Amateur Telescope Making by Stephen Tonkin
Many amateur astronomers make their own instruments, either because of financial considerations or because they are just interested. Amateur Telescope Making offers a variety of designs for telescopes, mounts and drives which are suitable for the home-constructor. The designs range from simple to advanced, but all are within the range of a moderately well-equipped home workshop. The book not only tells the reader what he can construct, but also what it is sensible to construct given what time is available commercially. Thus each chapter begins with reasons for undertaking the project, then looks at theoretical consideration before finishing with practical instructions and advice. An indication is given as to the skills required for the various projects. Appendices list reputable sources of (mail order) materials and components. The telescopes and mounts range from shoestring (very cheap) instruments to specialist devices that are unavailable commercially.From the reviews
".. Stephen Tonkin (has) added a worthy contribution to the collective wisdom of amateur astronomy ...."
SKY & TELESCOPE
SKY & TELESCOPE
"…Tonkin has assembled a potpourri of excellent do-it-yourself projects, ranging from small refractors and simple rich-field telescopes to large instruments with tilted-component optics and a high-performance, home-built, computer-controlled telescope…will appeal strongly to mid-level amateur astronomers, whether they are equipment buyers or builders. Novices should find much to marvel at, and advanced amateurs will appreciate the useful and timely insights into the current technology of telescopes and sensors…[a] worthy addition to the ever-growing literature of telescopes and telescope making.”
REVIEWS OF ASTRONOMICAL TOOLS
"The book is a nice collection of interesting ideas on telescopes and accessories for the do-it-yourself astronomer.”
NEW SCIENTIST
"For advice on how to get going, look no further than two excellent books – AMATEUR TELESCOPE MAKING and ASTRONOMICAL EQUIPMENT FOR AMATEURS…Highly recommended.”
Stephen Tonkin, BSc (Hons), F.R.A.S. has been a keen amateur astronomer since childhood and now spends most of his time doing astronomical education and outreach, both as a Lecturer in Astronomy for an adult education college, and independently with his own organization, The Astronomical Unit. He organizes and leads astronomy courses and talks, public observing, and astronomy-related storytelling for children and adults. In 2000, he was elected as a Fellow of the Royal Astronomical Society.
He has been using binoculars for astronomy for over forty years, initially under the pristine African skies under which he grew up, and as his main observing instrument for the last decade. He actively promotes and encourages the use of binoculars within the amateur astronomy community and publishes a monthly e-zine, The Binocular Sky Newsletter, for binocular astronomers. He also writes the monthly Binocular Tour in Sky at Night magazine.
He now lives on the edge of the New Forest, which has some of the darkest skies in southern England. On clear moonless nights when he's not working, he can usually be found at one of these dark sites, exploring the night sky with his binoculars.
| SKU | Unavailable |
| ISBN 13 | 9781852330002 |
| ISBN 10 | 1852330007 |
| Title | Amateur Telescope Making |
| Author | Stephen Tonkin |
| Series | The Patrick Moore Practical Astronomy Series |
| Condition | Unavailable |
| Binding Type | Paperback |
| Publisher | Springer London Ltd |
| Year published | 1998-11-11 |
| Number of pages | 260 |
| Cover note | Book picture is for illustrative purposes only, actual binding, cover or edition may vary. |
| Note | Unavailable |