Book Description

This authoritative volume is the first to present a comprehensive and up-to-date review of our new understanding of accretion disks around black holes. Interest in black hole accretion disks has undergone a renaissance in recent years because of developments in three complementary areas: theoretical modeling of relativistic plasmas, numerical simulations with supercomputers, and observational tests now possible using new observatories such as the Japanese X-ray satellite, ASCAR. This volume presents review papers on all these topics from leading world authorities who gathered at an international conference in Reykjavik, Iceland. The authors areM. Abramowicz, P. Artymowicz, A. Brandenburg, G. Bjornsson, P. Charles, A. Fabian, J. Krolik, J.-P. Lasota, G. Madejski, R. Narayan, I. Novikov, J. Papaloizou, J. Poutanen, J. Pringle, M. Rees, E. Spiegel, R. Svensson, P. Witta. This timely volume provides an up-to-date review of the theory of black hole accretion disks for graduate students and researchers in astrophysics and theoretical physics. ... Read more

Book Description

This essential reference features an alphabetical listing of every deep-sky object - 2,700 in all - plotted in Sky Atlas 2000.0, 2nd Edition. Its main section lists each star cluster, nebula, and galaxy by name, includes descriptive remarks by well-known observers, and cross-references them to their chart numbers. A second section tabulates the objects and their properties by chart number. Both sections provide coordinates, object type, constellation, and apparent magnitude. With its comprehensive introduction, easy-to-use layout, and delectable morsels of information culled from many authoritative sources, this handy guide belongs, together with Sky Atlas 2000.0 itself, on every astronomer's bookshelf. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Perfect companion
Get this if you buy the Sky Atlas.Packed with a lot of factoids,and very useful for starhopping,or "star-hoping," we call it here in the rainy,cloudy north.Each page gives the exact location of objects you want to search for.Highly recommended by my friends who are into astronomy,and by me,too.Dark skies!

A True Companion
The cover states that the book contains "descriptions and data for all 2,700 star clusters, nebulae, and galaxies shown in Sky Atlas 2000.0, 2nd Edition." I haven't checked the "2,700" part, but the "descriptions and data" part is correct. So, if you want to know what all those NGCs and such are, this book will tell you. I use a small (5") telescope and find the Companion a useful adjunct to SkyAtlas to enhance my understanding of the objects I see. I recommend this book.

After a short but well written introduction, the book presents its main section: an alphabetical listing of the 2,700 objects. Each entry typically includes type of object (galaxy, globular cluster, plnaetary nebula, etc.), constellation, celestial coordinates, apparent size, SkyAtlas chart, and magnitude, followed by a description of the object. Descriptions for the most popular objects - such as the Ring Nebula or the Andromeda Galaxy - amount to a full paragraph. Some include what the object looks like through a small telescope. Descriptions for lesser known objects may be as short as one line. Some of the descriptions will seem cryptic to those with limited knowledge, but it doesn't take much study to get up to speed.

The end of the book contains a chart key to SkyAtlas and a listing of objects by chart number.

According to the Preface, this book started as a personal database project by author Strong. As a result, it has somewhat of an amateur feel, but that's not necessarily bad. My criticisms are minor, and relate more to the useability of the book than its contents. First, I would rather have the book wire bound so it would lay flat on the table. Second, I would like to see Companion page numbers in the final table. This would make it a bit faster to cross-reference back to the main section (the thousands of NGCs take up 148 pages!). Third, I would have prefered (for instance) to have all the Messier Objects alphabetized by their M numbers, rather than having some of the them alphabetized by their popular names. This is not a knock on the authors, it is the unfortunate result of many objects having seveal names. The only solution to this problem would be an electronic version of this database. Also, I might have laid out the main section more like the tables in Tirion's Cambridge Star Atlas.

For a future edition, I would also like to see black and white photos of at least the most popular objects, if not all. Black and white is better than color at approximating the view through a small telescope. ... Read more

Book Description

Mike Lynch is Minnesota’s most popular amateur astronomer and instructor. He has been leading stargazing classes for more than 30 years as well as writing a weekly astronomy column for the "St. Paul Pioneer Press". In his other life Mike has been a meteorologist and popular radio personality at WCCO Radio for 23 years.

Now with "Mike Lynch’s Minnesota StarWatch" you can easily pick up what thousands of Minnesotans, ages 12 and up, have learned in his popular stargazing classes. With this essential guide to our night sky, you will:

-Learn to identify the brightest 25 stars in the Minnesota night sky.

