Scientific Astrophotography: How Amateurs Can Generate and Use Professional Imaging Data

Jerry Hubbell, currently President of the Rappahannock Astronomy Club (raclub.org), has been an avid amateur astronomer since he was a teenager. However, he developed his passionate interest in astrophotography, and in particular, astrophotography that supports scientific investigation, only about 4 years ago. In that short time, Jerry has become known as a superior astrophotographer, amateur scientist, and mentor to other amateurs who want to foster scientific investigation in the amateur ranks. His career as a nuclear Instrumentation and Controls (I&C) and software engineer for Dominion Virginia Power has trained him well for the attention to detail and precision required for scientific astrophotography. In this book, Jerry refers often to everyday examples from ordinary life, his job, and aviation. He’s also a pilot for the Virginia Defense Force Aviation Battalion, the Commonwealth’s military reserve. His Six Sigma Black Belt training is evident in his careful but accessiblestep-by-step explanations of how to build your astronomical imaging system, choose your astronomical targets, design a plan to photograph them, avoid the pitfalls, and apply the appropriate methods to obtain scienfitically relevant data suitable for contribution to the larger scientific community. As an active member of the Association of Lunar and Planetary Observers (ALPO), the American Association of the Variable Star Observer’s (AAVSO), and as the owner of a certified observatory location I24 for the IAUs Minor Planet Center, Jerry practices what he preaches in performing his scientific astrophotography. He has had several images published in the ALPOs Lunar Section newsletter, The Lunar Observer, and his work has been acknowledged in Sky and Telescope magazine. Jerry’s minor planet observations have been published in the scientifically peer reviewed Minor Planet Circulars, Minor Planet Circulars Supplement, and ALPOS Minor Planet Bulletin.