Practical Guide to Lightcurve Photometry and Analysis

Forthose with access to even a modest telescope and CCD camera, this new and improved guide delivers all theinformation needed to take part in the scientific study of asteroids andvariable stars.New techniques in photometry continue to be refined, and expert Brian Warner covers the developing territory in detail for those both new and experienced.Updated to reflect changes in telescope and CCD technology, it also includes an expanded chapter on the analysis of asteroid lightcurves to cover some of the commonpitfalls that lead to incorrect answers as well as how to discover an asteroid satellite vialightcurves. With this information, amateur astronomers can use commercially available equipment todetermine the rotation rate, size, and shape of asteroids. Similarly, itis possible to discover the size, temperature, and orbits of stars inbinary systems by using this powerful technique. Brian Warner yet again delivers all thematerial needed for readers to understand the theory, and avoid thepractical pitfalls of lightcurve photometry. Detailed examples aregiven for obtaining data, and of course for the exciting and rewardingtask of analyzing the data to determine the physical properties of theobjects.It also includesmany detailed finder charts with magnitudes for reference and detailed steps on how to go about gathering data for specific projects without misinterpretation.Any college student or amateur astronomer who wants to go beyond mereimaging with a CCD camera and enter the challenging world of "realscience" via the lightcurvesof asteroids and binary stars will findeverything necessary in this updated book.