How to photograph the moon and planets with your digital camera /

Most amateur astronomers want to be able to photograph astronomical objects seen through a telescope. If a telescope is available, even a small one with an aperture of only about two to four inches, this can be effectively done using a digital camera. A driving mechanism is necessary for any but the very brightest objects such as the moon. This consists of a motor that turns the telescope in order to counter Earth's rotation and a device that firmly holds the camera in place without shaking. These and other necessary points are explained in this small book, highly illustrated in color. Buick describes the other knowledge needed to produce quality images, such as exposure time, zoom characteristics, and size of the field of view. Since estimates of the image intensity are not easy to make, the use of a range of exposure times is quick to obtain with a digital camera, unlike with the use of film. This is a useful, step-by-step guide on taking pictures with a digital camera and a telescope of any size, and it forms a valuable addition to any library. ^BSumming Up: Recommended. Lower-division undergraduates through professionals; two-year technical program students. A. R. Upgren emeritus, Wesleyan University