Double & Multiple Stars, and How to Observe Them

1. Front Matter

   Pages i-x

   PDF

2. All About Double and Multiple Stars

   1. Introduction

      Pages 3-8

   2. Types of Double Stars

      Pages 9-22

   3. Astrophysics of Double Stars

      Pages 23-32

3. Observing Double and Multiple Stars

   1. Observing Techniques

      Pages 35-42

   2. Tools of the Trade

      Pages 43-59

   3. Observing Projects

      Pages 60-74

   4. Double and Multiple Star Observing Lists

      Pages 75-84

   5. Conclusion

      Pages 85-90

4. Back Matter

   Pages 91-131

   PDF

You are holding in your hands, dear Reader, your passport to an exciting cosmic adventure – exploring the universe of double and multiple stars! These are the sky’s tinted jewels and waltzing couples, and they are waiting patiently in the darkness of night to dazzle and delight you. This is actually two books in one. The ?rst part surveys the current state of knowledge about double stars – how they are born, evolve and interact, their signi?cance in the cosmic scheme of things,and the valuable insights they provide into such fundamental matters as stellar masses and the ultimate fate of stars.The more we know about these fascinating objects, the more enjoyment we will ul- mately derive from actually viewing them ?rsthand with binoculars and telescopes from our gardens or backyards or ?elds.As Charles Edward Barns stated in his long out-of-print classic 1001 Celestial Wonders, Let me learn all that is known of them, Love them for the joy of loving. For,as a traveler in far countries Brings back only what he takes, So shall the scope of my foreknowledge Measure the depth of their pro?t and charm to me.

• Evolution
• astrophysics
• deep-sky
• observing techniques
• star
• stars

James Mullaney's book Double and Multiple Stars and How to Observe Them exceeds what anyone has done with this topic before--by a whole qualitative level or two. Mullaney is one of the world's most experienced observers of double stars and "deep-sky objects." His writing is always clear, accurate and enthusiastic and this book is no exception. Double and Multiple Stars, along with Mullaney's other writings on the topic, may end up almost singlehandedly winning over a new generation of observers to the joy of double-star observing.
—Fred Schaaf

 

...I can recommend Double and Multiple Stars and How to Observe Them to those who delight in seeing close points of light and those who can imagine the huge variety of suns they represent.

—Leif J. Robinson, in Sky & Telescope, October 2006

• Buhl Planetarium and Institute of Popular Science, Pittsburgh

  James Mullaney

• University of Pittsburgh’s Allegheny Observatory, Pittsburgh

  James Mullaney

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