This is a superb book for intermediate-level astronomers. It tells you everything you need to know about smaller-scale observatories, and how to set one up. It draws on the author's practical experience and that of many other experienced amateur astronomers.

This is the book to tell the intermediate-level amateur astronomer what he needs to know about observatories. It draws on the author's practical experience and that of many other experienced amateur astronomers. It is an ideal complement to Patrick Moore's More Small Astronomical Observatories which is a compendium of ideas for different observatory designs. This book covers the details of design, siting and construction once a basic type has been decided upon. It is written in a way that is equally applicable to the USA and UK (where there are slightly different building regulations). Uniquely, David Arditti also considers the aesthetics of amateur observatories - fitting them in with family and neighbors, and maybe disguising them as more common garden buildings if necessary. Every amateur astronomer who wants a purpose-built observatory (and that is most of them!) will find this book absolutely invaluable both during the planning and the construction stages.

Telescopes and Techniques.- The Observatory Site.- Types of Observatories.- To Build or To Buy?.- Techniques of Construction.- Finishing the Observatory.- Organising the Observatory.- Comfort and Convenience.- Some Case Studies.- Maintaining and Getting the Best from Equipment.

Two books in this series, Small Astronomical Observatories, have been widely read and used. This new book by David Arditti gives the full story - how to chooseatelescope,howtoconstructanobservatoryforit,andhowtomakethe bestofitwhencompleted. Astronomyisthebestofallhobbies;itcantakeupasmuchtimeasyoulike- or as little. In any case, you will make many friends, and give yourself endless enjoyment. Tobeaproper"astronomer"youneedanobservatory,andthisbook tells you how to set about making one. Follow David Arditti's advice, and you willnotregretit. Here'stoclearskies! PatrickMoore ix Author'sPreface Books on amateur observatories are quite rare, and most, if not all of them, in the past, have taken the form of collections of articles on particular obser- tories authored by their builders. The two books on observatories in this series already published, Small Astronomical Observatories, and More Small Ast- nomical Observatories are of this type. While useful, a danger of this approach is that it leaves gaps, and can be inconsistent in style and coverage. Discussing it with John Watson, the UK astronomy editor for Springer, we considered that it might be time for a more systematic and logical approach to be taken to the subject. Discussing it with other practical astronomers, there was also a feeling that the coverage of the subject in print had not kept pace with the technical developments that have transformed amateur astronomy, at least for some, in the last couple of decades, and that the examples in print now seemed rather old-fashioned. This book is the result of these considerations.