Instrument related works

The library and part of the collection.
Figure 1: The library and part of the collection.
Eager to know more about the instruments in my collection I started collecting books pretty soon after I acquired my first instrument, although the pace was quite slow in the beginning. Then in the year 2000 I started studying the history of 16th - 18th century navigational instruments for which I checked many a period book in several collections world wide (most of them in the Netherlands though). Of the latter I kept a spreadsheet in order to remember which ones I had read and what I found in them. A recent donation of a substantial amount of books on land surveying made me decide to broaden the system I used. Instead of sticking to my spreadsheet I upgraded it to an internet database, allowing me to check my collection from any place with an internet connection. The entries in my catalogue are divided in Manuscripts, Books (period, facsimile and reference), Manuals, Catalogues, Maps, Plates, Postcards, Articles and Periodicals. Most articles and pre-19th century entries are (partial) digital copies, while most later works are here 'in the flesh'. Being listed in my catalogue does however not mean that I fully agree with their contents, but that - for some reason - they were useful for my research. Neither does it mean that the books I read are limited to what can be found in this catalogue. Visitors can search and view the titles of all entries, while users with the right permissions can also view my notes. In order to enter the catalogue, please click the button below. If you have questions or comments regarding my catalogue or recommendations on related titles to read, don't hesitate to contact me.


Publications

  1. N. de Hilster, 'Artefacten in Astro-Opnames: oorzaken en oplossingen', Starry-Night.nl: The Dutch Astrophotography Community, (1 April 2023). [Article discussing artefacts (and solutions to them) in astro-images. English version]
  2. N. de Hilster, 'Zonnefotografie (Deel 3)', Starry-Night.nl: The Dutch Astrophotography Community, (3 December 2022). [Article (part 3) on solar-imaging processing. English version]
  3. N. de Hilster, 'Vergroting onder de loep, deel 2: het optimale f-getal nader beschouwd.', Starry-Night.nl: The Dutch Astrophotography Community, (16 September 2022). [Part 2 of the article on the relationship between a digital camera and a telescope's focal ratio with new insights on the influence of Bayer-type colour cameras on it. English version]


