From the Contents: Observation  Planning Software -- Target Planning -- Instrument Planning -- Observing Software -- Observation Sequencing -- Quick Look Analysis -- Data Reduction Software -- Techinques -- IRAF -- IDL -- Matlab and Others -- Data Archives -- Query Methods -- Table Queries -- Level-one Data Products -- Control Systems -- Instrument Control Systems -- Telescope Control Systems -- Systems For Real Time Interprocess Communication -- User Interface Design -- Software Engineering Process -- Requirments Definition -- Design Methodologies -- Life Cycle Cost -- Configuration Management.

This book covers the use and development of software for astronomy. It describes the control systems used to point the telescope and operate its cameras and spectrographs, as well as the web-based tools used to plan those observations. In addition, the book also covers the analysis and archiving of astronomical data once it has been acquired. Readers will learn about existing software tools and packages, develop their own software tools, and analyze real data sets.