-Locate the most prominent seasonal constellations with easy-to-use monthly star maps designed especially for our northern latitude

-Enjoy the stories and mythology of characters for whom the constellations are named, including Orion the Hunter, Cassiopeia the Queen, and Perseus the Hero

-Find star clusters, nebulae, and even other galaxies with handy constellation charts

-Learn about the moon, solar and lunar eclipses, planets, and "celestial extras" such as comets, meteor showers, and aurora borealis. There’s even a planet locator guide good through 2014!

-Gain firsthand advice on purchasing a telescope and other stargazing equipment, plus find listings of local astronomy resources.

You won’t find a more enthusiastic guide to the night sky than Mike Lynch and you won’t find a better guidebook to our night sky than "Mike Lynch’s Minnesota Star Watch." ... Read more

Book Description

The essential guide that shows you how to get the most from your observations.

For thousands of years, observers have gazed up at the night sky and wondered at the celestial bodies that occupy the vastness of space. If you have ever wanted to learn more about such phenomena, or just how to locate the major constellations and the planets, this practical and accessible guide will provide all the information you need. Covering comets, aurorae, asteroids, and nebulae as well as the moon, stars, and planets, New Astronomer is fully illustrated with drawings and photographs. Detailed sky charts help you to navigate around the heavens and locate the major constellations, stellar objects, and the planets. For each of the planets, there is a specially prepared map to help you pinpoint the exact location of each one up to the year 2010. A planisphere is included that shows the entire sky above your head for any time of night, and for any time of the year. New Astronomer offers comprehensively detailed yet straightforward advice on choosing and using the very latest equipment, including binoculars, telescopes, and accessories. It also show you how to take photographs of celestial objects using an ordinary camera linked to your astronomical equipment. For the real enthusiast, this book features state-of-the-art technology, such as computer-linked digital imaging. Whether you are already an experienced astronomer, or just starting out, this essential guide contains all you need to know for successful skywatching. ... Read more

Reviews (3)

Up, up and away!
Carole Stott's 'New Astronomer: The Practical Guide to the Skills and Techniques of Skywatching' is a wonderful and useful guide for actually getting into the experience of astronomy. Astronomy is one of the most egalitarian of sciences; true, the mathematical constructs of theoretical cosmology and particle physics etc. are beyond the ability of most to perform (who has the education, or the cyclotrons, to do such?). But each of us can walk into the back yard (or, if in a city, drive out to the countryside) and stand in awe and wonder at the sky above, and then begin our own searches, for comets, meteors, and other phenomena.

Astronomy remains one of the few sciences left where the average person with average ability can still make a wondrous contribution. Astronomy in fact depends upon the amateur ranks scouring the skies, for there aren't enough professionals and hours of darkness for it to be held in professional exclusivity.

This book can help get you started. It is a good, basic primer of what to do as a backyard astronomer and develop some respectable skills at it. But this book isn't only for beginners-I use this book as a reference for techniques and equipment, and as a guide for observation.

The first part of the book covers basic ideas about the sky, and how and what to observe, introducing the idea of star movement and sky maps, so that coordinates make sense.

Then it gets into the nitty-gritty (just 20 picture-filled pages into the book) of what you need to begin. From compass and planisphere (included with the book) to dressing appropriately for comfort and making a make-shift, star-viewing-friendly torch (flashlight), this book covers the bases. It introduces how the observational distances are discussed (finger width, hand width, angles, etc.), and gives the merits and proper of use of binoculars, telescopes, photographic equipment, and digital/computerised equipment.

Then, you're off!

Finding and viewing the planets are the first task. Scale and distance are discussed, as are motion and location. There is a handy chart for each planet that shows position relative to a starry backdrop for dates through to the year 2010. Relatively closer planets, such as Mercury, can be difficult to discern due to the sun's overpowering brilliance (the discussion of transit of Mercury and Venus is interesting). Discussion of phases (for Venus especially), satellites and moons, rings and colours all adds to the observational experience.

Next up-the Moon. Our closest neighbour in space, it is fascinating to experience anew by close observation with even low-powered binoculars. Here you will find out why the full moon is not the best time to view (contrary to what one might thing), and become acquainted with the various features of the moon, and which features are best observed during which phase of the moon. Lunar eclipses are explained. Of course, we never see from the earth more than one side of the moon, but because of the moon's wobble, we do in fact see periodically about 60% of the moon's surface.

