Binocular Astronomy (Patrick Moore's Practical Astronomy Series)

✍ Scribed by Stephen Tonkin

• Year: 2006
• Tongue: English
• Leaves: 292
• Edition: 1st Edition.
• Category: Library

✦ Synopsis

This book contains everything an astronomer needs to know about binocular observing. The book takes an in-depth look at the instruments themselves. It has sections on evaluating and buying binoculars and binocular telescopes, their care, mounting, and accessories. In addition there is a selection of fifty fine objects to be seen with 50mm and 100mm binoculars. The advantages of using both eyes for astronomical observing are many and considerable, largely because of the way the human brain processes visual information. This book enables the astronomer to maximize those advantages.

✦ Table of Contents

Contents......Page 9
Introduction......Page 12
1. Why Binoculars?......Page 15
The Binocular Advantage......Page 16
The 5-mm Exit Pupil......Page 17
Small Focal Ratio and Aberrations......Page 18
Conclusion......Page 19
Objective Lens Assemblies......Page 20
Prisms......Page 22
Coatings......Page 32
Aberrations......Page 37
Aperture Stops and Vignetting......Page 41
Focusing Mechanisms......Page 42
Collimation......Page 46
Binocular Specifications......Page 48
Field of View......Page 50
Hand-held Binoculars......Page 52
Mounted Binoculars......Page 54
Binocular Telescopes......Page 56
Binoviewers......Page 58
Zoom Binoculars......Page 59
4. Evaluating Binoculars......Page 61
Preliminary Tests......Page 62
Field Tests......Page 69
Rain Guards......Page 71
Storage......Page 72
Grit......Page 73
Cleaning......Page 74
Dismantling Binoculars......Page 76
Collimation......Page 81
Hand-held Binoculars......Page 84
Mounting Brackets......Page 88
Monopods......Page 91
Photo Tripods......Page 92
Fork Mounts......Page 94
Mirror Mounts......Page 95
Parallelogram Mounts......Page 96
Observing Chairs......Page 98
Finders......Page 103
Filters......Page 106
Dew Prevention and Removal......Page 107
Charts and Charting Software......Page 109
Torches (Flashlights)......Page 110
Storage and Transport Container......Page 111
Software Sources......Page 112
Personal Comfort......Page 113
Observing Sites......Page 115
Observing Techniques......Page 116
9. 50 Deep Sky Objects for 50mm Binoculars......Page 117
10. 100 Deep Sky Objects for 100mm Binoculars......Page 167
Appendix A: Double Stars for Indicating Resolution......Page 256
Appendix B: Limiting Magnitude......Page 262
Appendix C: True Field of View......Page 267
Appendix D: Useful Addresses......Page 275
Appendix E: Internet Resources......Page 279
Appendix F: Binocular Designations......Page 280
A......Page 282
B......Page 283
D......Page 284
I......Page 285
P......Page 286
R......Page 287
Z......Page 288
D......Page 289
N......Page 290
P......Page 291
Z......Page 292