The result of an exhaustive study of Sir Patrick Moore's observations of the Moon and planets for more than 60 years, this book is a fantastic companion to the extremely popular, "It Came From Outer Space Wearing an RAF Blazer!" written by the same author. Moore recorded his telescopic observations in his logbooks, which are reproduced and described here in detail, along with his sketches and notes. In this light, the author discusses the factors that caused Moore to switch from lunar observing to planetary and variable star observing. He has also included personal recollections and humorous anecdotes from Moore's friends and acquaintances, as well as a look at his best loved books. Further chapters describe Moore's foreign travels and correspondence with those back home. Lastly, the author has not neglected a few of Moore's most memorable television and radio appearances, which are examined along with a close up of what it was like to visit Moore's beloved home of Farthings in Selsey. Essentially, this is a book written by popular demand from the readers of the author's original biography, who craved more of Moore!

To British television viewers, the name 'Patrick Moore' has been synonymous with Astronomy and Space Travel since he first appeared on The Sky at Night in 1957. To amateur astronomers he has been a source of inspiration, joy, humour and even an eccentric role model since that time. Most people know that his 55 years of presenting The Sky at Night is a world record, but what was he really like in person? What did he do away from the TV cameras, in his observatory, and within the British Astronomical Association, the organisation that inspired him as a youngster? Also, precisely what did he do during the War Years, a subject that has always been shrouded in mystery? Martin Mobberley, a friend of Patrick Moore's for 30 years, and a former President of the British Astronomical Association, has spent ten years exhaustively researching Patrick's real life away from the TV cameras. His childhood, RAF service, tireless voluntary work for astronomy and charity and his endless book writing are all examined in detail. His astronomical observations are also examined in unprecedented detail, along with the battles he fought along the way and his hatred of bureaucracy and political correctness. No fan of Sir Patrick Moore can possibly live without this work on their bookshelf!

For many astronomers, the holy grail of observation is to discover a comet, not least because comets always bear the name of their discoverer! Hunting and Imaging Comets was written for comet hunters and digital imagers who want to discover, rediscover, monitor, and make pictures of comets using astronomical CCD cameras and DSLRs. The old days of the purely visual comet hunter are pretty much over, but this is not to say that amateurs have lost interest in finding comets. The books also covers the discovery of comet fragments in the SOHO image data, CCD monitoring of older comets prone to violent outbursts, the imaging of new NEOs (Near Earth Objects) that have quite often been revealed as comets - not asteroids - by amateur astronomers, and the finding of recent comets impacting Jupiter.

This is the ultimate, easy-to-read guide for "eclipse-chasers" which includes everything an eclipse chaser needs. There are some important eclipses coming up in the years ahead and the technology available to amateur astronomers is improving fast. The book provides "eclipse virgins" with a good feeling for what a trip abroad to an eclipse is like including a humorous look at all the things that can and have gone wrong. Travel details are included, essential in these days of high-security. And of course the first part of the book contains a wealth of information about solar eclipses and what can be observed only during a total eclipse.

Amateur astronomy has changed beyond recognition in less than two decades. The reason is, of course, technology. Affordable high-quality telescopes, computer-controlled 'go to' mountings, autoguiders, CCD cameras, video, and (as always) computers and the Internet, are just a few of the advances that have revolutionized astronomy for the twenty-first century. Martin Mobberley first looks at the basics before going into an in-depth study of what's available commercially. He then moves on to the revolutionary possibilities that are open to amateurs, from imaging, through spectroscopy and photometry, to patrolling for near-earth objects - the search for comets and asteroids that may come close to, or even hit, the earth. The New Amateur Astronomer is a road map of the new astronomy, equally suitable for newcomers who want an introduction, or old hands who need to keep abreast of innovations.

From the reviews:

"This is one of several dozen books in Patrick Moore's "Practical Astronomy" series. Amid this large family, Mobberley finds his niche: the beginning high-tech amateur. The book's first half discusses equipment: computer-driven telescopes, CCD cameras, imaging processing software, etc. This market is changing every bit as rapidly as the computer world, so these details will be current for only a year or two. The rest of the book offers an overview of scientific projects that serious amateurs are carrying out these days. Throughout, basic formulas and technical terms are provided as needed, without formal derivations. An appendix with useful references and Web sites is also included. Readers will need more than this book if they are considering a plunge into high-tech amateur astronomy, but it certainly will whet their appetites. Mobberley's most valuable advice will save the book's owner many times its cover price: buy a quality telescope from a reputable dealer and install it in a simple shelter so it can be used with as little set-up time as possible. A poor purchase choice and the hassle of setting up are why most fancy telescopes gather dust in their owners' dens. Summing Up: Highly recommended. General readers; lower- and upper-division undergraduates."( T. D. Oswalt, CHOICE, March 2005)

