Product Description
Product DescriptionConcise, highly readable book discusses: selecting, setting up and maintaining a telescope; amateur studies of the sun; lunar topography and occultations; observations of Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, the minor planets and the stars; an introduction to photoelectric photometry; more. 1981 edition. 124 figures. 26 halftones. 37 tables. ... Read more

Product Description
This is an EXACT reproduction of a book published before 1923. This IS NOT an OCR'd book with strange characters, introduced typographical errors, and jumbled words.This book may have occasional imperfections such as missing or blurred pages, poor pictures, errant marks, etc. that were either part of the original artifact, or were introduced by the scanning process. We believe this work is culturally important, and despite the imperfections, have elected to bring it back into print as part of our continuing commitment to the preservation of printed works worldwide. We appreciate your understanding of the imperfections in the preservation process, and hope you enjoy this valuable book. ... Read more

Product Description
Commercially-made astronomical telescopes are better and less expensive than ever before, and their optical and mechanical performance can be superb. When a good-quality telescope fails to perform as well as it might, the reason is quite probably that it needs a little care and attention! Here is a complete guide for anyone who wants to understand more than just the basics of astronomical telescopes and accessories, and how to maintain them in the peak of condition. The latest on safely adjusting, cleaning, and maintaining your equipment is combined with thoroughly updated methods from the old masters. Here, too, are details of choosing new and used optics and accessories, along with enhancements you can make to extend their versatility and useful lifetime. This book is for you. Really. Looking after an astronomical telescope isnÆt only for the experts - although there some things that only an expert should attempt - and every serious amateur astronomer will find invaluable information here, gleaned from Barlow PepinÆs many yearsÆ experience working with optical instruments. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

Not living up to the expectations
The title of this book is: Care of Astronomical Telescopes and Accessories - A manual for the Astronomical Observer and Amateur Telescope Maker. This should make clear what to expect inside the book. Actually it consists of 253 pages and is divided into two main parts, Section I, Optical Equipment and Section II Care and Maintenance, the latter being the topic. So actually only about 60% of the book do deal with what the title promises, namely Care and Maintenance.
If you buy such book you are most likely already the owner of some astronomical equipment and would like to learn how better to take care of it. So you'll be asking yourself what purpose a 96 page primer on telescopes and accessories serves. What a waste of precious space that could have been used for better information as we will see.
Unfortunately even some basic mistakes are to be found in Section I. For example 1 Ångstrom equals 10-5 cm should in reality be 10-8 cm. Ångstrom is by any means no longer an official standard measure of the electromagnetic wavelength, since quite some time this is expressed in Meters or in the optical range in nm.
It is a bit strange to state: When Amateur Astronomers use the word `Telescope' they refer to the complete set from tripod foot to optical tube assembly. I never found this in any of the forums or elsewhere.
The name of Abbe is permanently written incorrectly as Abbé. This should not happen to an author who claims to have vast experience.
Quite a few incorrect sentences can be found like Dolland and his son and Peter. Speaking of John and Peter Dolland and their work, it is definitely necessary to mention that they did not pay tribute to Hall's work even though they had great profit from that.
The hints on Point of Purchase checks are useful but missing any reference to Yahoo Groups or similar forums where a wealth of information can be found before and after purchase.
A new mathematical procedure can be found: Divide by half. That should of course read ...by two. A division by half equals a multiplication by two.
The references to certain pictures should be made at least like see figure 3.12 and not see Chapter 1. To make live easier the page number would be quite helpful. It seems the author took it rather easy as there are even some incorrect cross-references.
It seems the author has never heard about carbon fiber as a well established material for optical tubes. At least he claims that some makers are experimenting with it. Also the fact that a white surface reflects better than a black one is mistaken as better cooldown for white tubes.
Some interesting recommendations are given in Section II, the 60% of the book dealing with the topic. Breath cleaning as well as cleaning with rainwater are being recommended in different cases. While breath cleaning is not a good idea due to the pollution by grease and even smoke particles in the case of smokers and rainwater is no replacement to demineralized water since acid rain is well known worldwide except to the author.
What size does an 8 Penny coin have? It seems to be a well known dimension to the author. The Antoniadi scale for seeing is used by most observers in Europe according to the author. I'd like to know what experience he really has. Even in Europe the Pickering scale is being used.
Don't misunderstand me here, the book gives some detailed information on care of telescopes and equipment. It could be done much better, however, by replacing the Section I on optical equipment basics with lots of pictures and drawings about how things are performed correctly. By drawings I do not mean the sketches by the author showing telescopes in general as kind of an artist's impression without relevance to the subject.
The general impression of the book? You can get the same and actually better information through the internet and from forums as well as from many manufacturers of astronomical equipment. I am happy I only borrowed this book. It did by no means live up to the expectations.

