The Amateur Astronomer's Introduction to the Celestial SphereThis 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. |
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Contents
Motions of the Earth | 60 |
The seasons | 111 |
The phases of the Moon | 140 |
Eclipses | 168 |
Observation projects | 194 |
| 287 | |
Preface page | xi |
Common terms and phrases
Altair angle angular momentum annual motion apparent magnitude astronomers axis azimuth Bayer designations Big Dipper Calculate calendar caused celestial equator celestial longitude celestial sphere circle circumpolar clock constellations coordinate system daylight December solstice declination defined distance diurnal motion Earth Earth’s equator Earth’s rotational Earth’s shadow east eclipse season ecliptic line ecliptic poles Equatorial Chart Example Figure find first five full Moon gibbous high noon June solstice length lower culmination lunar eclipse lunar phases measured meridian Moon’s orbital moves night nodes North Pole northern sky observer observer’s latitude occur orbital path passes penumbra plane Polaris position precession precessional motion right ascension rises sidereal Sirius solar day solar eclipse south celestial pole southern hemisphere southern horizon stars Sun’s sunlight sunrise sunset surface synodic period tilt total solar eclipse transit altitude umbra upper culmination vernal equinox visible winter zenith zodiac
Popular passages
Page 295 - The moon is on the opposite side of the earth from the sun, and from Earth we see the complete sunlit half of the moon.
Bibliographic information
| Title | The Amateur Astronomer's Introduction to the Celestial Sphere |
| Author | William Millar |
| Edition | illustrated |
| Publisher | Cambridge University Press, 2006 |
| ISBN | 052167123X, 9780521671231 |
| Length | 299 pages |
| Subjects | › Nature / Sky Observation Science / Astronomy |
| Export Citation | BiBTeX EndNote RefMan |