Astronomy Hacks; Tips and Tools for Observing the Night Sky,
Robert Bruce Thompson and Barbara Fritchman Thompson
By Robert Braddy
This work was sent to me as a gift and I put it aside as I have so many books like this, but eventually picked it up and read it and was pleasantly surprised. This is a real gem and a great book for a beginning or experienced astronomer. The authors are experienced amateurs and provide a great collection of hints and procedures that one can spend years learning even with the help of experienced mentors. The format of the book is user friendly and reads well, straight through or topic by topic.
Chapter 1 is titled “Getting Started” and provides the basics from selecting telescopes and binoculars to how to stay warm. Chapter 2 is “Observing Hacks” with some good practices for observing at the scope. The most valuable is next Chapter, “Scope Hacks”, which contains the best discussion I have seen on how to collimate a Newtonian. The book winds up with a good discussion on Accessory Hacks.
The book is well written and key points are highlighted in emphasis boxes in each chapter. One can learn a lot by just skimming these boxes, but I recommend reading the whole book. If the book has any shortcoming it is the somewhat limited section on photography and CCD astronomy. This book does bill itself as an observational astronomy book and In my view it fills the bill. At $24.95 it is a necessary addition to any beginning or experienced astronomer’s library. Astronomy Hacks; Tips and Tools for Observing the Night Sky can be purchased directly from the publisher, http://www.oreilly.com/catalog/astronomyhks/, Amazon.com or retail bookstores.
Chapter
1. Getting Started
1. Don't Give Up
2. Join an Astronomy Club
3. Safety First
4. Stay Warm
5. Don't Violate Observing Site Etiquette
6. Be Prepared
7. Measure Your Entrance Pupil Size
8. Choose the Best Binocular
9. Choose the Best General-Purpose Telescope
10. Equip Yourself for Urban Observing
Chapter 2. Observing Hacks
11. See in the Dark
12. Protect Your Night Vision from Local Lights
13. Describe the Brightness of an Object
14. Identify Stars by Name
15. Identify Stars by Catalog Designations
16. Know Your Constellations
17. Understand Celestial Coordinate Systems
18. Print Custom Charts
19. Keep Your Charts at the Eyepiece
20. Locate Objects Geometrically
21. Learn to Star Hop
22. Learn to See DSOs
23. Observe Shallow-Space Objects
24. Slow Down, You Move Too Fast...
25. Learn Urban Observing Skills
26. Sweep Constellations
27. Maintain an Observing Notebook
28. Develop an Organized Logging System
29. Plan and Prepare for a Messier Marathon
30. Run a Messier Marathon
31. Photograph the Stars with Basic Equipment
32. Discover and Name a New Planet
Chapter 3. Scope Hacks
33. Center-Spot Your Mirror
34. Clean Your Primary Mirror
35. Eliminate Astigmatism
36. Eliminate Diffraction Spikes and Increase Contrast
37. Build a Film Can Collimating Tool
38. Tune Your Newtonian Reflector for Maximum Performance
39. Collimate Your Primary Mirror Quickly and Accurately
40. Star-Collimate Your Scope
41. Counterweight a Dobsonian Scope
42. Improve Dobsonian Motions with Milk Jug Washers
43. Upgrade Your Dobsonian Bearings
Chapter 4. Accessory Hacks
44. Dark Adapt Your Notebook Computer
45. Dark Adapt Your Vehicle
46. Use a Barlow
47. Determine Actual Barlow Magnification
48. See More of the Sky
49. Optimize Your Eyepiece Collection
50. Chart Your Eyepiece Characteristics
51. View Dim Objects in the Same Field as a Very Bright Object
52. Clean Your Eyepieces and Lenses Safely
53. Install a Unit-Power Finder
54. Upgrade Your Optical Finder
55. Align Your Finder
56. Determine Your Optical Finder's Field of View
57. Determine Your True Field of View
58. Enhance Lunar and Planetary Contrast and Detail
59. Enhance Nebular Contrast and Detail
60. Please Be Seated
61. Stash Your Gear in a Photographer's Vest or Fanny Pack
62. Use a Voice Recorder for Logging
63. Build or Buy an Equatorial Platform
64. Make Your Computer Work for You
65. Astronomy Software in the Palm of Your Hand