The Sun is then discussed, with careful guidance on how one might safely observe phenomena on the sun. Galileo went blind by looking at the sun through a telescope. Don't make the same mistake! The sun is powerful enough to defeat many filters (sunglasses are insufficient), and it only takes a brief time for permanent damage to be done to the eyes. Don't cut short a promising astronomical interest! Projection techniques are shown, and these are by far the safest ways to observe the sun. You will often see sunspot activity from projections.

Aurorae are also interesting displays. These occur in the most northern and southern latitudes of earth. Charged particles from the sun interact with earth's magnetic field and atmosphere to create dazzling displays. Meteors, comets, and asteroids are also discussed among the solar system phenomena.

The final section deals with the stars, which, even with the most high-powered telescopes, rarely show up as anything other than points of light. However, some 'stars' are in fact galaxies, nebulae, and other items of interest, but for the typical home-astronomer, these are too distant to resolve interesting detail. But, the patterns and movements of the stars, the subtle colourations and brightness/size differences make for interesting study. Figuring out the pattern and composition of the Milky Way is fascinating. The final third of the book consists primarily of star maps and charts, for seasons and constellations, as well as what other points of interest have come into view.

Beautiful photography, durable pages (made for outdoor use), easy-to-follow guidelines will all serve to make your observational experiences very rich indeed. Stott was a professional astronomer at the Royal Observatory in Greenwich (from which our time zone basis derives-Greenwich Mean Time is centred on the observatory); she is now a full-time science writer.

I look forward to her continuing work.

An excellent read.
This beginners book for amateurs has information in it you simply won't find in most other astronomy books (ie: a complete list of all the constellations). A great reference volume and a fine addition to most libraries. Don't miss.

An excellent astronomy beginners book
This book is fantastic for those who either just bought their first telescope or just want to learn more about the stars by looking through binoculars. I am 37 years old and it did not seem too elementary for me. This book will gently guide you through the heavens in a way that doesn't insult your intelligence. It shows you in a simple way how to find planets and teaches you how to read star charts, all while giving you a basic education in astronomy. Great book! ... Read more

Reviews (2)

A Best Buy - But Beware! It's a Repeat
This beautifully produced book is a superb addition to the library of any backyard astronomer or anyone from eight to eighty. It's a best buy for several reasons.
The first is its outstanding quality. The second is the BEWARE!.
This book is actually a softcover, otherwise identical reprint of "Advanced Skywatching", ISBN: 0783549415, published in 1997, also by Time-Life.
Perhaps Time-Life used this subterfuge to catch unwary on-line shoppers that already own "Advanced Skywatching" (as I do), since you can't view the contents on-line to discover you already own the same book under a different name.

The complaint on the star charts about this book (or its twin) not covering the entire sky is not critical.
There isn't room on anyone's bookshelf for all the possible fun sky-hops, of which this book and its twin present abundant excellent examples. There are more and different, also challenging and instructive ones in another fine volume, "Turn Left at Orion", and many others.

Not to worry if you get sucked in. This one makes a fine gift for your favorite grandchild as mine will.
Add this to your "must have" list if you don't already own its twin. If you do, buy it anyhow and give it to someone special.
The price is astonishingly low for the fine content.

Very informative, didn't want to put it down
After picking this book up at a Sam's club out of curiosity I found that I couldn't put it down and ended up putting it in the cart. My companion is a begining Astronomy buff and he couldn't get enough eighther. We were reading it to each other and trying to read it at the same time. We have learned alot from this book and have put it to good use with his new telescope. I highly remommed this book to the person who has always wanted to get started in astronomy! ... Read more

Book Description

Meteorites, the fragments of space debris that survive their fall to Earth, have much to tell us. They hold the answers to the complexities of star formation and can explain the earliest events in the birth of the solar system. They also may have brought to Earth the water in the oceans, gases of the atmosphere, and other essential ingredients for the evolution of life. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Meteorites: A Journey Through Space and Time
I once thought that meteorites were hunks of rock from outer space. Not any more! This fascinating book opened a whole new world for me. The easy-to-understand text and accompanying artwork and photographs gave me a new understanding of these messengers from beyond time and space. Who knew they held secrets to the birth of our solar system and to how planets formed? A terrific, well-done book. Meteorites rock!

