Claudius Ptolemaeus
Claudius Ptolemaeus known as Ptolemy was the true astronomer. Although his predecessors Herodotus, Strabo, and Pliny described similar findings before him, we have few of their references and books left, and Ptolemy first fully described and illustrated a system of the world. Ptolemy composed a description of land consistent with observations of astronomical latitude and longitude degrees, the errors of which were primarily due only to a lack of knowledge of distances.
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Our goal is to encourage people around the world to support the magnificent science of astronomy!
Ptolemy Stars Ltd.
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Optical Instruments
Binoculars are the most suitable optical instrument for one's first encounter with the starry sky; however, the telescope is the main instrument for experienced amateur astronomers. Optical companies offer a wide range of amateur telescopes and accessories from simple instruments, available to any student, to quite professional one's which are very expensive and available only to larger organizations. The variety of special features for telescopes increases with the diameter of the lens, as does the price, so many amateurs prefer to build their own telescopes by making most of it and only ordering the most important pieces (the lens and eyepieces). Telescopes of amateur astronomers are often original and innovative, encouraging professionals to develop similar tools.
An important complement to the telescope is a camera. In recent years, the development of highly sensitive film for low-cost cameras has allowed amateurs to obtain excellent images of celestial objects. Electronic photometers allow amateurs to explore the variable stars on the professional level.
Amateur astronomers have created many useful computer programs for the planning of observations and processing of images, which they usually exchange with each other for free. Some companies produce special commercial programs for amateur astronomers including a virtual planetarium, animated lectures, galleries of images, and catalogs of celestial objects. The most powerful programs, such as Redshift and Starry Night, provide an opportunity to demonstrate the starry sky, nebulae and galaxies, asteroids and comets, planets and their satellites (including details of their surfaces), solar and lunar eclipses, and twilight phenomena, etc. With these programs, the observer can be located anywhere in the world or outer space and choose virtually any point in time of observation. These programs are widely used by professional astronomers.
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Amateurs Of Astronomy
To study astronomy today, enthusiasts need deep industry knowledge. However, there are types of observations with which trained amateurs greatly help professional astronomers. Indeed, the discovery of new comets and observing variable stars, meteors, and noctilucent clouds are all traditional and new fields of application for amateur astronomers. Many amateur astronomers are taking part in this search for life in the universe.
It is interesting to note that over time the role of amateurs in astronomy has not diminished, but on the contrary has grown. Thanks to new instruments such as telescopes and space probes, professional astronomers are acquiring more and more information that they simply do not have time to fully investigate. They are forced to seek assistance from trained amateur astronomers.
For lovers of astronomy, there are many references, literature, maps and atlases of the sky available, as well as scientific and popular books on astronomy and space.
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