Is there an "Idiot's Guide To Backyard Optics"?

First, I want to thank everyone that has responded to previous questions, not only my own. Mainly I’m a lurker, and have learned quite a lot from the enthusiastic and informative responses here.

Next, is there a recommended book(s) for what I’ll call “Idiot's Guide to Optics for the Backyard Astronomer”? Specifically, the optics of a telescope; what terms like “fast scope”, “exit pupil” and similar concepts mean to a beginner learning to look at the nights sky.

In reading thru the threads, I’m gradually picking up concepts like fast scope (smaller focal length ratios) and exit pupils (the light diameter your eye can see), but usually I don’t understand what these mean to a beginning backyard viewer. I’ve found some websites informative, but usually the information is diffuse and hard to pull concepts together coherently. I’m a mechanical engineer, so I’ve done optics, (circa Gerald Ford in the White House), but I’m looking more for the basics with the connection to what it means, in a practical way, to viewing the heavens.

Thanks,
Raleigh

Orion's catalog does a decent job of explaining the different types of scopes as well. They used to be a little better, but even now I think they give you a very basic understanding.

Raleigh,

Here's a short article on the subject I wrote for our club newsletter a couple years ago:

http://www.umich.edu/~lowbrows/reflections/2003/dscobel.12.html

And a follow-up article:

http://www.umich.edu/~lowbrows/reflections/2003/dscobel.13.html

There are numerous other articles by our club members on that web site as well. Hopefully you find them helpful.

Doug