Meteorites: A Journey Through Space and Time
For Middle and High school students this is an excellent and interesting basic source on meteorites. It is not only informative but visually appealing. Visual learners, like many of our regular students and English as a Second Language young adults will discover learning science content to be an easy task with this title. ... Read more

Reviews (8)

My first step on astrophotography
For the very beginner in astrophotography( like me) it is all you need( at least for a while).Dickinson and Newton used a clear text adding their expereance. The book begins talking about the universe, then goes to the basic camera on tripod( comets, moon and Earth shine, star trails, etc). To follow the Earth's movment(for those 10 minutes exposures), I learned and built my on Star Tracker - It is very precise and useful because I could find the south celestial pole in my first try as I learned from page 70. As I still didn't buy my own "good telescope", I am not the best person to say about Part 3: Probing Deeper- through the telescope; but it covers all the inicial steps,adaptation, films and filters for lunar /solar photos.The last part tell us how to use the CCD tecnology:choosing a CCD camera,how to color the image and to process it.For the one who want more detail on digital imaging, this is not your book. Bad points are: it does not teach you where(all) the "subjects" are ,missing on CCD shoftware; almost anything on Southern emisfere sky. Good point: a lot of amateurs photos, showing that you can do it. Finally, this is a very good inicial book FOR THE BEGINNER ASTROPHOTOGRAPHER.

Practical "real-world" advice and great pictures
I really like everything about this book. It offers great, practical advice on learning how to take "astro"photos. Many beautiful pictures also. I am currently building my own camera mount based on guidelines in book. Anyone interested in astronomy and/or photography should get it!

Typo
The book is great. Terry and Jack did a wonderful job. By the way I am on page 64 with the camera tracker. I noticed a typo on this web page under table of contents. You have Sides versus prints and should be SLIDES verses prints.

Clear skies Gary Boyle Observer's Group Chairman Ottawa Centre, Royal Astronomical Society of Canada

This Is A Coffee Table Book Not An Astrophotography Manual.
The photograghs of the deep sky objects in this book are as amazing as they are gorgeous. Especially, when one relalizes that the photos were done by "amateur" astronomers. But this is NOT a practical guide to astrophotography. This is a coffee table book which is why it is so deeply discounted.

FANTASTIC, IS THE BEST WAY TO SUM IT UP
NEVER BEFORE HAVE I SEEN A BOOK SO WELL THOUGHT THRU AND SO WELL WRITTEN MR DICKINSON HAS SHOWN US AGAIN HOW WELL HE WRITES. I RECIEVED THIS BOOK AS A CHRISTMAS GIFT FROM MY PARENTS, AND I LOVE IT. IT SHOWS WONDERFUL DIAGRAMS AND EVERYTHING YOU WOULD NEED TO KNOW. THANK YOU GEOFF NASH ... Read more

Book Description

'Deep Sky' refers to the universe beyond our own solar system. Using binoculars or telescopes, any sky-gazer can become a deep sky observer. Deep Sky Observer's Guide looks beyond individual stars to target:- Star clusters- Double Stars- Nebulae- Galaxies.

The Deep Sky Observer's Guide introduces the basics of observing and explains what equipment is required. A chapter is devoted to each type of deep sky target. There are more than 200 such objects featured, with 126 color illustrations and star-finder charts.

