Asteroids and How to Observe Them

ISBN: 9780387765471

出版年: 2008-7

页数: 192

定价: $ 39.49

内容简介

Asteroids, particularly those that might present a hazard to life on Earth by impacting our planet, are important. In this age of giant telescopes (Keck and Hubble) and space probes (NEAR) the minor planets have advanced from being tiny points of light to front-page news when they approach Earth. This book looks at the asteroids (minor planets) themselves, their origins, orbits and composition, and at how amateur astronomers can play a part in their detection, tracking and imaging. It begins with a short review of the asteroids themselves, such as the "big four" and a few other highlights - objects such as close-approach objects, and some distant and historical types. The book then reviews the beginnings of serious observations by amateurs, and the start of the ALPO's Minor Planet Section and Minor Planet Bulletin (MPB) . The second part of the book is designed to help the reader become part of the community of serious minor planet observers. This does not mean setting goals of getting every reader to do research, but rather to supply readers with enough hard information to allow them to join the Pro/Am minor planet community and contribute in the way they prefer. It describes Internet options and key sites, software recommendations, and even how to use charts well at the telescope eyepiece. First time projects for those who have never seen an asteroid explain everything needed for spotting asteroids and keeping records of sightings. This is not a book only for observers who can spend thousands of dollars on telescopes and do world-class work, but is also a manual for newcomers: new visual observers who may be tomorrow's groundbreakers.