Visual Astronomy in the Suburbs: A Guide to Spectacular Viewing (Patrick Moore's Practical Astronomy Series)

268 Pages·2003·6.12 MB·English

by  Antony Cooke

Patrick Moore’s
Practical Astronomy Series
Springer
London
Berlin
Heidelberg
New York
Hong Kong
Milan
Paris
Tokyo
Other titles in this series
Telescopes and Techniques
Chris Kitchin
The Art and Science of CCD Astronomy
David Ratledge (Ed.)
The Observer’s Year
Patrick Moore
Seeing Stars
Chris Kitchin and Robert W. Forrest
Photo-guide to the Constellations
Chris Kitchin
The Sun in Eclipse
Michael Maunder and Patrick Moore
Software and Data for Practical Astronomers
David Ratledge
Amateur Telescope Making
Stephen F. Tonkin
Observing Meteors, Comets, Supernovae and other Transient Phenomena
Neil Bone
Astronomical Equipment for Amateurs
Martin Mobberley
Transit: When Planets Cross the Sun
Michael Maunder and Patrick Moore
Practical Astrophotography
Jeffrey R. Charles
Observing the Moon
Peter T. Wlasuk
Deep-Sky Observing
Steven R. Coe
AstroFAQs
Stephen F. Tonkin
The Deep-Sky Observer’s Year
Grant Privett and Paul Parsons
Field Guide to the Deep Sky Objects
Mike Inglis
Choosing and Using a Schmidt–Cassegrain Telescope
Rod Mollise
Astronomy with Small Telescopes
Stephen F. Tonkin (Ed.)
Solar Observing Techniques
Chris Kitchin
Observing the Planets
Peter T. Wlasuk
Light Pollution
Bob Mizon
Using the Meade ETX
Mike Weasner
Practical Amateur Spectroscopy
Stephen F. Tonkin (Ed.)
More Small Astronomical Observatories
Patrick Moore (Ed.)
Observer’s Guide to Stellar Evolution
Mike Inglis
How to Observe the Sun Safely
Lee Macdonald
The Practical Astronomer’s Deep-sky Companion
Jess K. Gilmour
Observing Comets
Nick James and Gerald North
Observing Variable Stars
Gerry A. Good
Visual Astronomy
in the Suburbs
A Guide to Spectacular
Viewing
Antony Cooke
With 143 Figures,
including 16 in color
123
British Library Cataloguing in Publication Data
Cooke, Antony
Visual astronomy in the suburbs : a guide to spectacular
viewing. – (Patrick Moore’s practical astronomy series)
1. Astronomy 2. Charge coupled devices 3. Image intensifiers
4. Video astronomy
I. Title
522.6
ISBN 1852337079
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Cooke, Antony, 1948–
Visual astronomy in the suburbs: a guide to spectacular viewing /
Antony Cooke.
p. cm. – (Patrick Moore’s practical astronomy series)
Includes bibliographical references and index.
ISBN 1-85233-707-9 (alk. paper)
1. Astronomy–Amateurs’ manuals. I. Title. II. Series.
QB63.C694 2003
520–dc21 2003042426
Apart from any fair dealing for the purposes of research or private
study, or criticism or review, as permitted under the Copyright,
Designs and Patents Act 1988, this publication may only be repro-
duced, stored or transmitted, in any form or by any means, with the
prior permission in writing of the publishers, or in the case of repro-
graphic reproduction in accordance with the terms of licences issued
by the Copyright Licensing Agency. Enquiries concerning reproduc-
tion outside those terms should be sent to the publishers.
Patrick Moore’s Practical Astronomy Series ISSN 1617–7185
ISBN 1–85233–707–9 Springer-Verlag London Berlin Heidelberg
a member of BertelsmannSpringer Science+Business Media GmbH
http://www.springer.co.uk
© Springer-Verlag London Limited 2003
Printed in Singapore
The use of registered names, trademarks, etc. in this publication does
not imply, even in the absence of a specific statement, that such
names are exempt from the relevant laws and regulations and
therefore free for general use.
The publisher makes no representation, express or implied, with
regard to the accuracy of the information contained in this book and
cannot accept any legal responsibility or liability for any errors or
omissions that may be made. Observing the Sun, along with a few
other aspects of astronomy, can be dangerous. Neither the publisher
nor the author accept any legal responsibility or liability for personal
loss or injury caused, or alleged to have been caused, by any inform-
ation or recommendation contained in this book.
Typeset by EXPO Holdings, Malaysia
58/3830-543210 Printed on acid-free paper SPIN 10896631
Dedication
Dedicated to my dad, Nelson Cooke, great cellist and
pedagogue, who nurtured my life and career, and only
recently discovered for himself the wonders of amateur
astronomy. As a small token of my esteem and affec-
tion, may this book inspire and guide him.
Special thanks to Jim Corley for helping me prepare
the final draft of this book.
The author and his 18” JMI Newtonian Reflector
on his viewing deck
v
Foreword
Suburban astronomy presents both a challenge and an
opportunity to the amateur astronomer. The challenge
lies in overcoming the obstacles of light pollution, haze
and smog. The opportunity is in obtaining results that
in the not-so-distant past would rival those of profes-
sional astronomers. This revolution in amateur astron-
omy is being led by the availability of CCD, video and
image intensifier systems that perform at levels
undreamed of by amateurs only a decade or two ago.
In the case of CCD cameras, the equipment available
actually outperforms that used by professional obser-
vatories less than a decade ago. Image intensifier
systems offered to amateurs today, the Generation 3
