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Supernovae represent the most violent stellar explosions in the universe. This is a unique guide to supernova facts, and it is also an observing/discovery guide, all in one package. Supernovae are often discovered by amateur astronomers, and the book describes the best strategies for discovering and observing them. Moreover, it contains detailed information about the probable physics of supernovae, a subject which even today is imperfectly understood.
Part 1. Supernovae facts and feats.- Supernova Physics ? what they are.- Supernovae as a measure of the Universe.- Supernovae in History.- The Top 100 Supernovae.- Supernovae ? a threat to life on Earth?.- Part 2. Observing and Discovering Supernovae.- Supernovae as visual variable stars.- Supernova photometry and light curves.- Amateur supernova hunting in the 21st Century.- The 40 Messier galaxies ? images and locations.- The Caldwell galaxies ? images and locations- The first 200 Supernovae (thumbnail mosaics).
Martin Mobberley has a BSc Honours degree in Electronic Engineering from Brunel University, and is a former British Astronomical Association President and Goodacre Medallist. He is also the author of Astronomical Equipment for Amateurs (1998) and The New Amateur Astronomer (2004); and has contributed chapters to three other Springer Practical Astronomy Series Books. He wrote the children's book Space Navigator , and has published many papers in Astronomy Now, The Journal of the British Astronomical Association, The Astronomer, and Sky & Telescope.
...Supernovae and How to Observe Them is the ideal book for amateur supernova hunters. The author, Martin Mobberley, is an experienced and much respected amateur, who has conducted his own supernova patrols in the past. His book is unique in its content matter... The book's great strength is the chapter that describes the instruments, techniques and software you need to discover a supernova and how to report your discovery afterwards. Following this is a great section devoted to several of the world's most successful supernova discoverers, describing the techniques and equipment they used. This is a book that is suitable for all practising amateur astronomers who would like to know more about observing supernovae and especially for those who would like to discover them. I wish that I had a copy of it 31 years ago, when I started to search for supernovae. It is thoroughly recommended. (Ron Arbour, BBC Sky at Night, September 2007, p. 103) "! Der englische Amateurastronom Martin Mobberley stellt zu Beginn des Buchs physikalische Grundlagen strukturiert und mit vielen Abbildungen dar. ! Das Buch ist nicht nur zum Schmokern gedacht, sondern kann auch als Nachschlagewerk genutzt werden. Ein detaillierter Index erlaubt eine gezielte Suche nach Details. Eine Starke ist zweifellos die gute und grundliche Erklarung der Moglichkeiten, die dem Amateur zur Verfugung stehen, um eigene Supernovae-Entdeckungsprogramme aufzusetzen und einfache Beobachtungstechniken und -methoden anzuwenden. Eine gesunde Mischung aus Theorie und Praxis unterstutzt hierbei." (PETER BRESSELER, in: Sterne und Weltraum, 2007, Vol. 46, Issue 9, S. 105 f.)
