Astrophotography Books Featured

1.  Astrophotography for the Amatuer

2.  Digital Astrophotography: The State of the Art

3.  CCD Astrophotography : High-Quality Imaging from      the Suburbs

4.  High Resolution Astrophotography

Astrophotography for the Amatuer

by Michael A. Covington

Feature Astrophotography Book 1

With this extraordinary handbook, you, too, can frame the stars and have them hanging on your livingroom walls. Astrophotography for the Amateur provides a complete guide to taking pictures of stars, galaxies, the Moon, the Sun, comets, meteors and eclipses, using equipment and materials readily available to the hobbyist. Based on suggestions from readers of the first edition, the new edition has been completely updated and expanded to include new chapters on computer image processing and CCD imaging; expanded advice on choosing cameras and telescopes; completely updated information about films; a much larger bibliography; and hundreds of new photographs (in color and black and white) demonstrating the latest equipment and techniques. Astrophotography for the Amateur has become the standard handbook for all amateur astronomers. This new edition provides an ideal introduction for beginners and a complete handbook for advanced amateurs. It will also appeal to photography enthusiasts who will discover how to take spectacular images with only modest equipment. Michael A. Covington received his Ph.D. at Yale University. He is the author of several books, including Syntactic Theory in the High Middle Ages (Cambridge, 1984). He is a Senior Member of the IEEE and is the Associate Director of the Artificial Intelligence Center at the University of Georgia.

Digital Astrophotography:

The State of the Art

by David Ratledge

Feature Astrophotography Book 2

The CCD (Charge-Coupled Device) has revolutionised optical astronomy during the past 20 years, and specialised astronomical CCD cameras are now even more affordable, colour is standard, and they provide spectacular results. Digital Astrophotography: The State of the Art, provides some examples of the best images, and gives readers hints and tips about how to get the best out of this extraordinary technology. Experts in CCD astronomy from North America and Europe have contributed to this book, illustrating their help and advice with many beautiful colour images – the book is in full colour throughout. Techniques range from using simple webcams to highly technical aspects such as supernovae patrolling. Computer processing, stacking and image-enhancement are detailed, along with many hints and tips from the experts.

CCD Astrophotography : High-Quality Imaging from the Suburbs

Adam Stuart

Feature Astrophotography Book 3

Not all amateur astronomers who live in a suburban location realize just how very effective a ‘chilled-chip’ astronomical CCD-camera and software can be at cutting through seemingly impenetrable light-pollution. CCD Astrophotography from the Suburbs details one man’s approach to the problem of getting high-quality astronomical images under light-polluted conditions. Adam Stuart has written this reference book for all amateur astronomers who are interested in CCD imaging, especially those who have to work under suburban conditions. The book outlines the materials and (commercially-available) equipment used for high-quality imaging. The many wonderful images Dr. Stuart has produced allow the reader to see the product of – initially – a fellow beginner’s efforts. The glorious images found in numerous books, and especially those seen in Sky and Telescope magazine – might seem out of reach. But this is not really the case. Respectable images are attainable with modest equipment. This book outlines a complete and thoroughly tested working program for every beginner to achieve high-quality digital imaging.

High Resolution Astrophotography

Jean Dragesco

Feature Astrophotography Book 4

Many astronomers are unaware of how to obtain the best results from their telescopes. For those interested in photographing the Sun, Moon and planets, this volume provides the complete reference. This guide is packed with practical tips on how to obtain the highest resolution and provides a wealth of stunning images by the world's best amateurs, showing just what can be achieved. Individual chapters describe the various types of telescopes, the most suitable equipment to photograph a given subject, and recommend films and techniques in developing and printing. Also given are short biographies of key high resolution astrophotographers, both past and present, and an extensive bibliography of further reading. This guide provides both a wealth of sound, practical techniques and a unique portfolio of Solar System images--an inspiring handbook for any amateur astronomer.

Astrophotography: An Introduction to Film and Digital Imaging

H.J.P. Arnold

Feature Astrophotography Book 5

Astronomy buffs often wish they could photograph what they see through their telescopes. Camera buffs often wish they knew the techniques for capturing majestic yet elusive heavenly bodies. Astrophotography brings these two hobbies together in one complete resource.

This big, fully-illustrated book offers:
- Practical guidance and authoritative advice
- Equipment resources and contacts
- Brand-new star charts and illustrations
- Techniques for conventional and digital photography

Step-by-step instructions are given for choosing and using the right camera, shooting with a telescope, getting the best out of black and white and color film, and developing pictures at home or while traveling.

Specific instructions are given for photographing:

- The Sun, the Moon and the planets
- Meteors and comets
- Stars and satellites
- Rainbows, halos, and other phenomena in the night sky

This new edition also includes the latest information for shooting digital and dedicated astro CCDs (charge-coupled device) for capturing faint nebulae and distant galaxies. Generously illustrated with 100 color and black and white photographs, Astrophotography is an attractive and easy-to-use reference.

Astrophotography with the Schmidt Telescope

Siegfried Marx

Feature Astrophotography Book 6

The objective of this book is to present a photograph collection of astronomical objects taken with large Schmidt telescopes. It incorporates material from not only the telescope at the Karl-Schwarzschild-Observatory at Tautenberg, but also the telescopes at the Anglo-Australian Observatory and the European Southern Observatory. The Schmidt telescope is a special photographic telescope that uses a spherical, rather than a parabolic, main mirror. This results in an extremely large field of view and good resolution. The book contains photographs of galactic nebulae of different species, galactic and globular clusters of stars, stellar fields, external galaxies, and comets. Facing each photograph is a text page introducing the object to the reader and explaining its appearance, characteristic data, and its physical nature. The authors also provide extensive information on the history of the astronomical telescope, the Schmidt telescope, and the life of its inventor, Bernhard Schmidt. Astrophotography with the Schmidt Telescope presents scientific facts in a readable, enjoyable format. All who are interested in astronomy, the natural sciences, and history will enjoy this book, whether specialists or nonspecialists in the field. Originally published by Urania Verlag, Leipzig.

Practical Astrophotography

Jeffrey R. Charles

Feature Astrophotography Book 7

Almost all amateur astronomers want to take photographs of the night sky. For all but the simplest star-trail pictures, this involves machinery - a telescope drive - to track the stars, essential to compensate for the rotation of the earth. The task becomes even more complicated when photographing very small or very faint objects that require high magnification or very long exposure times.Amateurs have many options according to their requirements, technical ability, and budget. Astrophotography for Amateurs looks at all the possibilities, including normal ("wet") photography, CCD imaging, and modern techniques of computer enhancement. There are sections about photographing different classes of astronomical object from the Moon to faint nebulae, as well as a thorough look at the equipment needed.

Heavenly Bodies

Bert P. Krages, Esq.

Feature Astrophotography Book 8

Detailing the photographic equipment and astronomical instruments needed to capture celestial images, this guide shows how astrophotography can be accessible to all photographers. Included is a detailed introduction to basic astronomy with information on mapping the sky, locating celestial bodies, and planning an expedition to photograph astronomical phenomena. Photographers learn how to determine the color sensitivity of various films and achieve the best possible exposure, how to ensure a captivating composition, and how commercially processed prints can support their artistic vision. Whether photographers wish to capture deep sky or solar system subjects, the dual focus on photography and astronomy and the helpful sidebars and charts will ensure great images, enhanced creativity, and a greater appreciation of the night sky.