Links & Downloads Page

This page contains several downloadable files in the area of astronomy that I have either created or collected.  I also contains a few links to other web sites of interest in astronomy.

Downloads:

If you are interested in setting up a Supernova search program, the Third Reference Catalogue of Bright Galaxies is very helpful.  This catalog contains detailed information on over 23,000 galaxies.  I have converted this catalog to MS Excel format and have stored a zipped copy of the file for you to download.  Click Here to download the 4.1 Mb zipped file.  Unzipped size is just over 12 Mb.

This is a photo [Click Here] of a dial indicator that I build to show the absolute position of the primary mirror in my C-14 scope.  It is essentially just a metal adapter which threads into the hole of the bolt which secures the mirror cell during shipment of the scope.  A 2" long finger protrudes from the dial indicator and rests on the back of the mirror cell.  This makes a very reproducible placement method for positioning the mirror and thus focusing the scope.

Links:

Research Synopsis
[Scientific Research Explained by the Scientists Themselves]
a site where those doing the science provide an authoritative synopsis of their own research accessible to the lay reader.

International Bright Supernovae Page
This page is serviced by David Bishop, et.al..  It is an exhaustive compilation of information on bright supernovae with timely information and images sorted by object.  There is also an extensive archive of supernovae from previous years and a software download page.

How to Discover Supernovae by Michael Schwartz
This article describes a logical scheme for a supernovae search program.

Kyoto University - About Supernovae
This site is part of the Variable Star Net and mailing list of the Department of Astronomy at Kyoto University in Japan.  although the site has somewhat quirky graphics, the information is exhaustive.

Observatory Methods
Dr. William J. Romanishin's excellent text entitled, "Observatory Methods".  It covers basic material about telescopes and detectors for optical astronomy, with most of the course devoted to learning about CCD detectors and learning how to use these wonderful devices to make broadband (BVR) optical photometric measurements of astronomical sources.

Cataclysmic Variable Stars
by Coel Hellier.  This is the Amazon page for this publication.  I have found it very informative and an easy read.  It is written for the amateur astronomer as well as student and professional.