Textbook on Spherical AstronomyThis well-established textbook gives a general but comprehensive introduction to positional astronomy. Originally based on the author's lecture courses at Cambridge University, it is intended primarily for undergraduates, but, due to its comprehensive nature, it is a very useful reference text for research workers in many branches of astronomy and space physics. The author considers the night sky as the celestial sphere and powerfully exploits the methods of spherical geometry. Most problems in which the precise determination of a heavenly body's position in the sky is important are considered in theoretical detail, and the necessary formulae are derived to a precision that is sufficient for all but the most specialist purposes. The present revision has ensured that the terminology and treatment correspond precisely to current astronomical practice. A guiding principle has been to re-establish compatibility with the Astronomical Ephemeris and, to a lesser extent, with the fuller explanations of the Explanatory Supplement to the Astronomical Ephemeris and the American Ephemeris and Nautical Almanac. Fairly frequent comments added to the text indicate the sometimes modified relevance of the subject matter to modern astronomy. A number of additional exercises help to illustrate the new material. |
Contents
CHAPTER | 1 |
CHAPTER II | 25 |
Rate of change of zenith distance and azimuth 33 Twilight Exercises | 32 |
CHAPTER III | 58 |
The laws of refraction 35 Refraction for small zenith distances | 70 |
Planetary Motions | 98 |
Introduction 57 Keplers first law 58 Keplers second | 118 |
CHAPTER VI | 136 |
CHAPTER XII | 278 |
The photographio refractor 159 The tangent plane 160 Standard | 297 |
Photographic observations of minor planets and comets | 300 |
The measurement of proper motions 171 The measurement of proper | 307 |
CHAPTER XIII | 314 |
CHAPTER XIV | 340 |
Visual binary stars 188 The micrometer 189 The elements of | 346 |
The masses of the stars 194 Dynamical parallaxes 195 Spec | 368 |
CHAPTER VII | 160 |
CHAPTER VIII | 178 |
Parallax | 195 |
CHAPTER X | 226 |
and declination of a star 133 The effect of precession on right ascension | 245 |
Definition of proper motion 145 Relation between proper motion | 257 |
Occultations of stars by the moon 203 The geometrical conditions | 387 |
The Method of Dependences | 404 |
Stellar Magnitudes | 414 |
APPENDIX A Astronomical Constants | 420 |
Common terms and phrases
a₁ aberration almanacs altitude angular ascension and declination assume astronomical astronomical units axes axis azimuth Besselian calculated celestial equator celestial sphere centre circle arc collimation comparison stars components Consider constant corresponding cos² cosec d₁ defined denote derived determined direction earth earth's orbit eccentric anomaly ecliptic Ephemeris equatorial error formula geocentric given Greenwich heavenly body heliocentric Hence horizon hour angle interval latitude longitude m₁ m₂ mean equator mean sun measured meridian moon moon's node nutation observed observer's obtain P₁ parallax parallel perpendicular plane plate pole position angle precession proper motion quantities R₁ radial velocity reference refraction respectively right ascension rotation seconds of arc semi-major semi-major axis sidereal sin² small circle spherical triangle standard co-ordinates star's sun's suppose T₁ T₂ tangent telescope transit vernal equinox X₁ zenith distance α₁