  4. N. de Hilster, S. van der Werf, 'The effect of aperture and seeing on the visibility of sunspots when using early modern and modern telescopes of modest size', (16-18 August 2022), DOI: arXiv:2208.07244.
  5. N. de Hilster, P. Volman, 'Het meten van centreerfouten bij ZWO-camera’s', Starry-Night.nl: The Dutch Astrophotography Community, (20 May 2022). [Article discussing the centring errors found in ZWO cameras and a method to correct them. English version]
  6. N. de Hilster, 'ADC tegen Newtonringen bij H-alpha zonnefotografie', Starry-Night.nl: The Dutch Astrophotography Community, (8 May 2022). [Article discussing the mitigation of Newton rings in H-alpha imaging using an ADC. English version]
  7. N. de Hilster, 'Stabiliteitsmeting van een astrofotografie opstelling', Starry-Night.nl: The Dutch Astrophotography Community, (30 March 2022). [Article discussing observatory stability measurements using a fixed telescope and plate-solving through FITSalize. English version]
  8. N. de Hilster, 'De invloed van filters en objectief op de brandpuntsafstand', Starry-Night.nl: The Dutch Astrophotography Community, (19 September 2021). [Article discussing the influence of filter substrate thickness on focus position. English version]
  9. N. de Hilster, P. Volman, 'Een zelfbouw sensor voor het bepalen van de seeing bij zonnefotografie', Starry-Night.nl: The Dutch Astrophotography Community, (9 September 2021). [Article discussing the creation of a Solar Scintillation Seeing Monitor and a dedicated sensor-housing for use in a dome.]
  10. N. de Hilster, 'Het verwijderen van artefacten bij een refractor met een brilletje', Starry-Night.nl: The Dutch Astrophotography Community, (3 September 2021). [Article discussing a method to remove diffraction artefacts from a refractor using an aperture-disk. English version]
  11. N. de Hilster, 'Stap voor stap collimatie van een RC', Starry-Night.nl: The Dutch Astrophotography Community, (27 August 2020). [Article on the step-by-step collimation of a Ritchey-Chrétien telescope. English version]
  12. N. de Hilster, 'Dome control for a side-by-side set-up', (2020). [Article explaining the algorithm required to accurately steer a dome for a side-by-side set-up]
  13. N. de Hilster, 'Zonnefotografie (Deel 2)', Starry-Night.nl: The Dutch Astrophotography Community, (23 June 2020). [Article (part 2) on solar-imaging processing. English version]
  14. N. de Hilster, Finding latitude: The development of navigational instruments in early modern times, in: M. Ballarin (ed.), SIFET POCKET 2020, (Rome, 2020).
  15. N. de Hilster, 'Zonnefotografie (Deel 1)', Starry-Night.nl: The Dutch Astrophotography Community, (12 March 2020). [Article (part 1) on solar-imaging processing]
  16. N. de Hilster, 'De invloed van mirror-flop op collimatie in Celestron C11 SCT’s', Starry-Night.nl: The Dutch Astrophotography Community, (7 March 2020). [Article on the influence of mirror-flop on collimation in Schmidt-Cassegrain Telescopes]
  17. N. de Hilster, 'Collimeren met een collimator', Starry-Night.nl: The Dutch Astrophotography Community, (26/27 January 2020). [Article on the creation and use of a collimator for the collimation of the Celestron C11 EdgeHD SCT at InFINNity Deck. English version]
  18. N. de Hilster, 'Balanceersysteem voor side-by-side opstelling', Starry-Night.nl: The Dutch Astrophotography Community, (19 January 2020). [Article on the creation of a balancing system for InFINNity Deck, based on ADM components. English version]
  19. N. de Hilster, 'Fakes, Replicas and Reconstructions: their place in scientific research of early modern instruments', in: Bulletin of the Scientific Instrument Society No. 144, (2020), pp.2-11.
  20. N. de Hilster, 'Between penumbra and perception: the effect of instrumental design and cognitive limitations on the accuracy of early modern instruments for celestial navigation', in: Domingues, F.C., Silva, S.S. (eds.), Navegação no Atlântico: XVIII Reunião Internacional de História da Náutica / Atlantic Navigation: XVIII International Reunion for the History of Nautical Science, (Ponta Delgada, 2019), pp.9-13. [Proceedings of the XVIII International Reunion for the History of Nautical Science]
  21. N. de Hilster, 'Vergroting onder de loep, deel 1: hoe bepalen we het optimale f-getal?', Starry-Night.nl: The Dutch Astrophotography Community, (19 September 2019). [Article on the relationship between a digital camera and a telescope's focal ratio with new insights on the influence of Bayer-type colour cameras on it.English version]
  22. N. de Hilster, 'De overdracht van de Breithaupt PRURO', in: De Hollandse Cirkel, Jaargang 21, nr. 2, (2019), pp.74-80. [Article on the history of the Breithaupt PRURO.]
  23. N. de Hilster, Navigation on Wood, Wooden Navigational Instruments 1590-1731: An analysis of early modern western instruments for celestial navigation, their origins, mathematical concepts and accuracies., (PhD thesis, Vrije Universiteit, Amsterdam, May 2018).


