The Radio Sky and How to Observe It

Radio astronomy is far from being beyond the scope of amateurs astronomers, and this practical, self-contained guide for the newcomer to practical radio astronomy is an ideal introduction. This guide is a must for anyone who wants to join the growing ranks of 21st Century backyard radio astronomers. The first part of the book provides background material and explains (in a non-mathematical way) our present knowledge of the stronger radio sources - those observable by amateurs - including the Sun, Jupiter, Meteors, Galactic and extra-galactic sources. The second part of the book deals not only with observing, but - assuming no prior technical knowledge of electronics or radio theory - takes the reader step-by-step through the process of building and using a backyard radio telescope. There are complete, detailed plans and construction information for a number of amateur radio telescopes, the simplest of which can be put together and working - using only simple tools - in a weekend. For other instruments, there are full details of circuit-board layouts, components to use and (vitally important in radio astronomy) how to construct antennae for radio astronomy.

ISBN 144190882X   Volumes 1 ISBN13 9781441908827 (What's this?)   Weight (grammes) 441 Publisher Springer-Verlag New York Inc.   Published in New York, NY Imprint Springer-Verlag New York Inc.   Series title Astronomers' Observing Guides Format Paperback   Height (mm) 235 Publication date 22 Nov 2010   Width (mm) 178 DEWEY 522.682   Spine width (mm) 14 DEWEY edition DC22   Academic level Professional / Scholarly Pages 251

		Preface
		Acknowledgements
		About the Author
Chapter 1		The Radio Sun		1
		The Solar Core		1
		The Radiative Zone		3
		The Convective Zone		4
		The Photosphere		4
		The Magnetic Dynamo		4
		The Chromosphere		5
		The Corona		5
		The Quiet Sun and the Blackbody		6
		Solar Flares		7
		The Solar Wind		11
Chapter 2		Jupiter		15
		The Structure of Jupiter		15
		Jovian Magnetic Field		15
		The Jovian Magnetosphere		16
		Jovian Radio Emissions		20
Chapter 3		Meteors and Meteor Streams		27
		Determination of R		28
		Determination of L		29
		Determination of C		29
		Radio Scattering off Meteor Trails		29
		Specular Reflection		30
		Modeling of Meteor Radio Scatter		33
		Forward Scatter Radio Reflections		35
		Setting Up a Meteor Scatter Radio Receiving Station		36
		The Antenna		38
		Choosing a Radio Channel		39
		Observing Technique		39
		More...

From the reviews: "Lashley (National Space Centre, UK) draws on his own work building and observing with radio telescopes and receivers and provides detailed instructions for building several radio detectors ! . accessible to readers with minimal background in astronomy or electronics ! . this practical guide will likely be useful to those with a specific interest in this topic. Summing Up ! upper-division undergraduate and graduate students interested in building a radio telescope." (C. Palma, Choice, Vol. 48 (9), May, 2011) "Observing the sky in the radio domain, although perfectly accessible to the keen amateur, requires dedication and practical skills beyond those normally needed for optical work. ! the rewards are great and those observers willing to follow Lashley's succinct advice will undoubtedly increase their enjoyment of the sky. ! inexperienced will also benefit from Lashley's no-nonsense exposition. ! If you enjoy a challenge as well as the thrill of discovery, there can be no better introduction to the field of radio astronomy than Lashley's book." (Alastair Gunn, Sky at Night Magazine, July, 2011)

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