"Uncle" Rod Mollise, a Contributing Editor at _Sky and Telescope_ magazine, is familiar to amateur astronomers as the author of numerous books and magazine articles on every aspect of astronomy. He is most well-known, however, for his books on SCTs; especially his latest one, _Choosing and Using a New CAT_ (Springer), which has become the standard reference for these popular instruments.
Rod's previous book, _The Urban Astronomer's Guide_ was designed to help the many amateurs who must do most of their observing from light polluted urban and suburban backyards enjoy the deep sky, and has proven to be very popular with both novice and veteran astronomers.
Rod's writings can also be found in astronomy magazines including _Sky and Telescope_, Amateur Astronomy Magazine, Astronomy Technology Today, and on the famous "Uncle Rod's Astro Blog."
http://uncle-rods.blogspot.com/
When he's not on the road speaking at star parties and astronomy clubs, Rod finds time to teach astronomy to undergraduates at the University of South Alabama in Mobile. Uncle Rod shares a rambling old Victorian home,"Chaos Manor South," in Mobile's historic Garden District with his wonderful wife, Dorothy, two cats and, at last count, twelve telescopes.