Planetary Astronomy

• What instrument should I buy?
• How do I correctly set my camera and how deep should I process my images?
• Using WinJupos, should I use video or image derotation?
• What was this very strange detail on Jupiter last night?
• How can I undertake a scientific assessment of my data?

Planetary Astronomy is a comprehensive book about observing, imaging, and studying planets. It has been written by seven authors, all being skillful amateur observers in their respective domains.

With Planetary Astronomy you will learn to:

• Make the best use of your equipment: choosing an instrument, setting correctly the optics of the telescope, setting the camera, using planetary filters, train your eye to see all available details at the eyepiec.
• Anticipate weather and seeing conditions, to not lose any good night
• Use in depth the best planetary software: Autostakkert!, Registax, and WinJupos, how to objectively process details and colors
• Identify features on planets: each of the seven planets (but Earth of course) has a detailed chapter that will help you to anticipate cycles of activity on Jupiter, recognize dust storms on Mars, detect bright storms on Uranus or Neptune
• Analyse your data to go beyond simple observations: measuring position and details drifting on planets, making cartographies, participate in advanced observing projects including cooperation with scientists.

This is a translation and an update of the book Astronomie planétaire which encountered a great success in France since 2015.

The authors are Christian Viladrich, Marc Delcroix, Jean-Jacques Poupeau, Frédéric Burgeot, Giuseppe Monachino, and Jean-Pierre Prost.