Choosing and Using a New CAT: Getting the Most from Your Schmidt Cassegrain or Any Catadioptric Telescope / Edition 2

by Rod Mollise

Overview

Catadioptric telescopes (CATs) such as the Schmidt Cassegrains remain popular among amateur astronomers for their ability to reveal thousands of beautiful deep-space wonders. Additionally, their computer-assisted capabilities allow them to automatically point to and track celestial objects, making astronomy accessible to more people than ever before. However, selecting the right one and learning how to use it can be difficult for stargazers both old and new.

That’s where this book comes in. The first edition, published in 2009, has remained the standard reference for mastering these popular instruments. This revised edition brings the material completely up to date, with several extensively rewritten chapters covering the most recent developments in telescope and camera equipment as well as computer software.

Through the author’s 45 years of experience with catadioptric telescopes, readers will learn to decide which catadioptric telescope is right for them, to choose a specific make and model, and finally, to use the telescope in the field. Covered in other chapters are: Solar System and deep-sky observations; astrophotography and computer control of CATs; and troubleshooting and maintaining your equipment.

If you dream of owning a telescope or are frustrated by the telescope you already own, this is the book for you!

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9783030397760
Publisher:	Springer International Publishing
Publication date:	05/23/2020
Series:	The Patrick Moore Practical Astronomy Series
Edition description:	2nd ed. 2020
Pages:	345
Product dimensions:	6.10(w) x 9.25(h) x (d)

About the Author

Rod Mollise, a Contributing Editor at Sky and Telescope magazine, is familiar to amateur astronomers as the author of numerous books and magazine articles on every aspect of astronomy, amateur and professional. He is most well known for his books on Schmidt Cassegrain Telescopes, SCTs, and especially his authoritative first edition of Choosing and Using a New CAT (Springer), which has become the standard reference for these instruments.

Table of Contents

About the Author.- Acknowledgements.- Chapter 1: Why a CAT?.- Chapter 2: What's a CAT?.- Chapter 3: Inside a CAT.- Chapter 4: Which CAT?.- Chapter 5: Making Friends with a CAT.- Chapter 6: Accessorizing a CAT.- Chapter 7: First Light with a CAT.- Chapter 8: Enjoying a CAT.- Chapter 9: Care and Feeding of a CAT.- Chapter 10: Computerizing a CAT.- Chapter 11: Taking Pictures with a CAT.- Chapter 12: Hacking a CAT: hints, Tips, and Projects.- Chapter 13: Keeping the passion Alive.- Appendix A: Telescope and Accessory Dealers and Manufacturers.- Appendix B: Internet Resources, Software, and Books for CAT Users.- Index.

Editorial Reviews

From the reviews:

"This book covers a huge subject: catadioptric telescopes. … It’s an invaluable resource describing what equipment is available, including Schmidt-and Maksutov-Cassegrains and their Newtonian variants. … Mollise includes details of brands such as Sky-Watcher and Orion Optics, increasing the book’s value to a wider audience. … overall this is an enjoyable and very informative book … ." (Steve Richards, Sky at Night Magazine, September, 2009)

“If you frequent online discussion areas for astronomical assistance or amusement, you’ve no doubt seen a message or 20 from ‘Uncle Rod’ Mollise. … His latest book tackles one of his favorite subjects: the compact … powerful catadioptric telescope (a ‘CAT’), which comes in Schmidt-Cassegrain, Maksutov, and Ritchey-Chrétien configurations. … Mollise walks you through everything you need to know about these scopes … you can make an informed decision to buy one and operate it effectively.” (Sky & Telescope, April, 2009)

From the Publisher