Observing and Measuring Visual Double Stars

Book Description
Double stars are the rule, rather than the exception: our solar system, having a single sun, is in the minority. Orbiting satellites, ground-based observatories and interferometers have all helped discover many hundreds of new pairs - but this has left enormous numbers of wide, faint pairs under-observed or not observed at all. This is where amateur astronomers can help. Bob Argyle, a professional astronomer at Cambridge University, shows where enthusiastic amateur observers can best direct their efforts. The book caters for the use of every level of equipment, from simple commercial telescopes to micrometers and CCD cameras. Amateur astronomers who have gone beyond “sight-seeing” and want to make a genuine scientific contribution will find this a fascinating and rewarding field - and this book provides all the background and practical information that’s needed.

Book Info
Text for amateur astronomers who are interested in the observation and measurement of visual double stars. Discusses equipment, observing methods, CCD camera techniques, and advanced instrumentation such as speckle interferometry. Includes index and list of useful URLs. Softcover. DLC: Double stars--Observers' manuals.


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This is the definitive book for those who are serious about this fascinating aspect of astronomy. It deals with equipment (you can start quite modestly with commercial or home-made instruments), observing methods from binoculars upward, CCD camera techniques, and finally advanced instrumentation including speckle interferometry. The astronomy of double stars, including orbital calculation, is given its own section.


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