The Deep Sky Observer Guide is also available in a convenient pack (ISBN: 1-55407-025-2) that comes with deep sky charts and an observing calendar. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Yet another excellent small scope book
I must confess that I am a deep sky junkie. On clear moonless (and not so moonless) nights, I can be found out under the starry skies hunting down deep sky delicacies (planetary nebulas and globulars in particular!). On cloudy nights, I like to curl up in my fave couch and catch up on my deep sky reading. As such I am always on the lookout for books on this subject matter. When I heard about this book on the Yahoo 80 f/5 forum, I decided to give it a go. So what is my take on the book....well it is an excellent guide for users of small scopes (from 60mm to about 150mm's). The book is split into the usual groups of deep sky objects....starting with galaxies and going onto globular clusters, open clusters, nebulas, double stars, planetary nebulas and even supernova remnants. The chapters start off with a general introduction to the subject matter and then individual objects are highlighted. The object descriptions are rather detailed, easy to read and most of the eyepiece impressions were done at the eyepiece of commonly available chinese 80mm f/5 short tube achromatic refractors (owners of short tube refractors take note this is specially written for you!!!). Also there is a brief writeup on how to begin deep sky observing, a list of all the objects described in the book, first arranged by constellation and then by season and magnitude. My only gripe is that the book would have to be used with a star atlas as the maps included in the book are inadequate. Also I like the format employed by Philip's/Cambridge/Firefly. The size of the book is just right to be tucked into a deep cargo pocket to be taken out into the field (you might want to wrap the book in cellophane wrap though). Highly recommended for users of small telescopes (in particular 80mm short tube users!!!!!!!!) alongside books such as Turn Left at Orion and StarWatch. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Ten telescope essays plus one
This book is a collection of essays on experiences using small telescopes for observing the heavens. The discussions range from 60mm refractors thru 5 in. "go to" scopes, including a home made 4 in. Newtownian. There is also a short essay on radio astronomy which seems out of place in this text. This book would have been served by better organization. Some of the essays have good insights on observing with these small telescopes, but it pays to look through all the essays, even for those not dealing with the specific telescope one owns or is interested in. This book was published with beginners in mind, but the organization of the book may leave a beginner confused. This is a bit below the average of books in the "Practical Astronomy" series, but a good starting point for owners of telescopes 5 in. in diameter and smaller. The "Radio Telescope" essay, though out of place in this text, gives an insight into non-visual astronomy open to the amatuer astronomer. ... Read more

Book Description

A practical day-by-day guide to observing the sun safely.

The Sun Observer's Guide is a practical guide that explains how to safely observe the sun: what to look for and how to record and photograph solar images and eclipses. The book is written in non-technical language and is ideal for novice observers.

Expensive equipment is not essential to observe the Sun, and the necessary safety procedures are easy to follow. The book describes the equipment required to observe the Sun using visible light technologies such as telescopes, binoculars, and simple pin-hole cameras, as well as non-white light devices such as spectroscopes and hydrogen-alpha filters.

How to photograph the Sun is explained in detail and includes: - Descriptions of the equipment required - Type of camera to choose - Which lenses and filters to use - Recommended exposure times.

A chapter dedicated to solar eclipses explains why they occur, what can be seen and how to observe them safely. Dates of upcoming eclipses are provided. The interaction between the Sun and the Earth is explored in detail - from the obvious (climates and seasons) to the dramatic (magnetic storms and aurora).

The Sun Observer's Guide concludes with a chapter on professional solar astronomy. Amateur astronomers will be fascinated to read about the research that is currently being undertaken and to discover the value placed by professional astronomers on observations made by amateurs. Beautiful images taken by solar spacecraft are displayed here.

The Sun Observer's Guide is an informative and practical introduction to an engaging hobby. ... Read more

Book Description

Archaeoastronomy is a discipline pioneered at Stonehenge and other megalithic sites in Britain and France. Many sites in the southwestern United States have yielded evidence of the prehistoric Anasazi’s intense interest in astronomy, similar to that of the megalithic cultures of Europe.

The authors describe the astronomical alignments at the well-known sites of Chaco Canyon and Hovenweep and present new evidence, based on recent field work of alignments at Yellow Jacket, Chimney Rock, and Mesa Verde.

Drawing on the archaeological evidence, ethnographical parallels with historic pueblo peoples, and mythology from other cultures around the world, the authors present theories about the meaning and function of the mysterious stone alignments and architectural orientations of the prehistoric Southwest. ... Read more

Book Description

Field Guide to the Deep Sky Objects is a uniquely usable guide for observers. Following detailed descriptive summaries of each class of object, it includes extensive lists of deep-sky targets which are classified according to type of object: - Stars (bright, coloured, double, triple, quad, multiple) - The spectral sequence - Clusters - Globular clusters - Stellar associations - Stellar streams - Nebulae (emission, dark, reflection, planetary) - Supernovae remnants - Galaxies (spiral, elliptical, irregular) Each of these groups is organised by month of best visibility, and within that by ease of observing. Simply, this means that you can choose a class of object, and for any month of the year find an observing list that begins with easiest through to progressively more difficult targets! Amateur astronomers of all levels of ability will find this book invaluable for its broad-ranging background material, its lists of fascinating objects, and for its application as 'graded exercises' to improve practical observing skills while viewing many different types of deep-sky object. ... Read more

Reviews (4)

Good idea but not well done, sorry!
I have never read an astronomical book that contains so much duplicated information. Many facts appear several times in different places in the book for reasons that are far from clear. Tighter editing might have reduced the page count by 10 or 15% without lowering the value of the book.