  24. N. de Hilster, 'De meetketting: het landmeetkundig instrument met de langste historie', in: De Hollandse Cirkel, Jaargang 19, nr. 1, (2017), pp.9-23. [Article on the history of the surveyor's chain.]
  25. N. de Hilster, 'Het Zonneprisma van Roelofs: “aanvullend – desnoods kritisch – commentaar”', in: De Hollandse Cirkel, Jaargang 18, nr. 1, (2016), pp.2-8. [A response to an article by Prof. L. Aardoom on the Roelofs solar prism, published in the previous edition of the bulletin, with additional historic and practical info.]
  26. N. de Hilster, 'The Navigational Scales of the Triangular Quadrant', in: Slide Rule Gazette, Issue 16, Autumn 2015, pp.94-97.
  27. N. de Hilster, 'The Triangular Quadrant as a navigational instrument', in: Bulletin of the Scientific Instrument Society No. 126, (2015), pp.34-41.
  28. N. de Hilster, 'Vier eeuwen Nederlandstalige landmeetkundige literatuur', in: De Hollandse Cirkel, Jaargang 17, nr. 2, (2015), pp.50-65. [An article on four centuries of Dutch land surveying literature, with an extensive list of known Dutch publications.]
  29. N. de Hilster, Maskelyne Astronomer Royal (book review), in: The Mariner's Mirror, 101:2, (2015), pp.229-232.
  30. N. de Hilster, 'Error in GNSS Augmented Heading Systems: The Effect of Antenna Height Difference on Heading Quality', in: Hydro International, October 2014, Volume 18, Number 7, (2014), pp.17-21.
  31. N. de Hilster, 'Observational Methods and Procedures for the Mariner's Astrolabe', in: The Mariner’s Mirror 100:3 (August 2014), (2014), pp.261-281. This is an Accepted Manuscript of an article published by Taylor & Francis in The Mariner’s Mirror 100:3 on August 2014, available online.
  32. N. de Hilster, A.P.M. Pieters 'AGA/Minilir, de Eerste Zelfvolgende Tachymeter', in: De Hollandse Cirkel, Jaargang 14, nr. 4, (2012), pp.141-147. [Article on the AGA-Minilir, the first autotracking total station.]
  33. N. de Hilster, 'Hoe oud is de Theodoliet (en was de dioptra er ook één)?', in: De Hollandse Cirkel, Jaargang 14, nr. 4, (2012), pp.137-138. [Sequel to the article on the history of the theodolite, this time discussing its relation to the dioptra.]
  34. N. de Hilster, 'Hoe oud is de Theodoliet?', in: De Hollandse Cirkel, Jaargang 14, nr. 2, (2012), pp.50-53. [Article on the history of the theodolite.]
  35. N. de Hilster, 'Water Crossing Surveys at a New Level, First Order Height Transfer with Sighting Distances Above One Kilometer', in: Hydro International, January/February 2012, Volume 16, Number 1, (2012), pp.16-19.
  36. N. de Hilster, 'Water Crossing Surveys at a New Level, First Order Height Transfer with Sighting Distances Above One Kilometer', in: GIM International, February 2012, Volume 26, Number 2, (2012).
  37. N. de Hilster, 'Overgangswaterpassingen op een nieuw niveau', in: Geo-Info 2012-2, (2012), pp.17-19. [Dutch version of the articles on Water Crossing Surveys.]
  38. N. de Hilster, 'De ongewisse toekomst van museum Boerhaave en zijn geodetisch erfgoed', in: Geo-Info 2011-12, (2011), pp.12-13. [Article on the financial problems of Museum Boerhaave after the Dutch government economised on their support.]
  39. N. de Hilster, 'The Early Development of the Davis Quadrant', in: Bulletin of the Scientific Instrument Society No. 110, (2011), pp.14-22.
  40. N. de Hilster, 'The Hoekboog: a Reconstruction', in: Bulletin of the Scientific Instrument Society No. 108, (2011), pp.20-33.
  41. N. de Hilster, 'The Demi-cross: a Reconstruction: Images at a Higher resolution', in: Bulletin of the Scientific Instrument Society No. 106, (2010), p.5.
  42. N. de Hilster, 'The Demi-cross: a Reconstruction', in: Bulletin of the Scientific Instrument Society No. 105, (2010), pp.30-41.
  43. N. de Hilster, 'Pantometer: niet zo vreemd', in: De Hollandse Cirkel, Jaargang 11, nr. 4, (2009), pp.151-153. [Article on the 20th century Pantometer.]


