Moon Observer's Guide by Peter Grego

Moon Observer's Guide by Peter Grego

Since publication of the first edition of this book, we have enjoyed more than a decade of new readings and images taken by shuttles, rovers, and the Hubble Telescope. Each time they have passed by, orbited, and landed on the Moon we have accumulated an incredible amount of data about our satellite and about the rest of the galaxy. In the same period, stargazing technology has advanced to an unprecedented level of sophistication. Even basic low-tech binoculars and telescopes permit astounding views of the night sky.

In clear language and with full color photographs and illustrations throughout, this second edition of Moon Observer's Guide has been updated and revised throughout to incorporate these exciting advances, including more than 20 new images and information about new digital imaging techniques and technology, such as DSLR (digital single lens reflex) cameras, webcams, and mobile apps. The updates also include the latest science garnered from lunar probes and missions recently and currently exploring the Moon.

The topics include:

• The birth of the Moon
• The Moon's orbit
• Moonlight
• Guidelines for choosing binoculars and telescopes
• Ways of recording observations
• Digital and conventional photography
• Using internet resources, personal computers and lunar software programs
• Safety tips for observing the Moon during solar and lunar eclipses
• Eclipses and occultations
• The space-age Moon.

Moon Observer's Guide provides practical guidance to amateur astronomers viewing Earth's only natural satellite whether with the naked eye or binoculars and telescopes. Central to the book is the detailed 28-day Moonwatching guide, complete with maps, that describes lunar geology and the various causes of physical features, such as craters and volcanoes.

This is an ideal reference for beginning and experienced astronomers alike, and an essential for library collections large and small.

Peter Grego is an astronomy writer and editor. A regular watcher of the night skies since 1976, he observes from his home in St. Dennis, Cornwall, UK, with a variety of instruments. His telescopes include a 102 mm refractor, home-made 150 mm and 300 mm Newtonians (telescope mirror-making is another of his interests) and a 445 mm Newtonian, but his most-used instrument is his 200 mm SCT. Grego's primary observing interests are the Moon's topography, Mars and Jupiter. He now likes to use a hand-held computer to make observational drawings.

Grego has directed the Lunar Section of Britain's Society for Popular Astronomy (SPA) since 1984, and since 2006 has been actively involved with the Lunar Section of the British Astronomical Association (BAA). He edits and produces four astronomy publications - Luna (journal of the SPA Lunar Section), The BAA Lunar Section Circulars and Popular Astronomy magazine. He is also layout editor for the Bulletin of the Society for the History of Astronomy and The Antiquarian Astronomer.

Grego's astronomical writings and observations have been featured in many publications since 1983, including the BAS Newsletter, Popular Astronomy, The New Moon, Amateur Astronomy and Earth Sciences, Gnomon, The Lunar Observer, Yokohama Science Center News, and the CD-ROM Window on the Universe. Since 1997 he has written and illustrated the monthly MoonWatch page in UK's Astronomy Now magazine, and he is the observing advisor and columnist for the Sky at Night magazine.

He has given many talks to astronomical societies around the UK and has been featured on a number of radio and television broadcasts.

Grego is the author of numerous astronomy books, including Collision: Earth! (Cassell, 1998), Moon Observer's Guide (Philips/Firefly, 2004), The Moon and How to Observe It (Springer, 2005), Need to Know? Stargazing (Collins, 2005), Need to Know? Universe (Collins, 2006), Solar System Observer's Guide (Philips/Firefly, 2005), Exploring the Earth/Exploring the Moon/ Discovering the Solar System/ Voyage Through Space/ Discovering the Universe (five books in the QED Space Guides series, 2007), Venus and Mercury and How to Observe Them (Springer, 2008), The Great Big Book of Space (QED 2010) and, Galileo and 400 Years of Telescopic Astronomy (Springer, 2010).