Telescopes - refractors and reflectors - are the main items of equipment used by almost every amateur astronomer. The purpose of astronomical telescopes is to collect and focus more light than the human eye can, forming an image that can be viewed, photographed, or analysed. Astronomical Equipment for Amateurs makes buying and using both telescopes and their ancillary instruments easy for astronomers of all abilities. It begins by looking at the advantages and disadvantages of the basic types of refractors, reflectors, mountings and accessories. Observation techniques are also included, along with the use of filters, (colour, anti-pollution and nebula), types of photography (piggy-back, prime focus and eyepiece projection), and also CCD imaging (including types of CCD camera and their advantages and disadvantages compared to photography). Martin Mobberley provides a fascinating insight into astronomical software.

This book is intended for amateur astronomers who are readers of Sky & Telescope magazine or similar astronomy periodicals - or are at least at the same level of knowledge and enthusiasm. Supernovae represent the most violent stellar explosions in the universe. This is a unique guide to supernova facts, and it is also an observing/discovery guide, all in one package. Supernovae are often discovered by amateur astronomers, and the book describes the best strategies for discovering and observing them. Moreover, it contains detailed information about the probable physics of supernovae, a subject which even today is imperfectly understood.

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. Along with webcam technology has come simple-to-use image processing and enhancement using a PC: the most powerful technique is, 'stacking' in which the best images (out of hundreds) are selected and summed automatically to provide startlingly good results. Lunar and Planetary Webcam User's 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. specialised techniques in context. Glance through the images in this book to see just how much you can - easily - achieve by using a webcam with your telescope

Le economiche webcam stanno rivoluzionando l'imaging astronomico amatoriale, fornendo un'alternativa conveniente ai CCD raffreddati, quanto meno per i soggetti piu luminosi.

Le webcam, che costano solo poche decine di euro, sono in grado di realizzare riprese di piu alta risoluzione rispetto alle macchine fotografiche digitali grazie alla maggiore velocita di scaricamento dell'immagine che "congela" i dettagli planetari, nonostante il disturbo della turbolenta atmosfera terrestre. La loro struttura e piuttosto semplice, ed e facile rimuovere la lente frontale per utilizzarle in proiezione dell'oculare con un telescopio astronomico. Le webcam si collegano direttamente a un PC, in modo tale che si puo utilizzare un apposito software per sommare sequenze di immagini, ottenendo cosi un notevole miglioramento qualitativo dell'immagine finale.

In questo libro, Martin Mobberley introduce l'astrofilo all'uso delle webcam e all'elaborazione digitale delle immagini, mentre fornisce suggerimenti dettagliati per la ripresa del Sole, della Luna e dei pianeti. Ogni oggetto, con le specifiche tecniche di ripresa ed elaborazione, viene trattato in un capitolo a se.

Attraverso le immagini di questo libro, l'astrofilo potra rendersi conto di quanto si possa fare applicando una webcam al proprio telescopio

In meno di due decenni l'astronomia amatoriale ha cambiato volto. Il motivo, naturalmente, e il progresso tecnologico. Telescopi economici, ma di alta qualita, montature "go-to" controllate dal computer, autoguide, camere CCD, videocamere e (come sempre) computer e Internet sono soltanto alcuni degli elementi che hanno rivoluzionato l'astronomia del XXI secolo. Non solo hanno reso l'astronomia amatoriale piu "amichevole" e divertente, ma hanno anche ampliato enormemente le potenzialita dell'astrofilo.

Martin Mobberley dapprima affronta le tematiche di base per poi analizzare in modo approfondito quali sono gli strumenti disponibili sul mercato. Da qui prende le mosse per passare in rassegna le rivoluzionarie possibilita che si aprono per gli astrofili, dalla ripresa di immagini, alla spettroscopia, alla fotometria, alla sorveglianza degli oggetti Near-Earth - comete e asteroidi che possono avvicinarsi pericolosamente alla Terra.

L'astrofilo moderno e una valida guida alla nuova astronomia. Sia il neofita che chiede di essere introdotto in questo campo, sia l'astrofilo esperto che voglia tenersi al passo delle innovazioni troveranno in questo libro cio che fa per loro.