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....Mike!
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EDITORIAL
LOOKING SOUTH WITH MEL
Melissa Hulbert, astrophysicist,
works at Sydney Observatory and is also a keen amateur astronomer
EX LIBRIS
The telescope maker is well
catered for at The Binocular and Telescope Shop. A wide range of material
is available for the ‘first time’ telescope builder and the advanced builder.
Here’s a selection:
All About Telescopes
Sam Brown; A classic 200 page book now in its 14th edition. More diagrams,
more illustrations, more tables than I could count. Illustrated in simple
American comic-book style it provides a wealth of information on building
all sorts of simple refractor and reflector telescopes from 50mm to 200mm.
One of the classics! $69.00 (post $9)
Advanced Telescope Making
Techniques Vol 1 and Vol 2 Allan Mackintosh. Originally penned to assist
Maksutov builders, these books have been widened in their scope. Volume
1 discusses optical figuring, testing, designing and calculator programs.
Volume 2 discusses the mechanical side of telescope making; grinding and
polishing machines, telescope construction and the important workshop.
$69.00 ea (post $9)
Amateur Telescope Making
Vol 1, 2 and 3 Albert Ingalls. Vol 1 covers Newtonian mirror making,
optical testing, and observatory buildings. Volume 2 discusses refractors,
telescope mechanics, adjustments, binoculars and Schmidt cameras.
Vol 3 handles optical production,
coatings, optical instruments and solar observing instruments. A total
of almost 1800 pages of practical telescope making for the keen glass pusher.
$69.00 ea (post $9)
Telescope Optics Rutten
& van Venrooij. Which telescope designs are best for various
purposes; what are the trade-offs? Designs are analysed and compared.
Ray traces are shown to explain the differences. Recommended!
$77.00 (post $9)
Star Testing Astronomical
Telescopes Harold Suiter. A book to put minds at rest! This book describes
in great detail how to test the optics of any telescope by observing a
star. Clear and unambiguous graphics show what to expect and what you get
from good optics, bad optics, from air currents, bad observing conditions,
poorly aligned optics. An excellent book for the keen telescope owner
and user. $85.00 (post $9)
Build Your Own Telescope.
Richard Berry. This book became an instant classic. Clearly written and
profusely illustrated with photos and line drawings, it shows exactly how
to build a series of telescopes, from 4”, 6” and 10” reflectors to
a 6” f15 refractor. Berry writes for the person with average abilities
and tools. A ‘must-have’ book. $84.00 (post $9)
How to Make a Telescope
Jean Texereau. One of the great classics. This book has stood the test
of time. An expert whose knowledge is passed on with information, hints,
diagrams, Texereau writes for all who wish to understand the mysteries
of the telescope. $69.00 (post $9)
The Dobsonian Telescope
Kriege & Berry. The book for all who wish to construct a large telescope
in the Dobsonian fashion, the theory of it and the practical side of it.
This is the book for big-aperture dreamers and builders!
$84.00 (post $9)
TED’S
TRIVIA
TED CUMMING (alias Snowy)
Ted’s a keen amateur astronomer
and a member of the Brisbane Astronomical Society.
This section is devoted to amateur astronomers and
astronomy club activities around Australia.
If you'd like your club activities featured, or your
own, please write us a short article and enclose a photo or two.
MEADE ETX 105 ON
SPECIAL
A superb Maksutov Cassegrain telescope with computer capability, the
ETX -105 is portable and powerful as well as being easy to use.
Includes ETX -105, AutoStar Controller and Field Tripod $2065-00
plus
shipping
What's in the Sky
This Month
NIGHT SKY
FOR FEBRUARYMoon
The
Moon’s itinerary for February is as follows:
4th
Last Quarter
12th
New Moon
15th Moon is at apogee. 406,363km from Earth and 29.4' in angular size
20th
First Quarter
27th
Full Moon
28th Moon is at perigee. 356,897km from Earth and 33.5' in angular size
Apogee:
Furthest point in the Moon’s orbit from the Earth.
