Digital Astrophotography: The State of the Art

CCDs (charge-coupled devices) have revolutionized optical astronomy during the past 20 years, first for professionals and now for amateurs. Specialized astronomical CCD cameras provide more than ten times the sensitivity of the fastest photographic film, and delivers digital images that are readily computer enhanced to improve resolution and cut through 'light pollution'. Digital Astrophotography: The State of the Art contains techniques, advice, hints, tips and spectacular color images from world experts in CCD astronomy from North America and Europe. Their insights are illustrated with many beautiful color images in fact, the book features full colour throughout. Techniques range from using simple webcams to highly technical aspects such as supernovae patrolling, computer processing, stacking, and image-enhancement. Simply stated, this is required reading for all serious amateur astronomers who spend time photographing the night sky and want to do so with the latest accessible equipment.

Techniques, advice, hints, tips and spectacular colour images from world experts! Covers all imaging technologies, from webcams through digital SLRs to cooled-chip astronomical CCD cameras Describes how you can get the best results out of any CCD imaging system

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Patrick Moore's Practical Astronomy Series

DIGITAL ASTROPHOTOGRAPHY

The State of the Art

This book is the successor to David Ratledge's much-acclaimed The Art and Science of CCD Astronomy.

CCD cameras and their associated technologies have continued to make great strides since the original book was first published almost eight years ago, particularly in the universal availability of color cameras and in the dramatically lower cost of equipment.

Digital Astrophotography: The State of the Art provides examples of the latest and best images, and describes how to get the best out of this extraordinary technology.

Experts in CCD astronomy from North America and Europe have contributed, illustrating their help and advice with many beautiful color images. The techniques explained here range from the use of inexpensive webcams, through to highly technical aspects such as supernovae patrolling. Computer processing, stacking and image-enhancement are also detailed, along with many hints and tips from the experts.

Contenu
Afocal Photography with Digital Cameras.- An Introduction to Webcam Imaging.- Long-Exposure Webcams and Image Stacking Techniques.- Deep-Sky Imaging with a Digital SLR.- IRIS: Astronomical Image-Processing Software.- High-Resolution Imaging of the Planets.- High-Resolution CCD Imaging.- Out-Smarting Light Pollution.- The Hybrid Image: A New Astro-Imaging Philosophy.- Amateur Spectroscopy in the 21st Century.- Successful Patrolling for Supernovae.