The Best, from the Best
I cannot specifically review this book, as I have not yet read it.I can, however, "review" the author, so to speak.Mr. Pepin was my uncle, until his unexpected and tragic recent passing.Throughout his life, he always amazed me with both his wealth of astronomical knowledge and his adeptness at working with, and even constructing his own, telescopes.This combination of intellectual and physical skill have now resulted in this great volume, just released posthumously.It is ironic that my uncle first embraced astronomy when the death of his own mother prompted him to look heavenward.Now, in his death, he inspires us to look heavenward as well.I have observed, and I believe he would agree, that if we cannot with our eyes look upon Heaven, at least we can gaze at the heavens. ... Read more

Product Description

Astronomy provides a survey of science's growing understanding of space, including facts on space research and space probes. Packed with stunning images and diagrams, the book features:

• A wide variety of heavenly phenomenas, including distant stars, the planets of the solar system, comets and shooting stars, eclipses and black holes.
• Vivid cross-sections of the planets with concise descriptions and a chart of their relative distance from the sun.
• Spectacular photographs from the world's finest observatories and space-based cameras, many further expertly clarified by digital graphics.
• Easy-to-read monthly sky maps with symbols to identify open and globular star clusters, galaxies and planetary nebulae.
• Labeled and diagrammed constellations.
• Profiles of nebulae, clusters and galaxies.
• Pictographs showing whether viewings require binoculars or a telescope.

Astronomy is a highly recommended, fascinating and easy-to-use illustrated reference for amateur astronomers of all levels.

Customer Reviews (5)

Great pics and short, clear explanations.
If you are interested in astronomy but don't want to read a text book about it, this is a great book for you. It explains lots of basic astronomy stuff like asteroids, moons, our galaxy, birth and death of stars and eclipses. Loaded with great pictures!

Caught my Child's Eyes
Our son has a budding interest in astronomy and a nine year old's attention span. That's okay b/c he is nine, btw.This book is definitely visual enough to pique his interest in ways that other astronomy books could not.His father (the astronomer...) is thrilled.The photography is quite simply lovely and provides a different perspective on what is up there.I generally use that "other" part of the brain, but even I was quite engaged.Maybe not terribly technical, but it's a start.

Great pics
I've enjoyed reading this book.It has made a great addition to my small library of astronomy books.It has great pictures with great detail.The only thing I wish is that it would packed with a little more information.

Awe Inspiring.
This photo book of the universe, with some facts posted throughout, its spectacular. I rented this from the library and liked it so much I came on here to buy it. The pictures are beautiful and the facts are extremely interesting. The book even explains some concepts in an easy to understand way with amazing pictures. This would be EXCELLENT for any child or adult who is interested in Astronomy and would like to pursue a career in the subject. It made me want to become an astronomer just by looking at it/reading through it. It really sparks the imagination!!

Easy To Follow, Beautiful Photos ............
This book is not only full of gorgeous photos , but very easy to understand . Over 295 pages, describing in detail, everything from the planets in our solar system , to galaxies, to helpful info on buying a telescope, and more, including :
* Detailed description of every planet in our solar system.

* Development of Astronomy tools, from B.C to present day

* Major Space Centers & Observatories

* Several kinds of Galaxies, including spiral,elliptical,lenticular ....

* Dates of solar eclipses, Past, Present AND future !!

*Constellation Facts , and their meaning...

The list could go on and on , this is an excellant book for any one interested in the night sky .I wish I had it as a textbook when I was in school , it covers everything without being too scientific or dull .It truly takes you on a journey into space .Highly recommended !! ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

A truly enjoyable read, providing additional optional "real world" experiments and exercises with solutions
Many astronomy books almost completely ignore mathematics, or at the other extreme require considerable mathematical maturity. This falls nicely in the niche between those endpoints. It is a truly fascinating book, requiring only basic pre-calculus and a minimal amount of spherical geometry to appreciate, with most of the spherical geometry used presented in the text.

