Observational Astronomy by D. Scott Birney

This textbook gives a thorough introduction to most aspects of observational astronomy. The first three chapters present material on coordinates, time and star catalogues. The book then moves on to the instruments and techniques used in visual, positional, photometric and spectroscopic observations. In all cases, procedures, data reduction, data interpretation and astrophysical applications are considered. Each of the well illustrated chapters is supported by a set of graduated problems and suggestions for further reading.