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Choosing and Using the New CAT will supersede the author's successful "Choosing and Using a Schmidt-Cassegrain Telescope", which has enjoyed enthusiastic support from the amateur astronomy community for the past seven years. Since the first book was published, a lot has changed in the technology of amateur astronomy. The sophistication and variety of the telescopes available to amateurs has increased dramatically. Computerized SCTs, Maksutov-Cassegrains, and most recently Meade's new and acclaimed Ritchey-Chretiens have come to dominate the market.
That means that all amateurs considering the purchase of a new telescope (not only a SCT, and not just beginners) will benefit from this detailed guide. Choosing the right telescope for particular kinds of observation (or even for general work) is far from easy - but Rod Mollise gives invaluable advice and guidance. Today's commercially-made astronomical telescopes are more complex than ever, and a new owner will swiftly discover that the manuals shipped with these telescopes leave much to be desired. Further guidance is a must. "Choosing and Using the New CAT" provides the missing information in a friendly but authoritative fashion, including imaging the solar system and deep space with the CCD cameras, video, and webcams that have almost completely supplanted 'film' cameras.
Introduction.- What's a CAT?- Why a CAT [Catadioptric Telescope]?- Inside a CAT: the different designs.- Which CAT? The Buyer's Guide.- The Out-of-Box Experience.-Accessories for Your CAT.- From That Very First Night: Setup and Checkout.- Computer-assistance: mastering "go-to", GPS, and other complications.- The Care and Feeding of a CAT: Maintenance and set-up.- Observing with a CAT: from the Moon to the Quasars.- The Digital CAT: Deep Sky and Planetary Imaging.- Index.- Appendices.
Rod Mollise is a test engineer for Northrop Grumman Mission Systems, and is affiliated to the University of South Alabama (Part Time Faculty (Physics Department)). He is the author of Choosing and Using a Schmidt Cassegrain Telescope (Springer), The Urban Astronomer's Guide (Springer), Introduction to Astronomy: Activities (University of South Alabama Physics Department (co-author), and a contributor to Night Sky, Sky and Telescope and Amateur Astronomy.
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-Chretien 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)
