Amateur astronomy is becoming more and more popular, mostly because of the availability of relatively low-cost astronomical telescopes of superb quality - commercially-made Schmidt-Cassegrain and Maksutovs. Rod Mollise's book contains everything amateur astronomers need to know about these telescopes. Featuring (but not exclusively) the ubiquitous Meade and Celestron ranges, he describes what these instruments will do, how to use them, and which are the best to choose. This book includes everything! There are sections on accessories, observing techniques, and hints and tips gleaned from his 25 years experience with this type of telescope: cleaning, collimating, maintaining the telescope and mounting; using the telescope in various conditions; computer control; imaging (wet, digital and CCD). This is the perfect book for amateur astronomers who are about to invest in a new Schmidt-Cassegrain or Maksutov telescope, or for those who already have one and want to get the best out of it.

Specifically about the most popular commercially-made telescopes - such as those sold by Meade and Celestron (both American companies)

1 Why a CAT?.- 2 What's a CAT?.- 3 Inside a CAT.- 4 Which CAT?.- 5 The SCT Out-of-Box Experience: Initial Telescope Assembly and Checkout.- 6 Accessories for your CAT.- 7 From That Very First Night: Field Set-up, Checkout and Observing.- 8 Care and Feeding of a CAT: Alignment, Testing, Maintenance and Troubleshooting.- 9 Keeping your CAT Happy: Hints, Tips and Projects.- 10 The Advanced CAT: Imaging and Computers.- 11 Afterword: 25 Years with a CAT - How to Keep Going.