Each chapter is divided into bite-sized sections, averaging about three pages each.This makes the book particularly easy to put down and restart, without losing your train of thought in the middle of a section.

The book is a nice combination of explanation, optional exercises, and "real" activities, where the information presented can be used in astronomical experiments. The text, excluding exercises, is only about 100 pages long and the book can be read leisurely in a few days, simply as a work of non-fiction.If you want to gain more from the book, you can also complete the optional experiments and exercises for which answers are provided.

Highly recommended as a quite enjoyable read, as well as a gentle introduction to mathematical astronomy, even for those with minimal mathematical maturity.
... Read more

Product Description
Astronomical Spectroscopy for Amateurs is a complete guide for amateur astronomers who are looking for a new challenge. After a brief overview of the development of spectroscopes and an introduction to the theory of stellar spectra, the book goes on to examine the various types of spectroscopes available to amateurs.Next, practical sections address all aspects of setting-up and using various types of commercially-available and home-built spectroscopes. A final part gives detailed instructions for the design and construction of three different spectroscopes, along with the necessary design theory (minimal math). The home-made spectroscopes have performance capabilities near or equal to commercial units but are constructed using basic hand tools for a fraction of the cost!This up-to-date practical spectroscopy book will enable amateur astronomers to develop the skills and equipment needed to prepare scientifically acceptable spectra data, and to make a valuable contribution to ProAm projects. ... Read more

Product Description
Your Passport to the Universe

The night sky is alive with many wonders––distant planets, vast star clusters, glowing nebulae, and expansive galaxies, all waiting to be explored.Let respected astronomy writer Philip Harrington introduce you to the universe in Star Watch, a complete beginner’s guide to locating, observing, and understanding these celestial objects. You’ll start by identifying the surface features of the Moon, the banded cloud tops of Jupiter, the stunning rings of Saturn, and other members of our solar system. Then you’ll venture out beyond our solar system, where you’ll learn tips and tricks for finding outstanding deep-sky objects from stars to galaxies, including the entire Messier catalog––a primary goal of every serious beginner.

Star Watch features a detailed physical description of each target, including size, distance, and structure, as well as concise directions for locating the objects, handy finder charts, hints on the best times to view each object, and descriptions of what you’ll really see through a small telescope or binoculars and with the naked eye.

Star Watch will transport you to the farthest depths of space––and return you as a well-traveled, experienced stargazer. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (23)

Amateur astronomy for the novice
Getting started in amateur astronomy is not the easiest task at first, but Harrington's book helps a lot.He gives a good introduction to "star hopping," which I appreciate very much.He also rates the many celestial objects out there as to ease of locating and what he calls "wow factor."It helps get a novice going at the start when everything is unfamiliar and you aren't completely sure what you are doing.There is an amazing universe out there, and Harrington wants to help you see its tremendous beauty.I recommend it.

Great for intermediate observers
This isn't for beginners just starting out.I got this a few month's into observing, but I was pretty dedicated in learning.Most beginners might find this a bit too advanced.

I have an 8" dob and live between San Francisco and San Jose, which is not a very ideal location.So even though this book will divide expectations between binos, small scopes, and medium scopes (an 8" is considered medium), in light-polluted skies, a "medium" scope will see what a small one (3" - 4") in darker skies.

Once you have your expectations set straight, then Harrington's descriptions are about right.

Pros:
1) GREAT guide to learn starhopping for the Messier objects + others.
2) Great illustrations for expected views, not like the photos we all see.
3) Well organized by season and constellations
4) Includes selected double stars and constellation lore

Cons:
1) The book's pages and binding are not conducive to being used outdoors at night.It may be ruined from dew and bending.


Tips:
1) You really need an 8" in light polluted skies to see the objects in this book decently well, or you need darker skies with a smaller scope.
2) You NEED a good finder.I have a 9x50 and it works well with the guide stars in this book, even in my light polluted skies.A 5x24 or 6x30 in most beginner scopes will be inadequate and you'll be frustrated because you won't be able to see the guide stars referenced.
3) Ideally, you'll need a good view to the south to see all objects in this book.

