Double & Multiple Stars, and How to Observe Them

ISBN-13: 9781852337513 / Angielski / Miękka / 2005 / 144 str.

James Mullaney

Opis

You are holding in your hands, dear Reader, your passport to an exciting cosmic adventure - exploring the universe of double and multiple stars These are the sky's tinted jewels and waltzing couples, and they are waiting patiently in the darkness of night to dazzle and delight you. This is actually two books in one. The ?rst part surveys the current state of knowledge about double stars - how they are born, evolve and interact, their signi?cance in the cosmic scheme of things, and the valuable insights they provide into such fundamental matters as stellar masses and the ultimate fate of stars.The more we know about these fascinating objects, the more enjoyment we will ul- mately derive from actually viewing them ?rsthand with binoculars and telescopes from our gardens or backyards or ?elds.As Charles Edward Barns stated in his long out-of-print classic 1001 Celestial Wonders, Let me learn all that is known of them, Love them for the joy of loving. For, as a traveler in far countries Brings back only what he takes, So shall the scope of my foreknowledge Measure the depth of their pro't and charm to me.

Recenzje

James Mullaney's book Double and Multiple Stars and How to Observe Them exceeds what anyone has done with this topic before--by a whole qualitative level or two. Mullaney is one of the world's most experienced observers of double stars and "deep-sky objects." His writing is always clear, accurate and enthusiastic and this book is no exception. Double and Multiple Stars, along with Mullaney's other writings on the topic, may end up almost singlehandedly winning over a new generation of observers to the joy of double-star observing.
—Fred Schaaf

 

...I can recommend Double and Multiple Stars and How to Observe Them to those who delight in seeing close points of light and those who can imagine the huge variety of suns they represent.

—Leif J. Robinson, in Sky & Telescope, October 2006

Spis treści

Preface Acknowledgements PART 1 Introduction PART II Types of Double Stars Astrophysics of Double Stars Observing Techniques Tools of the Trade Observing Projects Double & Multiple Star Observing Lists Conclusion Appendices Index About the Author

O autorze

Double & Multiple Stars, and How to Observe Them is written specially for practical amateur astronomers who not only want to observe, but want to know and understand the details of exactly what they are looking at. It is a mine of information for all levels of amateur observers, from the beginner to the experienced.
The concept of the book and of the series is to present an up-to-date detailed description of the objects, their physics and their evolution (part one); and then (part two) to consider how to observe and record them successfully. Increasing light pollution throughout the world does not affect the viewing of double and multiple stars. More and more amateur astronomers are therefore turning to this interesting and scientifically useful area.
It will also be bought by those who are not practical astronomers but simply want to find out more about these unusual star systems.

Blurb

ASTRONOMERS’ OBSERVING GUIDES provide up-to-date information for amateur astronomers who want to know all about what it is they are observing. This is the basis of the first part of the book. The second part details observing techniques for practical astronomers, working with a range of different instruments.

 

Double and Multiple stars are among the most fascinating astronomical objects. They range from ‘optical binaries’ that can be easily observed with a modest telescope, to distant and complex multiple systems that challenge even professional observers.

The first part of Jim Mullaney’s book provides a comprehensive review of the different classes of double and multiple systems, along with a look at the astrophysics of these objects. This is followed by a detailed guide for amateur astronomers, describing how to observe them – using a variety of different techniques – and outlining how to record the observations.

In one book, here is all you need to observe double and multiple stars, and to understand the systems you are looking at.