Viewing and Imaging the Solar System ― A Complete Guide for Amateur Astronomers

‘Viewing and Imaging the Solar System: A Complete Guide for Amateur Astronomers' is for amateur astronomers who are beginners or who want to move beyond the beginner level and develop better observing skills. Newcomers to astronomy are almost always wowed by sights such as the rings of Saturn and the moons of Jupiter, but have little idea how to find Solar System objects for themselves, or whatequipment they will need to see or even photograph such objects. This book makes it easy for less advanced astronomers to achieve success quickly by observing and photographing the Solar System rather than trying to find deep sky objects. It is written by an expert on the Solar System, who gained experience by teaching others how to make the most of relatively simple and low-cost equipment. This book presents the material in a way that is both easy to digest and entertaining. Its goal is to help the reader get the most out of observing and photographing a variety of Solar System objects, from the Moon and easily observable major planets and moons to the harder to observe smaller planets, asteroids, and comets.

Jane Clark is an English amateur astronomer who earns her living as an engineer. She has a Ph.D. in physics and an MBA from Warwick University. She completed two years of postdoctoral training at Case Western Reserve University in Ohio before returning to England to begin an industrial career. She became interested in both astronomy and photography as a teenager in the 1970s, photography much more seriously, although as her career progressed and family commitments increased, both interests lapsed. She acquired a telescope in 2006, shortly after completing her MBA, and quickly became hooked on observing. This experience made her realize that astronomy is a lot more fun than business administration. She is a member of Bristol Astronomical Society, and was a founder member of West Norfolk Astronomy Society. Jane gives talks on the Solar System to astronomy clubs, and other societies as diverse as the cub scouts and church wives’ groups; and helps with the public outreach activities of her club in Bristol.