My favorite book!!
It is an excellent book!!! I recommend it.. It is now my favorite book for the observation of objects of deep sky.

Star Watch (Philip Harrington): A Beginners Review for Beginners
Preface and Introduction

If like me you've come across this title as a beginner in astronomy than you probably are interested in getting some equipment and some literature to help you learn more about the night sky.I would even bet you like me got started by simply being amazed at what the starry looks like at night when it's truly dark.No telescope, no binoculars or anything just the awe and amazement.

I really wanted to take a moment and make this post for those who are just like me and just getting started, those who are lost on what equipment to purchase or which books to consider.These two choices alone can be very overwhelming.

No review is any good without some knowledge of the reviewer.My name is Tim and I'm 28 years old.My knowledge of astronomy is very limited where as I can name a few of the more prominent constellations and understand the basics of the Moon.That's really about it.I have always been fascinated with space and enjoy television shows about space.So take this into account when you read my mini-review here.This truly is a beginner speaking and I hope to offer insights that other beginners will find helpful and useful.



About the Book

Star Watch by Philip S. Harrington is a paperback book of 304 pages and measures 9.25-inches by 7.50-inches.Its a nice size book and fits easily in the lap and the hands.The binding seems to be of good quality and the pages are a nice medium weight.The book contains many black-and-white photographs (more on this below) as well as star charts for each season and other various diagrams.It is by design a guide to "Finding, Observing and Learning about Over 125 Celestial Objects" as the title accurately describes.



Review Topics

I'm going to offer my thoughts on this book in these specific categories: Purpose, Content, Readability, Photographs and Visual Aids, Layout and Overall Thoughts.



Purpose: Does this book meet its objective for the reader?

What I want to discuss here is does this book make good on what it claims to do (help you find and learn about things in space).In my opinion yes it does.Other than knowing a few constellations I don't know much about the sky that I can see.This book helps immensely with that.Star Watch helps you find the objects by naming the constellation to start in and then general "directions" to get to the object.As if someone game you their address, they would give you the house number, street name, city name, then state and so forth.This book does this process in reverse to get you zeroed in on the objective.You will be guided to a constellation, then directed within that constellation to the area of that you are looking for.This book sets out to get you to the objects and does this in a simple to use fashion.I've had good success finding things.



Content: What's covered?

Star Watch covers many objects over 125 and more than that it covers a nice diversity of different types of objects.You will not be just looking at planets, or just the moon.But rather a mix of different space objects.This alone really helps to teach about how diverse space really is.More than little light specs space holds many different and unique things to see and explore and Star Watch will help get you there.



Readability: How is reading the book?

I would like to say that this book is made to be a guide rather than a fun space facts reading book but please don't let this detract from this book at all.In fact I find this book a good balance between a strict guide and fun fact trivia book.If you want a colorful flashy book for the coffee table that showcases the magic about space (but can't take you there) than this book is not for you.However if you wonder what is up there, want to learn about it then actually see it yourself than this book is exactly what you want.Star Watch does a good job of teaching you about what it will help you find and see.

The layout of this book is also a welcome tool for learning.The first few chapters the reader can basically read through in order.They cover the basics and help set the foundation for your viewing sessions.The later parts of the book are set up by seasons, which makes it a valuable tool and more of a reference style reading material.Very helpful here is where you will skip to your particular season and start looking for things.

Each season is divided into Sky Windows and they again go into more detail of the skies.The layout really does work well.Skip to which season you are currently in and then start from there.Star Watch does a good job of telling what you will see and when.

On the other side of that coin Star Watch also contains a catalog of the Messier Objects (object first observed and cataloged by Charles Messier) and a catalog of the planets and constellations.These are strictly reference materials and very helpful.



Photographs and Visual Aids

I really appreciate that Star Watch has used black-and-white photographs.Why?Simple because the view I see through my binoculars is also black-and-white!This really helps me to get an idea of what I should see through my viewing equipment.The star charts are black dots on white background (think a negative of the night sky) but still they are quite readable and useful.Not every object is pictured but every object is given ample descriptive remarks.There are more than enough photographs in this book to help get you going.

Also found in Star Watch are a wide variety of star charts and constellation diagrams.These too work very well and with the photographs help dial the viewer on the destination.I also like the included tables that offer even more information on objects and other neat facts.

