The Reading Warehouse

Getting the Measure of the Stars bridges the gap between dedicated amateurs and fully fledged professionals, both who seek to understand the nature and evolution of the stars. In terms accessible to the layperson, the first part explains how and why some stars have varying brightness, and what this variation can tell us about their physics and structure. The authors go on to discuss how to make brightness measurements, either by the unaided eye or by using photoelectric photometers. The book also discusses the accuracies of various methods and the limitations on projects. The final section describes possible projects, the observations required, and what these would do to enhance our understanding of the stars and the solar system. Incorporating a great deal of theoretical and observational expertise, this book is a vital source of reference for those wishing to maximize their enjoyment from the use of small telescopes.