Product Description

This book is based around the author’s beautiful and sometimes awe-inspiring color images and mosaics of deep-sky objects. The images were used as the basis of a public exhibition held at the University of Southampton (Summer 2006), attended by the press, local radio and TV interviewers as well as the public. The book describes how similar images can be created by amateur astronomers, using commercially available telescopes and CCD cameras. Subsequent processing and image enhancement in the “electronic darkroom” is covered in detail as well. Not everybody can afford the biggest and best telescopes and CCD cameras, so a range of telescopes and equipment is considered, from the author’s 11-inch with Hyperstar camera, down to more affordable instruments. Appendices provide links to free software – not available from a single source – and are themselves an invaluable resource.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #49766 in Books
• Published on: 2007-11-12
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 178 pages

Review
"This is not a guide to deep sky imaging in general, but more a journey of one man s embarkation into this exciting topic. ... What I found most impressive was that the topics are kept simple and to the point. ... I believe this book has a wealth of information for anybody who wishes to pursue astrophotography as a hobby ... . Would I recommend it? Well the simple answer is yes, there is a lot of inspiration to be gained and put into practice." --Ed Sampson, Astronomy Now, June, 2008

"Parker s book is comprised of fourteen chapters spanning 155 pages and two appendices which make up a further six pages. ... provides a list of 14 books which give a broad perspective on astronomy and can open doors to the newcomer with general information on astronomy as well as potential targets. ... the book provides a good introduction to astrophotography that would be ideally suited to someone contemplating this addictive aspect of amateur astronomy." --Anthony Ayiomamitis, The Observatory, Vol. 128 (1205), August, 2008

From the Author
The aim of this book is to show you how to take those
remarkable deep-sky colour images you so often see in popular press science
articles - and to do so in the shortest time possible. A whole Chapter is
dedicated just to "pretty pictures". The idea here is to motivate you to
go out and take deep-sky images yourself, your main motivation coming from
the fact that I took all of these colour pictures within two years of
buying my first astronomical CCD camera. If you are willing to put in the
time and the effort, you will be able to produce similar quality work just
as quickly.

The equipment I discuss is not ultra-high tech, nor ultra-expensive, all
components, optical and electronic, readily available at very modest cost.
Both commercially available amateur reflectors and refractors are
considered, so that if you have preference of one type of instrument over
the other you should find the relevant information within this book.

The book does however come with a serious Health Warning. After you have
taken your first, half reasonable, deep-sky image, it is very likely that
you will become hooked. Be warned, this is a very serious addiction that
will eventually eat into both your valuable (sleeping) time, and your even
more valuable savings! It's too late for me personally, I am hooked, and
very seriously addicted - but I hope I have managed to get across to you
the reader, some of the enjoyment and inspiration that has led to my own
obsession with deep-sky imaging.

About the Author
Greg Parker is Professor of Photonics at the University of
Southampton, U.K. He has worked for 15 years in Industry, including 3
years in his own spin-out company Mesophotonics Ltd. - and for 20 years in
Academia. His research interests include photonics, vacuum
microelectronics, and the design and construction of semiconductor
deposition equipment. He has published a student textbook on Introductory
Semiconductor Device Physics, and over 120 refereed journal papers. He is
a Fellow of the Institute of Physics and a Chartered Engineer. He finds
relaxation in deep-sky imaging from his home-built observatory in the New
Forest, U.K.

Customer Reviews

Creating gallery quality pictures of the night sky
Professor Greg Parker has been taking deep sky CCD images for only about 3 years, but in that time he has published many of the best pictures of nebulae that I have ever seen! In this book he has documented the equipment and methods that he uses in a clear and easily followed manner, so that the aspiring CCD astronomer can emulate his results. Greg takes us from choosing the most appropriate telescope and camera, through selecting objects to image, capturing the images and to processing the results. Processing is perhaps the most critical part of achieving a beautiful result and about 50% of the book is devoted to this, with plenty of example images to examine. My only minor criticism is that many of the pictures have been printed in a smaller than necessary format, but they are still spectacular! This book is a worthy addition to the shelves of any CCD imaging enthusiast and I can strongly recommend it.

Affordable?
This book is rather self indulgent. If you want to know what the author has and does and be impressed by it then well and good.
If you are prepared to wade though the text there is valuable information in there. On the other hand it is too much hard work for me.
The author's idea of affordable equipment is born of a deeper pocket than mine.

Mia Culpa
A very good book but the sub heading is misleading. Affordable equipment???
One persons affordable is another's flipping expensive.The author uses some very nice gear but I for one would find it beyond my budget.