Review and Suggestions
This is a useful addition to my growing library.However, the item arrangement takes some getting used to and anyone purchasing this book should read the introductory text in each chapter to better understand how Inglis has organized this volume before using it in the field.His text is very readable and the explanations useful for anyone who doesn't want to get immersed in a lot of technical detail.

One drawback for me is that Inglis mixes Northern and Southern Hemisphere objects in his lists.I intend to add some sort of notation to indicate this.Adding the common name of the constellation in which the object is located would be another worthy addition for those of us who are truly "amateurs".

If Inglis ever revises this book, I would humbly suggest that the chapters be arranged in halves -- one for northern hemisphere objects and one for the southern hemisphere.

Another feature of this book that could be either an advantage or a disadvantage (depending on one's perspective) is that grouping similar objects (eg. variable stars) together makes it really difficult to use this volume in the field if you want to observe many different types of objects.On the other hand, I have never done any field observation that consisted of looking at only one type of object (to compare and contrast etc.) and this book has motivated me to try this technique.

A practical field guide
This is one book which I will make sure is with me when I am with my telescope at a dark site. Organized by type of object and month(s) of best viewing, this book is an indispensible guide to the various deep sky objects visible, with their locations and which day they transit the meridian at midnight. Objects are grouped as stars, clusters, nebulae, galaxies, and faint/far away/invisible. This text goes beyond the Messier objects and has objects from various sources with descriptions as they would appear in most amatuer telescopes or binoculars.

This book does seem to be targeted at Northern hemisphere observers, as I do not believe any of the objects listed are south of 42 deg S, with the exception of stars.

exactly what I was looking for
I'll make this quick... I'm an ATM and an avid astro-buff.. I've always wondered what I *should* be seeing. This book clears up many questions and puts forth a practical collection of data describing what to expect to see with moderate telescopes up to 10 inches (dia) or so.- excellent format and very well organized- great detail- gives human description of objects in text- no false impressions by giving fancy color photos- feels like reading my own notes. If you like the title... you will like this book. Definetely a guide worth having! ... Read more

Book Description

Steve Coe has been watching the deep sky from locations near his home in Arizona for almost 20 years. During that time he has accumulated a wealth of knowledge, observations, hints and tips that will help every deep sky observer, regardless of experience. This, his first book, gives detailed practical advice about how to find the best observing site, how to make the most of the time spent there, and what equipment and instruments to take along. There are comprehensive lists of deep sky objects of all kinds, along with Steve's own observations describing how they look through telescopes with apertures ranging from 8 to 36 inches (0.2 - 0.9 m). Most of all, this book is all about how to enjoy astronomy. Steve's enthusiasm and sense of wonder shine through every page as he invites you along on a tour of some of the most beautiful and fascinating sites in the deep sky. ... Read more

Reviews (3)

A real resource
Steve Coe has always been a favorite author of mine in his monthly columns on the net and in various journals. Finally, a complete edition of his finest descriptions have been collected in one great resource. It was a pleasure to contribute a few images to his work, but his descriptions and drawings made at the telescope make this book a true resource.

Book makes a good companion for deep-sky observers
Steve Coe is well known in the Arizona amateur astronomy community. His exuberant personality has enlivened many a club meeting and star party, and his great sense of humor really comes across in his book "Deep Sky Observing" as well. While there are some tips on equipment, the book is mostly a guide on "how to use that equipment to view and enjoy a variety of deep-sky objects" (galaxies, nebulae and star clusters), and includes Steve's actual observing notes and his own sketches of each object as seen through a variety of apertures during his 20-plus years of observing. As someone whose entire output of astronomical artwork consists of two crude sketches, I can personally attest to the amount of effort that must have gone into producing the dozens of fine sketches reproduced here. Many of the objects are also shown in photos taken by Steve and others. My only major complaint is that the 373-page book does not include an index, so finding a particular object in the book takes a bit of page-flipping. "Deep Sky Observing" is not only a handsomely-printed guide to a cornucopia of intriguing objects, it's like sharing 'scope time with a friendly and knowledgeable companion.

