Building And Using An Astronomical Observatory

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Book by Doherty, Paul

Paperback: 232 pages

Publisher: Patrick Stephens; First Edition edition (March 1987)

Language: English

ISBN-10: 0850598087

ISBN-13: 978-0850598087

Product Dimensions: 8.4 x 6.3 x 0.9 inches

Shipping Weight: 15.2 ounces

Average Customer Review: 3.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)

Best Sellers Rank: #2,455,935 in Books (See Top 100 in Books) #66 in Books > Science & Math > Astronomy & Space Science > Telescopes #214 in Books > Science & Math > Experiments, Instruments & Measurement > Scientific Instruments #1059 in Books > Science & Math > Reference

Do NOT buy this book if you're looking for a lot of ideas on how to build an observatory. The book is more than 230 pages long and only 12 of those pages involves observatory building of any kind. Those 12 pages are fairly well packed with information, but the vast majority of the book covers building and using a TELESCOPE, not an observatory. Very few people bother with that anymore; as a previous reviewer stated, the quality of commercial optics and mounts has vastly improved and the prices have come down and there is simply no reason to do it.The book wasn't a total waste of time but I have had very little reason to read it over the last 20 years. Because of that, my copy is going to be donated to our astronomy club library.

I received Paul Doherty's work, Building and using an Astronomical Obesrvatory last week, and have looked it through several times. It is old (1986) and much of the information is outdated, such as the "news" that the Hooker 100 inch telescope was taken out of service (in 1985). Actually, the 100 inch Hooker scope is fully functional and is in service as both a photographic instrument and a public outreach telescope. This is not to denigrate the book or its value. There are some good ideas about setting up an observatory, but again, it was using technology that is almost a quarter century old. For instance, he describes building domes out of 1/4 inch 'hardboard' (still not sure what that is). There is a really neat section on grinding and figuring telescope mirrors, which is becoming a lost art because very few people take the time to do that anymore, as commercial mirrors are much better in quality than they used to be.Outdatedness not withstanding, I will keep this book in my library, and it will be duly cataloged and placed in the growing collection. Do not buy this book for a step by step instructional discourse on setting up an observatory, rather as an interesting look at amateur astronomy from twenty five years ago.

I hope to find the design for the observatory or the drowing ..

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