The Internet contains so much information and data for astronomers that just finding what you want is a daunting task, and downloading can take hours of computer and telephone time.

In the years since The Art and Science of CCD Astronomy was ?rst published, digital imaging has been transformed from what was, in reality, a minority int- est to mainstream. Not even the most committed of CCD devotees could have predicted the few years it would take for digital imaging to supplant ?lm. We all probably guessed that a new age was dawning, but the speed at which silicon sensors came to dominate the photography market was simply staggering. New areas also appeared. No one predicted webcams would become the instrument of choice for imaging the planets. Afocal photography...

Background A new collection of deep sky targets for the modern amateur astronomer was long overdue. The traditional catalogue of deep sky objects, i.e. that produced by Messier over 200 years ago, has become a victim of its own success. Those objects have now become far too well known, over-viewed, over-imaged and over-published. More importantly they have often resulted in more interesting objects being totally overlooked. The logic behind the compilation of Messier's objects was nothing more profound than that they might be confused for a comet There must be a better way to choose the best...

Charge-coupled Devices (CCDs) have revolutionised astronomy. Even affordable CCD cameras can be ten times a sensitive as photographic film, and they deliver a digitised image that is easy to enhance using a personal computer. David Ratledge has brought together contributions from twelve leading amateurs from around the world, people who are routinely producing astronomical images of a quality that rivals those of professional observatories only of 10 years ago. These experts describe their techniques and solutions, and offer essential tips and advice for anyone who is choosing or using a CCD...