Deep Sky Observing Fills a Void in Astrononomy Book
I think that most new amateur astronomers tend to learn about the hobby from someone who has been observing for a while. Although there are numerous books on the market aimed at beginners, the fine art of observing is something that can't be written about. Or can it? Deep Sky Observing is a book, that while maybe not able to actually give you experience at the eyepiece, lets you glean the knowledge gained by the author over the course of 20 years of observing. Coe has written a book unlike any other astronomy text I've read. The book is written in an easy to read style that will answer many of the questions left unanswered by the other books you may have read. Coe does not try to impress the reader with his knowledge of technical jargon; he instead lets his experience pass along the lessons he is trying to teach. His style will actually make you laugh in a few spots. When's the last time a book on astronomy did that?

The book is arranged into 19 chapters. Each chapter title asks a specific question we've all asked (or wanted to ask). Coe then attempts to provide the answers in the body of the chapter. This approach works well as you don't necessarily need to read the book in order. It also makes the book a valuable reference long after its first reading. The first eight chapters answer questions the author has obviously learned the hard way. This first half of the book is worth its weight in practical advice on things I've never seen covered in depth in other texts. Advice on selecting observing sites, accessories and organizing of time and resources is insightful and useful and will go a long way to making your observing experience an enjoyable one.

The middle chapters (9-14) are the bread and butter of this book. This is where the reader will benefit most from Coe's vast observing experience. Each chapter is dedicated to a particular type of observing target, and after a brief introduction on what you're observing, Coe presents his observations of various objects. He uses these observations (including many of his own eyepiece sketches) to advise the reader of what to look for in these objects and how and when to best observe them. After reading each chapter, the reader will have a new appreciation for the detail to be seen and will most likely want to re-observe many of the objects they've already seen just to apply the techniques Coe presents. Careful study of Coe's observations will help the novice decide what objects are best viewed tonight, based on expected seeing and telescope size.

Coe devotes the final chapters to helping the reader grow as an observer. Discussions on binocular observing, Computer resources, Other books and public observing sessions will help the reader find tools needed to develop his/her skills as an observer and enable them to get the most out of the hobby. ... Read more

Book Description

Double & Multiple Stars, and How to Observe Them is written specially for practical amateur astronomers who not only want to observe, but want to know and understand the details of exactly what they are looking at.Increasing light pollution throughout the world does not affect the viewing of double and multiple stars, unlike most classes of deep-sky objects. More and more amateur astronomers are turning to this interesting – and scientifically useful – area. The concept of the book – and of the series – is to present an up-to-date detailed description of the objects, their physics and their evolution (part one); and then (part two) to consider how to observe and record them successfully.Double & Multiple Stars, and How to Observe Them is a mine of information for all levels of amateur observers, from the beginner to the experienced; it is equally fascinating for practical astronomers, and also for those who simply want to find out more about these unusual star systems. ... Read more

Book Description

Eyes on the Universe is an illustrated history of the telescope, beginning with pre-telescopic observatories and the refractors of Galileo, Lippershey and Digges, and ending with the most modern instruments including - of course - the Hubble Space Telescope. Written by Dr Patrick Moore CBE, to celebrate the 40th Anniversary of the world's longest-running television programme, the BBC's The Sky at Night, the book takes an enthusiastic look at the development of astronomical telescopes. It provides its readers with a fascinating overview of the way astronomical telescopes have evolved with technology during the past 450 years. Amateur and professional astronomers alike will find this book both entertaining and instructive. ... Read more

Book Description

Almost all amateur astronomers want to take photographs of the night sky. For all but the simplest star-trail pictures, this involves machinery - a telescope drive - to track the stars, essential to compensate for the rotation of the earth. The task becomes even more complicated when photographing very small or very faint objects that require high magnification or very long exposure times. Amateurs have many options according to their requirements, technical ability, and budget. Astrophotography for Amateurs looks at all the possibilities, including normal ("wet") photography, CCD imaging, and modern techniques of computer enhancement. There are sections about photographing different classes of astronomical object from the Moon to faint nebulae, as well as a thorough look at the equipment needed. ... Read more

Reviews (3)

A good compliment to other Astrophotography texts
This book I feel takes up topics that Michael Covington's "Astrophotography for the Amatuer" and Robert Reeve's "Wide-Field Astrophotography" leave off. The two afore-mentioned texts deal with the techniques, exposure times and equipment for astrophotography more deeply. "Practical Astrophotography" as the title suggests deals better with practical considerations: what to pack on you field trips, what you need for those foreign excursions, etc. This is what sets this book aside from the others. Sure, Jeffery Charles covers the basic techniques very competently, also, but doesn't go as deeply as the other two books. And he concentrates on film photography only.