This book is much more than text but not a strict visual book either.I am quite pleased with this aspect.



Layout

Like I said above the first few chapters are read in order and serve to ground you on the start of your journey.Other parts of the book offer strict diagrams and other offer season guides to be used with what ever season you are currently in.The layout is quite good and easy to navigate.

What I really like is that each object has its own section and has its own rating on how easy it is to find with both binoculars and telescopes as well as the "wow factor" for how impressive it will look.

This guide is a great balance between guide and fun reading.



Overall Thoughts

This is my very first astronomy book and I must say it's a great introduction to this hobby.Currently I'm strictly a binocular user so I wanted a book that wasn't mostly about telescopes.Admit it when you think astronomy you think telescopes, so do a lot of authors.But Star Watch is great because it breaks things down for the binocular user, the small telescope user and the large telescope user and lays out what each one of those will see.If anything this book makes it more tempting to get a telescope too, but I would recommend binoculars first.

This book is a great companion of my binoculars.Binoculars are by their design more suited for sweeping the sky in search of objects.That alone makes binoculars the best choice for the beginners who like me are learning the sky.While you may get more magnification with a telescope, binoculars will help you learn the sky faster and easier because you can sweep the heavens far easier.

Also binoculars offer a wide field of view that make them great for the star clusters and Nebula that Star Watch will point you to.I highly recommend this book and a decent pair of binoculars.Later when you get a telescope this book will move right along with you (not every single object is viewable with binoculars).

Star Watch by Philip Harrington and binoculars has been my first step into astronomy and it has been a great one.I highly recommend this book to compliment you binoculars especially, but this book is also just as valuable to you folks with your first telescope.Either way Star Watch will get you out there and guide you to amazing things.Great for the beginner and a title that I'm sure will grow with you as your skills improve.Highly recommended!

A must for stargazing
A must read for the beginner and amateur stargazer. Easy answers to basic questions and easy to follow guide to begin enjoying the new interest.
A must for any library and for the person thinking of first telescope and what to do. ... Read more

Product Description
Serious amateur astronomers often wonder how to find new minor planets, comets and novae and would like to know how to use photoelectric detectors to derive the temperatures of stars. These issues along with predicting future eclipses and the occultations of stars by minor planets are topics covered in this authoritative and wide-ranging guide. For each topic, sound practical methods of observation and the scientific background are given to facilitate better observations. Guidelines also show how to record and catalog observations using the recognized professional terminology and classification schemes. From the simplest pencil drawings of the moon to observations of the most distant galaxies with state-of-the-art CCD cameras and photoelectric photometers, this guide is packed with practical tips for all types of amateur observations. Volume 2 covers aurorae, meteors, double and multiple stars, variable stars, deep sky objects, novae, and supernovae. ... Read more

Product Description
Based on field notes made by Michael Covington throughout his career as an amateur astronomer, this guide covers both the traditional and novel approaches to studying the night sky. In addition to the more standard techniques, it discusses the latest modern resources available to today's astronomer, such as personal computers, the internet, and computerized telescopes. Covington includes practical advice on site selection and weather; detailed instructions for observing the Sun, Moon, planets, and deep-sky objects; and newer specialities such as satellite observing and the use of astronomical databases. Written to complement How to Use a Computerized Telescope, this book appeals to astronomers with more traditional equipment.Michael A. Covington is an associate research scientist at the University of Georgia.He is a computational linguist trained in the computer processing of human languages and the computer modeling of human logical reasoning, and a widely recognized expert on the Prolog programming language.He is the author of nine books including Dictionary of Computer and Internet Terms, Seventh Edition (Barron's, 2000), Astrophotography for the Amateur (Cambridge, 1999), PROLOG Programming in Depth (Simon & Schuster, 1996), Cambridge Eclipse Photography Guide (1993), and Syntactic Theory in the High Middle Ages (Cambridge, 1985). A senior member of the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers, Covington is a Contributing Editor to, and former "Q&A" columnist of Poptronics magazine. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

Just "Very Good" , notPerfect!
I have been buying alot of astronomy and telescope books of late--primarily to augment my new telescope. This is one of the better ones , since it is really much more substantive than the "cheerleading" books that are more useful at gracing the coffee table than the accessory tray of a telescope in use. The major plus feature for me is the format of the illustrations , which show the objects through a mirror type diagonal. Most , if not all , observations by amateur astronomers use this convention these days. The author goes into adequate detail on double star observing : measurement of position angle and seperationare very well explained.