Perigee:
Closest point in the Moon’s orbit.
PLANETS
Best viewing for the year will be from mid-February till mid-March in the
pre-dawn Eastern sky.
Back in the evening sky, but still too close to the Sun to be seen. Be
patient till March or even April.
Low in the North-Western sky after sunset. Mars is rapidly diminishing
in size as it speeds on it way around the Sun.
The King of planets is visible in the North at mid-evening, shining at
Mag -2.3. It’s over 673 million kilometres from Earth, so don’t try shouting!
One of the prettiest sights in the sky. Small but perfectly formed,
it’s to Jupiter’s left and very bright. The rings are easily seen in telescopes.
Named for the Roman god of the skies, this planet is almost directly behind
the Sun at the moment and is not visible.
Leading Uranus into the morning sky, Neptune rises at about 5am and is
therefore lost in the Sun’s bright rays.
Anyway, at 46,376,000,000km from teh Earth, you won't see much of it!
Does not like bush fires! They burn the toilets and hot cinders underfoot
is not much fun for a quadruped.
New
South Wales
Astronomical Society
of Coonabarabran Inc. Call Paul Cass on (02) 6842 2994. Meets at the
Coonabarabran High School on the third Thursday of the month. email: cpc@aaocbn.aao.gov.au
Astronomical Society
of the Hunter. Call Colin Maybury on (02) 4937 4664
Astronomical Society
of New South Wales Inc. Call Max Gardner on 9337 3371. Meets at The
ATNF/AAO Conference Centre. Epping http://www.asnsw.com
British Astronomical
Association (N.S.W.) Call Ralph Buttigieg on 9635 6797 Meets at Sydney
Observatory
Hawkesbury Astronomical
Society Call Adrian Saw on (02) 4572 1568 Meets at Windsor Library
http://www.rpi.net/~haa
Illawarra Astronomical
Society.
Call Darren Corbett on (02)4271 1734
http://members.optusnet.com.au/~smr
Macarthur Astronomical
Society Inc.Call Ian Cook on (02)4627 1424 email: skyview@zipworld.com.au
Meets at UWS Macarthur.
http://btwebsh.macarthur.uws.edu.au/danielR/mas.html
Newcastle Astronomical
Society. Call Vicki Picasso on (02) 4921 5861
http://www.newcastle.edu.au/department/ph/plasma/NAS/nashome.html
Northern Sydney Astronomical
Society Inc. Call Kel Eggins on 9476 1559 Meets at Riverview College.
Lane Cove http://www.easy.com.au/nsas
Port Macquarie Astronomical
Association.
Meets at Port Macquarie Observatory every Wednesday and
Sunday.
Contact Jim Daniels on
(02) 6583 1933.
Shoalhaven Astronomers
Call Jack Apfelbaum on (02) 4423 2255 http://www.shoal,net.au/~astronomy/index.html
Sutherland Astronomical
Society Inc.Call Brett McMillan on 9832 4082 Meets at Greenpoint
Observatory
http://www.ozemail.com.au/~sasi.
Taree Astronomical
Society. Contact Richard Mozejko for details. email: rmozejk@tpi.com.au
University of New
England and Northern Tablelands Astronomical Society (UNENTAS)
contact Vernie Everett
(02) 6773 3118 email: veveret1@metz.une.edu.au
Western Sydney Amateur
Astronomical Group. Call Peter Nakitch on 9835 1824. Meets at Nepean
Astronomy Centre. Werrington Campus UWS http://homepages.ihug.com.au/~pnakitch/wsaag_index.html
PROF. NERVO SHATTERINI'S
WINTER QUIZ
Answers to The Binocular and Telescope Shop, Shatterini Quiz, 55 York St Sydney 2000 or to mike@bintel.com.au. Get cracking and have some fun while you’re at it and hopefully learning something.
