Textbook in PDF format This practical manual provides essential material for the extensive world-wide community of non-professional astronomersι including teachers, students and members of astronomical associations It fills а need by its provision of' а wealth of practical and experimental projects which сап be easily and economically assembled and made in the home, laboratory or "DIY" workshop. Мапу of the ideas аге quite original and instructive, well- presented with quite simple instructions, and clearly illustrated with photographs, clear diagrams, graphs and star maps. It also provides numerous ideas based оп the principles of mathematics, physics, general science and even geography as they аге necessary in or peripheral to astronomy. Аll teachers and students in these scientific subjects will fund the examples helpful, instructive and interesting. The celestial sphere Adapting to the dark How sky watching is spoiled by city lights How many stars can we see? The pole star Latitude The earth's axis Star globes and maps Star positions using a celestial globe Measuring angles A quadrant for measuring the altitude and azimuth of any celestial body visible to the naked eye The marine sextant Sidereal time Telling the time by the stars A little mathematical fun with venus — to find the approximate distance of venus from the sun A classroom model Diagram of the celestial sphere, showing the terms used Finding the radius of the earth A diy model of the celestial sphere A D starfinder and identifier The sun and sundials The sun as a timekeeper The copernicus revolution in astronomy Sun spots Sundial designs The altitude sundial — how the sun's altitude can tell us the time A calculation from the th century Making a vertical stick sundial The azimuth dial Sundials and the equation of time To measure the eccentricity of the earth's orbit round the sun The blue of the sky Getting a bearing or checking a compass from the sun Unusual variety of an equatorial sundial A portable polar sundial Eclipses from the astronomy of stonehenge Star positions, star maps, planispheres and nomograms The need for spherical trigonometry Finding and identifying stars Computers and calculators A note on planispheres and how they can be put to maximum practical use using an alt-az graticule TYPE II planispheres stereograhic projection Stars of the month and their special maps Using graphs and nomograms to solve problems of star positions for sky watchers, and for navigators Star paths across the sky Light and basic optic Reflection Refraction of light Telescopes The equatorial telescope Refractors and reflectors Using telescopes Setting circles The moon Lens formula for eyepiece projection Taking photographs with your telescope Magnification by eyepiece projection Field of view in an eyepiece Binoculars The barlow lens Observing with ease and comfort using a pair of binoculars or a small telescope Rainbows Light intrusion the bane of skywatchers Spectra of stars What a telescope can do under ideal conditions and related formulae Miscellaneous calculations The universal law of gravity Gravity and ships sailing at sea The pendulum The foucault pendulum Meteors and shooting stars The precession of the Earth's axis The earth's axis and the plane of the ecliptic Spherical trigonometry used in astronomy To find the limiting magnitude of a telescope The dip of the horizon at sea and the radius of the Earth A deep breath Spherical and parabolic mirrors An analysis of the equations of time Appendices and useful information Advice for beginners Giving a talk Glossary A note on nomograms The right ascensions and the brightest stars Useful information Suggested further reading and sources of information Tailpiece