Overview
- Addresses the concerns of aging amateur observers needing to adjust the hobby to suit their altered circumstances
- Introduces newly retired seniors to the amazing hobby of amateur astronomy, with advice specifically geared toward their situation
- Includes practical advice on the best telescopes and eyepieces for aging observers as well as suggestions for how to modify viewing sessions
- Includes supplementary material: sn.pub/extras
Part of the book series: The Patrick Moore Practical Astronomy Series (PATRICKMOORE)
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Table of contents (12 chapters)
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Front Matter
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Back Matter
Keywords
About this book
This book is for the aging amateur astronomy population, including newcomers to astronomy in their retirement and hobbyists who loved peering through a telescope as a child. Whether a novice or an experienced observer, the practice of astronomy differs over the years. This guide will extend the enjoyment of astronomy well into the Golden Years by addressing topics such as eye and overall health issues, recommendations on telescope equipment, and astronomy-related social activities especially suited for seniors.
Many Baby-Boomers reaching retirement age are seeking new activities, and amateur astronomy is a perfect fit as a leisure time activity. Established backyard astronomers who began their love of astronomy in their youth, meanwhile, may face many physical and mental challenges in continuing their lifelong hobby as they age beyond their 55th birthdays. That perfect telescope purchased when they were thirty years old now suddenly at sixty years old feels like an immovable object in the living room. The 20/20 eyesight has given way to reading glasses or bifocals. Treasured eyepieces feel all wrong.
Growing old is a natural process of life, but astronomy is timeless. With a little knowledge and some lifestyle adjustments, older astronomers can still enjoy backyard observing well into their seventies, eighties and even into their nineties.
Authors and Affiliations
About the author
Author – James Chen: Retired Department of the Navy and Federal Aviation Administration Radar and Surveillance Systems Engineer. Guest lecturer at local Washington DC/Northern Virginia/Maryland astronomy clubs on amateur astronomy topics of eyepiece design and optical filters. Author of a short Astronomy Magazine article on Dobsonian telescope design November 1989. Served as a sales consultant to two Washington DC area telescope stores for over 30 years.
Graphics Designer - Adam Chen: Former Program Manager of media support for NASA Headquarters in Washington DC. Creator and executive producer of major NASA publications, including the book and web-book application documenting the history of the Space Shuttle Program “Celebrating 30 Years of the Space Shuttle Program”. Currently works in marketing for Brown Advisory, an investment firm in Baltimore, MD.
Bibliographic Information
Book Title: Astronomy for Older Eyes
Book Subtitle: A Guide for Aging Backyard Astronomers
Authors: James L. Chen
Series Title: The Patrick Moore Practical Astronomy Series
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-52413-9
Publisher: Springer Cham
eBook Packages: Physics and Astronomy, Physics and Astronomy (R0)
Copyright Information: Springer International Publishing AG 2017
Softcover ISBN: 978-3-319-52412-2Published: 27 March 2017
eBook ISBN: 978-3-319-52413-9Published: 15 March 2017
Series ISSN: 1431-9756
Series E-ISSN: 2197-6562
Edition Number: 1
Number of Pages: XVI, 236
Number of Illustrations: 30 b/w illustrations, 106 illustrations in colour
Topics: Popular Science in Astronomy, Astronomy, Observations and Techniques