly. Of course, at the time, I had no knowledge or understanding of air currents, seeing, or indeed how to use a telescope or star chart. Nevertheless, even with the horrendous optics of this small telescope I could make out some craters on the Moon - I was hooked! I decided to 'save up' for something better. After several birthdays I finally bought myself a reasonable 'scope - a 9.25 inch Dobsonian, and spent many a clear night sitting on the garage roof (my sister wanted her room back!) gazing at the wonders of the universe. Soon after, university beckoned. I studied Chemistry, with a subsidiary in Astronomy. Although I very much enjoyed the latter, I was unable to continue as the university (at the time) did not offer Astronomy as a major degree. And so, my hobby took an enforced break, which was then extended by teacher training, getting married, and emigrating to east Africa. It was there, under the clear equatorial skies of Kenya, that my love of the cosmos was rekindled and my wife bought me a 5' Newtonian telescope for my birthday. I was astonished by the things I was able to see with such a small aperture. It just goes to show the difference a truly dark sky makes. Since then, I have been interested in visual astronomy and what deep sky objects really look like. Having subsequently returned to the UK and settled in South Bedfordshire, I developed a keen interest in sketching at the eyepiece and have spent many a nocturnal hour gazing through my 'scope, having told my wife I wouldn't be outside for 'too long.' Eventually, I began to wonder why there wasn't a book that showed photographs of the 'visual' image (i.e., what can be seen at the eyepiece). It seemed that descriptions of DSOs varied slightly from writer to writer and Hubble Space Telescope images told me very little about what I could actually see in my backyard. That was how this book was conceived. And so now, here it is......I trust that it will give you as much pleasure to read as it was for me to write. Enjoy and clear skies!

Autoren/Hrsg.

Rumistrzewicz, Stefan

Inhaltsverzeichnis

1;Preface;8
2;Acknowledgments;10
3;Contents;12
4;About the Author;16
5;Chapter 1: Observing Plans and Techniques;18
5.1;Before You Start;18
5.2;Observing Techniques and Tips;20
5.2.1;Averted Vision;20
5.2.2;Movement;21
5.2.3;Time;21
6;Chapter 2: Accessories and ‘Pimping’ Your ‘Scope;22
6.1;Dew Shields;22
6.2;Head Shroud;22
6.3;Flocking;22
6.4;Filters;23
7;Chapter 3: Sketching;28
8;Chapter 4: Constellation Observing Lists and Photos;32
8.1;Trumpler Classification System for Open Clusters;34
8.2;Shapley–Sawyer Concentration Class for Globular Clusters;35
8.3;Hubble’s Galaxy Classification System;35
8.4;Andromeda;37
8.4.1;M 31;37
8.4.2;M 32;38
8.4.3;M 110;40
8.4.4;NGC 404;41
8.4.5;NGC 752;43
8.4.6;NGC 891;44
8.4.7;NGC 7662;46
8.5;Aquarius;48
8.5.1;M 2;48
8.5.2;M 72;49
8.5.3;M 73;51
8.5.4;NGC 7009;52
8.5.5;NGC 7293;54
8.6;Aquila;55
8.6.1;NGC 6709;55
