An increasing number of people are taking advantage of the relatively low prices of astronomical equipment. Many of these people are doing so with little knowledge of practical astronomy and, as the volume of questions asked at astronomical society meetings and on internet newsgroups attest, there is a need for these questions to be answered in one place. Hence this book. The fundamental premise behind AstroFAQs is that the beginning amateur astronomer wishes to get "up and running" with the minimum delay. A secondary premise is that anyone will better appreciate why something is done as it...