The Amateur Astronomer's Introduction to the Celestial SphereCambridge University Press, 08.06.2006 - 299 Seiten This introduction to the night sky is for amateur astronomers who desire a deeper understanding of the principles and observations of naked-eye astronomy. It covers topics such as terrestrial and astronomical coordinate systems, stars and constellations, the relative motions of the sky, sun, moon and earth leading to an understanding of the seasons, phases of the moon, and eclipses. Topics are discussed and compared for observers located in both the northern and southern hemispheres. Written in a conversational style, only addition and subtraction are needed to understand the basic principles and a more advanced mathematical treatment is available in the appendices. Each chapter contains a set of review questions and simple exercises to reinforce the reader's understanding of the material. The last chapter is a set of self-contained observation projects to get readers started with making observations about the concepts they have learned. William Charles Millar, currently Professor of Astronomy at Grand Rapids Community College in Michigan, has been teaching the subject for almost twenty years and is very involved with local amateur astronomy groups. Millar also belongs to The Planetary Society and the Astronomical Society of the Pacific and has traveled to Europe and South America to observe solar eclipses. Millar holds a Masters degree in Physics from Western Michigan University. |
Häufige Begriffe und Wortgruppen
1(Kochab 5(a Cen altitude is measured angle angular momentum magnitude angular momentum vector angular motion angular velocity vector apparent magnitude applied axis of rotation base celestial equator circle circular motion circumference circumpolar star common logarithms Conservation of angular culmination A.7 culmination is given decimal form decimal point distance Earth's equator example for star exponents represent numbers five example stars force-pair fractional exponent given latitude googol googolplex greater than 90 gyroscope infinity Kochab linear momentum lower culmination A.15 mantissa mass meters per second move the decimal multiplied negative declination negative exponents negative numbers northern horizon number of zeros object orbital angular parsecs particle's plane power of ten prefix radian radius rational number result is greater result is less result is negative right-hand rule rotating body rotational motion scientific notation simply Sirius southern spatial direction star number symbol torque vector transit altitude upper culmination A.13 vector quantity