[Aavso-photometry] AutoStar CCD Photometry Book Announcement

[Jeff Hopkins]

Announcement - 27 April 2007
NEW BOOK!
AutoStar CCD Photometry

Many amateur astronomers love their hobby, but wish they could do 
more. Observing is fun, imaging is great, but wouldn't it be even 
greater if you could actually contribute real data? Now, with most 
telescopes and an inexpensive monochrome CCD camera, you can. Meade 
markets DSI Pro and DSI Pro II monochrome CCD cameras along with the 
AutoStar Suite software. This is about everything you need to do 
photoelectric photometry with your equipment. Add photometric filters 
and you up the notch on the value of the data. One problem with the 
AutoStar Software is that while it is really excellent, the 
documentation is lacking and it is difficult to figure out how to do 
things. We have been working for over a year figuring out the 
software and making minor modifications to a DSI Pro camera. The 
results is a professional setup that can do precision BVRI 
photometry. This book explains how to get where we are. The book also 
presents information valuable to those using other CCD cameras and 
software.

AutoStar CCD Photometry
A Step-By-Step Guide For Doing Serious Astronomy
By
Jeff Hopkins an Gene Lucas

Now - a book to help the beginner and advanced astronomer do serious science.

This 128 page soft cover book shows how, using the inexpensive Meade 
DSI Pro CCD Camera and included AutoStar software, you can be doing 
professional level photometry in short order. While the book 
addresses the use of a DSI Pro camera and AutoStar software, much of 
the book applies to any CCD camera and software.

Learn how to take flat fields, make a light box, determine your 
extinction and color transformation coefficients. Suggested projects 
are also included.

For a limited time this $24.95 book can be obtained for only $19.95 US$ + S&H.

First printing is due the end of May 2007.

For details and ordering information see:

http://www.hposoft.com/ASCCD.html

-- 
Jeff Hopkins
HPO SOFT
Counting Photons
http://www.hposoft.com/Astro/astro.html
Hopkins Phoenix Observatory
7812 West Clayton Drive
Phoenix, Arizona 85033-2439 U.S.A.
(623)849-5889
(623) 247-1190 (Fax)
www.hposoft.com