Solar Observer's Handbook
by
Book Cover & Preview Text
A picture is worth a thousand words, and this handbook is lavishly illustrated with photographs and diagrams. Many are in colour and colour has also been used strategically to highlight important text, helping the reader to better understand the subject.
The book explains "how the Sun works", but unlike most books it also details how solar observational work should be undertaken and the data obtained submitted to the reader's club or national controlling body.
In so doing, it brings a heightened meaning and purpose to the fascinating study of solar astronomy, which will both advance the novice and enhance their enjoyment and interest in the subject.
Many nations collect this very necessary observational data from professionals and amateurs alike, and use it for their own national interest. This book shows the reader how to become a part of this high office.
Formats
Book Details
About the Book
The object of this handbook is to provide the complete novice who is interested in solar astronomy with all the information needed to enable them to submit their observational work at a national professional standard. The book will also enable the local amateur astronomy group to create a programme of work of choice, for the enhanced enjoyment of their members.
It assumes no previous knowledge. No degrees are necessary.
There is no intention here to supplant the many excellent textbooks on solar astronomy or to ascend to their levels of expertise. Mathematics in this handbook is strictly avoided and never ventures beyond that in everyday school use, though some basic maths are confined to appendices for those interested. This handbook focuses mainly on explanation with pictures and diagrams.
This handbook will provide a sound foundation in the subject which will then allow the novice astronomer to extend their expertise and knowledge as far as they wish.
About the Author
Tony Broxton is a chartered electronics engineer, and he started his career as a lecturer in physics, mathematics and electronics, afterwards becoming a designer of aircraft avionics. He was then with British Aerospace for 22 years where he became a consultant engineer. He undertook research at the University of Maryland in partnership with the NASA Mars Pathfinder project and his duties also brought him into contact with the NASA Galileo team. He became a member of a local amateur astronomical research team, later becoming the Assistant Director (Projects) of the Solar Section of the British Astronomical Association. Now retired, he lives in Cornwall where he still performs daily solar astronomical measurements, submitting his work to the Solar Influences Data Analysis Centre (SIDC), in Brussels. He is a member of the British Astronomical Association, the US Astronomical League, the Association of Lunar and Planetary Observers, (ALPO), and an elected Fellow of the Royal Astronomical Society.