Practical Projects for Astronomers

Astronomy and astrophotography are fascinating hobbies. It is possible to create and enhance astronomical equipment and accessories using techniques and materials accessible to the hobbyist metalworker or model engineer. Written by an amateur astronomer and experienced hobby engineer, this wide-ranging book presents tried and tested ideas from the simplest of gadgets to advanced projects. Includes how to design and make refracting telescopes and how to make a Newtonian reflector around a mirror set. Instructions are given on making different types of eyepiece using stock lenses and making gadgets for collimation, polar alignment, focusing, sky quality metering and much more. Information is given on improving the performance of mounts and tripods and how to cool cameras and improve their performance for long-exposure photography. Details are given on making an equatorial platform for Dobsonian telescopes and using Arduinos and other electronic modules as part of your projects.

Neil M Wyatt is an environmentalist, ecologist and a lifelong model maker - he had his first workshop at the age of fourteen. He cut his teeth on Airfix models, but branched out into model boats and aircraft. He finds that astronomy and astrophotography are a perfect complement to his hobby of model engineering, offering many challenges to ingenuity and skill. He is currently Editor of the magazine Model Engineers' Workshop. This is his third book for Crowood.