Remote Observatories for Amateur Astronomers: Using High-Powered Telescopes from Home by G.Hubbell, R,Williams, and L.Billard Springer

2015 Springer; Patrick Moore’s Practical Astronomy Series; 279 Pages; Softcover, ISBN 978-3-319-21905-9

“Remote Observatories for Amateur Astronomers Using High-Powered Telescopes from Home”, by Jerry Hubbell, Rich Williams, and Linda Billard, is a unique contribution centering on computer-controlled private observatories owned by amateur astronomers and commercialized professional–amateur observatories where observing time to collect data can be purchased. Before this book, trying to piece together all of the necessary elements and processes that make up a remotely operated observatory was daunting. The authors and contributors have provided, in this single publication, a wealth of information gained from years of experience that will save you considerable money and countless hours in trying to develop such an observatory.

If you follow the methods and processes laid out in this book and choose to build your own remotely operated observatory or decide to become a regular user of one of the commercial networks, you will not only join an elite group of advanced astronomers who make regular submissions to science, but you will become a member of an ancient fraternity. Your high-technology observatory will contain a “high-powered telescope” no matter how large it is, and from the comfort of home, you can actively contribute to the work that started in pre-history to help uncover the secrets of the cosmos.”

– Scott Roberts
   Founder and President, Explore Scientific, LLC.

Amateur astronomers who want to enhance their capabilities to contribute to science need look no farther than this guide to using remote observatories. The contributors cover how to build your own remote observatory as well as the existing infrastructure of commercial networks of remote observatories that are available to the amateur. They provide specific advice on which programs to use based on your project objectives and offer practical project suggestions. Remotely controlled observatories have many advantages—the most obvious that the observer does not have to be physically present to carry out observations. Such an observatory can also be used more fully because its time can be scheduled and usefully shared among several astronomers working on different observing projects. More and more professional-level observatories are open to use by amateurs in this way via the Internet, and more advanced amateur astronomers can even build their own remote observatories for sharing among members of a society or interest group.

A very active member of the Rappahannock Astronomy Club and is an operator of the Mark Slade Remote Observatory (MSRO), Jerry Hubbell had a career as nuclear power engineer and is a regular contributor towards astronomical science. Hubbell is also the designer of Explore Scientific’s PMC-Eight system and coordinates the OpenGOTO Community. 

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