8.6.2;NGC 6738;56
8.6.3;NGC 6751;58
8.6.4;NGC 6755;59
8.6.5;NGC 6760;61
8.6.6;NGC 6781;62
8.6.7;NGC 6804;64
8.7;Aries;66
8.7.1;NGC 772;66
8.8;Auriga;68
8.8.1;M 36;68
8.8.2;M 37;69
8.8.3;M 38;71
8.8.4;NGC 1893;72
8.8.5;NGC 1907;74
8.8.6;NGC 1931;75
8.8.7;NGC 2281;76
8.9;Boötes;78
8.9.1;NGC 5466;78
8.10;Camelopardalis;79
8.10.1;NGC 1501;79
8.10.2;NGC 1502;80
8.10.3;NGC 2403;82
8.10.4;NGC 2655;83
8.10.5;Stock 23;84
8.11;Cancer;86
8.11.1;M 44;86
8.11.2;M 67;87
8.12;Canes Venatici;89
8.12.1;M 3;89
8.12.2;M 51;91
8.12.3;M 63;92
8.12.4;M 94;94
8.12.5;M 106;95
8.12.6;NGC 4214;97
8.12.7;NGC 4244;98
8.12.8;NGC 4449;100
8.12.9;NGC 4490;101
8.12.10;NGC 4631;103
8.12.11;NGC 4656;104
8.12.12;NGC 5005;106
8.12.13;NGC 5033;107
8.13;Canis Major;109
8.13.1;M 41;109
8.13.2;NGC 2345;110
8.13.3;NGC 2359;112
8.13.4;NGC 2360;113
8.14;Capricornus;115
8.14.1;NGC 6903;115
8.15;Cassiopeia;116
8.15.1;Cr 26;116
8.15.2;Cr 36;118
8.15.3;Cr 463;119
8.15.4;IC 289;121
8.15.5;M 52;122
8.15.6;M 103;124
8.15.7;NGC 129;125
8.15.8;NGC 185;127
8.15.9;NGC 281;128
8.15.10;NGC 457;130
8.15.11;NGC 663;131
8.15.12;NGC 7635;133
8.15.13;NGC 7789;134
8.16;Cepheus;136
8.16.1;NGC 40;136
8.16.2;NGC 6939;137
8.16.3;NGC 6946;139
8.16.4;NGC 7023;140
8.16.5;NGC 7129;142
8.16.6;NGC 7160;143
8.16.7;NGC 7235;145
8.17;Cetus;147
8.17.1;M 77;147
8.17.2;NGC 246;148
8.17.3;NGC 936;149
8.18;Coma Berenices;151
8.18.1;Abell 1656;151
8.18.2;Mel 111;152
8.18.3;M 53;152
8.18.4;M 64;154
8.18.5;M 85;155
8.18.6;M 88;157
8.18.7;M 91;158
8.18.8;M 98;160
8.18.9;M 99;161
8.18.10;M 100;163
8.18.11;NGC 4274;164
8.18.12;NGC 4293;166
8.18.13;NGC 4414;167
8.18.14;NGC 4494;169
8.18.15;NGC 4559;170
8.18.16;NGC 4565;172
8.18.17;NGC 4725;173
8.19;Corona Borealis;175
8.19.1;NGC 6085 and 6086;175
8.20;Corvus;176
8.20.1;NGCs 4038 and 4039;176
8.20.2;NGC 4361;177
8.21;Crater;179
8.21.1;NGC 3636 and 3637;179
8.21.2;NGC 3672;180
8.21.3;NGC 3892;182
8.22;Cygnus;184
8.22.1;M 29;184
8.22.2;M 39;186
8.22.3;NGC 6819;187
8.22.4;NGC 6826;189
8.22.5;NGC 6888;190
8.22.6;NGC 6910;192
8.22.7;NGC 6960;193
8.22.8;NGCs 6992 and 6995;194
8.22.9;NGC 7000;196
8.22.10;NGC 7008;196
8.22.11;NGC 7026;197
8.22.12;NGC 7027;199
8.22.13;NGC 7063;200
8.23;Delphinus;202
8.23.1;NGC 6934;202
8.23.2;NGC 7006;203
8.24;Draco;205
8.24.1;NGC 5866 or M 102?;205
8.24.2;NGC 5907;206
8.24.3;NGC 6503;208
8.24.4;NGC 6543;209
8.25;Eridanus;211
8.25.1;NGC 1232;211
8.25.2;NGC 1535;212
8.26;Gemini;214
8.26.1;IC 443;214
8.26.2;M 35;215
8.26.3;NGC 2129;217
8.26.4;NGC 2158;218
8.26.5;NGC 2266;220
8.26.6;NGC 2304;221
8.26.7;NGC 2355;223
8.26.8;NGC 2371 and 2372;224
8.26.9;NGC 2392;226
8.26.10;NGC 2395;227
8.26.11;NGC 2420;229
8.27;Hercules;231
8.27.1;M 13;231
8.27.2;M 92;232
8.27.3;NGC 6210;234
8.28;Hydra;236
8.28.1;M 48;236
8.28.2;NGC 3242;237
8.29;Lacerta;239
8.29.1;NGC 7209;239
8.29.2;NGC 7243;240
8.30;Leo;242
8.30.1;Abell 1367;242
8.30.2;M 65 and M 66;243
8.30.3;M 95;245
8.30.4;M 96;247
8.30.5;M 105 and NGC 3384;248
8.30.6;NGC 2903;250