Good starting book
Good book to start with, especially with its tables of exposures and detailed background technical info on optics & photography. Good descriptions of simplified focal length, exposure, magnification and other calculations.

Absolutely no information on CCD photography.

The layout of the book is not very good for applying step-by-step approach for beginners, the process is mixed in with descriptions of technical background.

Joy of star-gazing
It has been 2 years since I was into astronomy. This is a book which talks much about astronomical photography. I enjoy the content in here because it is so useful when you take out a telescope, enjoying the delight of stars twinkling... I am 16 in Taiwan, a boy who likes astronomy best. I hope I can read far more books as I want. Hope you enjoy the pleasure to stare at the very true universe of our own! ... Read more

Book Description

The latest edition of Ian Ridpath and Wil Tirion's popular guide to the night sky is updated for planet positions and forthcoming eclipses up to the end of the year 2007.With one chapter for each month of the year, this is an easy-to-use handbook for anyone wanting to identify constellations, star clusters, nebulae, to plot the movement of planets, or witness solar and lunar eclipses. Most of the features discussed are visible to the naked eye and all can be seen with a small telescope or binoculars.Ian Ridpath has been a full-time writer, broadcaster and lecturer on astronomy and space for more than twenty-five years.He has written and edited more than 40 books, including A Comet Called Haley (Cambridge, 1985). Wil Tirion made his first star map in 1977. It showed stars to the magnitude of 6.5 and was issued as a set of maps by the British Astronomical Association in 1981.He has illustrated numerous books and magazines, including The Cambridge Star Atlas (Cambridge, 2001).Previous Edition Pb (1999): 0-521-66771-2 ... Read more

Book Description

The first edition of this very successful book was a winner of the Astronomical Society of the Pacific's "Astronomy Book of the Year" award in 1986. The popularity of the book's programs is based on the ease with which the amateur astronomer can perform calculations on a personal computer. The routines are not specific to any make of computer and are user-oriented in that they utilize a simple version of the BASIC programming language and require only a broad understanding of any particular problem. Seven new subroutines in this new edition can be linked in any combination with the existing twenty-six.Since the programs themselves take care of details, they can be used, for example, to calculate the time of rising of any of the planets in any part of the world at any time in the future or past, or they may be used to find the circumference of the next solar eclipse visible from a particular place. In fact, almost every problem likely to be encountered by the amateur astronomer can be solved by a suitable combination of the routines given in this book.Peter Duffett-Smith is the author of another popular astronomy book: Astronomy with Your Calculator (3rd Edition), also published by Cambridge University Press. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

excelent but Sadly out of Time .
Although the book covers a great range of astronomical programs, its psudo-code doesn't make for easy translation into other landuages like C++ or Pascal. He goes through the program one by one,but one can't help butfeel it was ment to writen as one big program. Not for the noviceastronomer or programmer.

Excellent but missing something...
As the book "astronomy with a calculator" this book lacks the concept of tracking outside our solar system (other stars and galaxies). The fact that BASIC is used is almost bad, a better language to displayscience in is Pascal or now Delphi. ... Read more

Book Description

Here is a one-volume guide to just about everything computer-related for amateur astronomers!

Today’s amateur astronomy is inextricably linked to personal computers. Computer-controlled "go-to" telescopes are inexpensive. CCD and webcam imaging make intensive use of the technology for capturing and processing images. Planetarium software provides information and an easy interface for telescopes. The Internet offers links to other astronomers, information, and software. The list goes on and on.

Find out here how to choose the best planetarium program: are commercial versions really better than freeware? Learn how to optimise a go-to telescope, or connect it to a lap-top. Discover how to choose the best webcam and use it with your telescope. Create a mosaic of the Moon, or high-resolution images of the planets...

Astronomy with a Home Computer is designed for every amateur astronomer who owns a home computer, whether it is running Microsoft Windows, Mac O/S or Linux. It doesn’t matter what kind of telescope you own either - a small refractor is just as useful as a big "go-to" SCT for most of the projects in this book.

Reviews (1)

An hour on the web is time better spent...
Unfortunately as with many of Sir Patrick Moore's Practical Astronomy series, ones money is much better spent elsewhere. If you can find this book for under $10.00 then it might not be a bad addition to a library but it is overpriced and out of date within months of being published.If your reading this review you obviously are online, so save the money and spend your time surfing the web.Try the Cloudy Nights review sites or even the Astronomy and Sky and Telescope sites for more pertinent information. ... Read more