Omni 4 product, is identical to the devices used regu-
larly by professional astronomers. In fact, the
Generation 3 system of today is actually superior in
terms of signal-to-noise ratio, resolution, and photo
response compared to professional systems used just a
few years ago.
Image intensifiers for astronomical applications fill a
unique role. No other product available to amateurs in
the US provides the capability to view or image deep
sky objects in true, real time (with no image accumula-
tion time required). The increase in effective light gath-
ering ability is improved on any given telescope by two
to four plus magnitudes. There are, of course, “purists”
in amateur astronomy, who refuse to use any electronic
aid, be it a CCD video camera or image intensifier to
assist in their observing. The rest of us can take a tip
from the pros and use every device within our means
to improve and enhance our ability to see deep sky
objects. Tony’s book should prove to be a valuable
resource to those amateurs seeking guidance in their
use of electronic aids, and especially suburban observ-
ing of deep sky objects with image intensifiers.
When configured for intensified video using frame
averaging and a 7-inch refractor, an image intensified
system such as the I Cubed is capable of resolving stars
vii
viii Visual Astronomy in the Suburbs
past 16th magnitude and galaxies to 15th magnitude in
suburban (visual magnitude 4–4.5) skies. Amateurs
should take note that the identical image intensifier
system now available to them is used regularly on some
of the world’s largest telescopes at Mauna Kea and
elsewhere.
Astrophotography is also greatly enhanced with
image intensification. The photos I supplied Tony for
this book were made using my 7-inch Astro-Physics
refractor and a Canon D30 digital camera in conjunc-
tion with my I Cubed (I ) system. With the ISO speed at
3
400, the exposure time was 6 seconds! While CCD
cameras are capable of imaging to deeper magnitudes
with a given telescope, one must not lose sight of the
issue of exposure time. A skilled amateur, using a CCD
camera, can usually obtain good results on only a
handful of deep sky objects in a night of observing. A
Generation 3 image intensifier, however, combined
with a digital camera, can image a sky full of Messier
and other deep sky objects in just a few hours. Many
amateurs, using the I Cubed system, report that in
average-to-poor suburban observing conditions, they
are able to see many deep sky objects for the first time,
compared to simple visual observing using the same
telescope. The value of being able to point a telescope
anywhere in the sky and instantly see to greater magni-
tudes cannot be overstated. Even some of the unas-
sisted “visual only” observers find the utility of image
intensified viewing to be a great assistance in locating
“faint fuzzies”, stars, asteroids or nebulae.
Allow me to share one of my own memorable
observing experiences. About a year ago, I was observ-
ing in the region of M82 when, quite accidentally, I
happened upon a very faint galaxy a few arc minutes
across. I adjusted the contrast and brightness controls
on the monitor and optimized the control box settings
for the Astrovid CCD video camera. There, in the
comfort of my home, I saw a tiny smudge of light
whose photons had traveled for millions of years to
arrive at the aperture of my telescope. I wondered for a
few minutes about all the Solar Systems and perhaps
civilizations that may have flourished within the
borders of that small “island universe” and felt blessed
to be observing at that fleeting moment in time. The
experience seemed to me what astronomy, be it profes-
sional or amateur, is all about. I am fortunate indeed to
be associated with the fine people who pursue amateur
and professional astronomy, and particularly Tony
Foreword ix
Cooke, who has taken the time and effort to present
such valuable experience-based information to
amateur astronomers who seek the insight that this
book provides.
Bill Collins
April 2003
Contents
1 Purpose and Fundamentals . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
2 Practical Applications and Viewing Aids . . . . 15
3 Techniques for Seeing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 41
4 Introduction to Drawings and Real Time
Video . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 57
5 The Moon . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 69
6 The Planets . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 95
7 Deep Space – Visual Impressions and
Expectations: The Primary Catalog . . . . . . 125
8 Second Viewing Catalog. . . . . . . . . . . . . 199
9 Supplementary Catalog for the Southern
Hemisphere. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 229
10 Postscript . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 233
Appendix A
Recommended Equipment Manufacturers for
Amateur Astronomers. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 239
Appendix B
Resources . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 247
Appendix C
Real Time Observation of Stellar and Galactic
Sources using a Third Generation Image
Intensified Optical System
W. J. Collins. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 249
xi