8.30.7;NGC 2964;251
8.30.8;NGC 3187, 3190, and 3193;253
8.30.9;NGC 3521;254
8.30.10;NGC 3607;256
8.30.11;NGC 3628;257
8.30.12;NGC 3651;258
8.30.13;NGC 3753;260
8.30.14;NGC 3810;261
8.31;Leo Minor;263
8.31.1;NGC 3003;263
8.31.2;NGC 3344;264
8.31.3;NGC 3432;266
8.32;Lepus;268
8.32.1;NGC 1784;268
8.33;Libra;270
8.33.1;NGC 5792;270
8.34;Lynx;272
8.34.1;NGC 2683;272
8.35;Lyra;274
8.35.1;M 56;274
8.35.2;M 57;275
8.36;Monoceros;277
8.36.1;M 50;277
8.36.2;NGC 2232;278
8.36.3;NGC 2237–2239;280
8.36.4;NGC 2244;281
8.36.5;NGC 2251;282
8.36.6;NGC 2261;284
8.36.7;NGC 2264;285
8.36.8;NGC 2301;286
8.36.9;NGC 2343;288
8.37;Ophiuchus;290
8.37.1;IC 4665;290
8.37.2;M 9;292
8.37.3;M 10;293
8.37.4;M 12;294
8.37.5;M 14;296
8.37.6;M 107;297
8.37.7;NGC 6572;298
8.37.8;NGC 6633;300
8.38;Orion;302
8.38.1;M 42/43;302
8.38.2;M 78;304
8.38.3;NGC 1662;306
8.38.4;NGC 1788;307
8.38.5;NGCs 1973, 1975, and 1977;308
8.38.6;NGC 1981;310
8.38.7;NGC 2022;311
8.38.8;NGC 2024;313
8.38.9;NGC 2194;314
8.39;Pegasus;316
8.39.1;M 15;316
8.39.2;NGC 7331;317
8.40;Perseus;319
8.40.1;M 34;319
8.40.2;M 76;320
8.40.3;NGC 869 and 884;322
8.40.4;NGC 1023;323
8.40.5;NGC 1342;324
8.40.6;NGC 1491;326
8.40.7;NGC 1528;327
8.40.8;NGC 1582;328
8.41;Pisces;330
8.41.1;M 74;330
8.42;Puppis;332
8.42.1;M 46;332
8.42.2;M 47;333
8.42.3;NGC 2440;335
8.42.4;NGC 2539;336
8.43;Sagitta;338
8.43.1;M 71;338
8.44;Sagittarius;340
8.44.1;M 17;340
8.44.2;M 18;342
8.44.3;M 23;343
8.44.4;M 24 and NGC 6603;345
8.44.5;M 25;346
8.44.6;NGC 6445;348
8.44.7;NGC 6716;349
8.44.8;NGC 6818;351
8.45;Scutum;353
8.45.1;M 11;353
8.45.2;M 26;354
8.45.3;NGC 6712;356
8.46;Serpens Caput;358
8.46.1;M 5;358
8.47;Serpens Cauda;360
8.47.1;M 16+IC 4703;360
8.47.2;IC 4756;361
8.48;Sextans;363
8.48.1;NGC 3115;363
8.49;Taurus;365
8.49.1;M 1;365
8.49.2;M 45;366
8.49.3;NGC 1514;367
8.49.4;NGC 1647;369
8.49.5;NGC 1746;370
8.49.6;NGC 1807;372
8.49.7;NGC 1817;373
8.50;Triangulum;375
8.50.1;M 33;375
8.51;Ursa Major;377
8.51.1;M 40;377
8.51.2;M 81;379
8.51.3;M 82;380
8.51.4;M 97;382
8.51.5;M 101;383
8.51.6;M 108;385
8.51.7;M 109;386
8.51.8;NGC 2841;388
8.51.9;NGC 3079;389
8.51.10;NGC 3184;391
8.51.11;NGC 3877;392
8.51.12;NGC 3941;394
8.51.13;NGC 4026;395
8.51.14;NGC 4088;397
8.51.15;NGC 4157;398
8.51.16;NGC 4605;399
8.52;Ursa Minor;401
8.52.1;NGC 6217;401
8.53;Virgo;403
8.53.1;M 49;403
8.53.2;M 58;405
8.53.3;M 59;406
8.53.4;M 60;408
8.53.5;M 61;409
8.53.6;M 84 and M 86;411
8.53.7;M 87;412
8.53.8;M 89;414
8.53.9;M 90;415
8.53.10;M 104;417
8.53.11;NGC 4216;418
8.53.12;NGC 4388;420
8.53.13;NGC 4438;421
8.53.14;NGC 4526;423
8.53.15;NGC 4535;424
8.53.16;NGC 4567 and 4568;426
8.53.17;NGC 4699;427
8.53.18;NGC 4762;429
8.53.19;NGC 5746;430
8.54;Vulpecula;432
8.54.1;Cr 399;432
8.54.2;M 27;433
8.54.3;NGC 6802;434
8.54.4;NGC 6823;436
8.54.5;NGC 6940;437
9;Chapter 5: Observation Records;439
10;Recommended Texts and Websites;440
10.1;Recommended Texts;440
10.2;Useful Websites and Downloadable Software;441
11;Index;442