  44. N. de Hilster, 'Master Hood's Cross-staff: a Reconstruction', in: Bulletin of the Scientific Instrument Society No. 101, (2009), pp.10-17.
  45. N. de Hilster, 'Verhaal uit een oude doos', in: De Hollandse Cirkel, Jaargang 11, nr. 3, (2009), pp.79-81. [Article on the 19th c. Secrétan Egault.]
  46. N. de Hilster, 'The MRU and SRF aligned, Part I: Solving the Yaw Angle', in: Hydro International, Vol. 12, Nr. 9, (2008), pp.24-29.
  47. N. de Hilster, 'The MRU and SRF aligned, Part II: Solving the Pitch and Roll Angles', in: Hydro International, Vol. 12, Nr. 10, (2008), pp.18-21.
  48. N. de Hilster, 'The MRU and SRF aligned, Part III: The History of the Dutch Method', in: Hydro International (web site only), (2008).
  49. N. de Hilster, 'The Spiegelboog (Mirror-staff): a Reconstruction', in: Bulletin of the Scientific Instrument Society No. 90, (2006), pp.6-16.
  50. N. de Hilster, 'Reconstruction of the Spiegelboog', in: B. Grob, H. Hooijmaijers, Who needs Scientific Instruments, Conference on Scientific Instruments and their users, (Leiden, 2006), pp.219-223.
  51. N. de Hilster, 'Bij een Jacobsstaf in een gevelornament te Edam', in: De Hollandse Cirkel, Jaargang 8, Nr. 1, (2006), pp.14-16. [Article on a Dutch façade showing a cross-staff.]
  52. N.A. Kinneging, N. de Hilster, Optimalisatie WESP, Nauwkeurigheidsanalyse van de Water en Strand Profiler ten behoeve van het rapport Toekomst WESP, (Delft, 2000)
  53. C. den Hollander, N. de Hilster, 'Serie Technisch Meten (4), Schaduwmeetsysteem Rijkswaterstaat voor afzinken Tweede Beneluxtunnel', in: Geodesia, nr. 12, (2000), pp.551-554.
  54. N. de Hilster, Tweede Beneluxtunnel, De evaluatie van het schaduwafzinkmeetsysteem, (Delft, 2000)
  55. N. de Hilster, Tweede Beneluxtunnel, Interne evaluatie van het afzinkproces, (Delft, 2000)
  56. N. de Hilster, 'Second Benelux Tunnel, Shadow Immersion Survey System', in: Hydro International, Vol. 4, Nr. 6, (2000), pp.66-69.
  57. N. de Hilster, Tweede Beneluxtunnel, Afzinkmeetprogramma RWS, (Delft, 1999)
  58. N. de Hilster, Evaluatie Taats-, Drempel- en Halsmeting Volkeraksluizen. Meetmethodiek nader bekeken, (Delft, 1999)
  59. N. de Hilster, 'Measuring the Noordersluis in IJmuiden, The Netherlands', in: Hydro International, Vol. 2, Nr. 8, (1998), pp.43-45.
  60. A.P.M. Pieters, N. de Hilster, 'Meting Noordersluis IJmuiden, Hoe terrestische en mariene geodesie elkaar vinden', in: Geodesia, nr. 12, (1997), pp.535-544.
  61. N. de Hilster, A.P.M. Pieters, Meting Noordersluis IJmuiden, Verslag van project 7436A, (Delft, 1997).
  62. Aarts, Th., met bijdragen van: K. van den Berg, R. Elsman, N. de Hilster, B. Kappe, R. Kunst, J. Pennekamp, A. Pieters, H. Wevers, Deel 23: Rapportage Baggerproeven Ketelmeer, POSW Fase II (1992-1996), (Lelystad, april 1997).
  63. A.P.M. Pieters, N. de Hilster, Baggerproef 4 Ketelmeer, Verslag 1e lijnsverwerking meetnauwkeurigheid, (Delft, 1996).


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