My only criticism is the assumption that all users will be using computerized telescopes , and completely ignores those of us who "star hop" by choice , and not necessity. The lack of star hopping descriptions downgrades my rating to a strong 4 stars.

Highly recommended.

I've got a "Go To" scope, now what?
Looking for objects to look at with your computerized "Go To" telescope? Michael Covington, author of "Astrophotography for the Amateur" and "How to Use a Computerized Telescope" has a few suggestions. In this second volume of Cambridge's Practical Amateur Astronomy series he suggests various targets and observing programs. But that is not all. Also are tips on how to get the most out of various sources to identify the object of interest from various catalogs or atlases and to be able to tell a "Go To" telescope how to point to it. Probably the most useful pages in the book are the Bayer/Flamsteed to SAO cross-index and the GVCS constellation codes and star numbers.

Chapters:
PART I - Amatuer astronomy
1. Using this book effectively
2. Observing sites and conditions
3. The Moon, the Sun, and eclipses
4. The planets
5. Comets, asteroids (minor planets), and artificial satellites
6. Constellations
7. Stars - identification, nomenclature, and maps
8. Stars - physical properties
9. Double and multiple stars
10. Variable stars
11. Clusters, nebulae, and galaxies
PART II - 200 interesting stars and deep-sky objects
12. How these objects were chosen
13. The January-February sky (R.A. 6h-10h)
14. The March-April sky (R.A. 10h-14h)
15. The May-June sky (R.A. 14h-18h)
16. The July-August sky (R.A. 18h-22h)
17. The September-October sky (R.A. 22h-2h)
18. The November-December sky (R.A. 2h-6h)
Appendices
A. Converting decimal minutes to seconds
B. Precession from 1950 to 2000
C. Julian date, 2001-2015

The logical follow up for "How to Use a Computerized Telescope", this volume shows one how to use the various sources available to find the objects one is interested in studying. If I had this book when I first bought my LX200, I would have developed better habits in planning my observing sessions by being able to identify objects in the manner that the telescope has them identified in its database to find them quicker to allow more time for study and or imaging. ... Read more

Product Description
"Fred Schaaf is one of the most experienced astronomical observers of our time. For more than two decades, his view of the sky--what will be visible, when it will be visible, and what it will look like--has encouraged tens of thousands of people to turn their eyes skyward."
--David H. Levy, Science Editor, Parade magazine, discoverer of twenty-one comets, and author of Starry Night and Cosmic Discoveries

"Fred Schaaf is a poet of the stars. He brings the sky into people's lives in a way that is compelling, and his descriptions have all the impact of witnessing the stars on a crystal clear dark night."
--William Sheehan, coauthor of Mars: The Lure of the Red Planet and The Transits of Venus

The night sky holds endless fascination for anyone who chooses simply to look up and observe, but with so much to see, it can be difficult to know where to start. This remarkable book introduces you to the fifty best sights in astronomy and tells you exactly how to see them. In no time at all, you will learn how to find and appreciate the Orion group of constellations; the Summer Triangle; Venus, Jupiter, and Mars; the best meteor showers; man-made satellites; star clusters; novae; variable stars; and more.

The sights are presented according to the field of view necessary to see them. Your eyes and a clear night sky are all you need to view the sights in the first part of the book, before moving on to those that can be observed through binoculars and, finally, a telescope. Concise descriptions and explanations of these spectacular visual wonders will deepen your appreciation of them and spur further exploration. You will also find the essential basic information on astronomical observation you need to get started, including observing conditions, techniques, telescopes, and astronomical measurements.

Once you start gazing, you'll see that the sky really is the limit--and discovering its amazing treasures will become your lifetime passion. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

The Joy of "Just Looking"
I was introduced to amateur astronomy about six years ago, and have recently realized that "I just enjoy looking." I didn't enjoy trying to take astro-photographs or much of the science, certainly not the chemistry! I just want the "WOW" factor, as Dean Koenig describes it.I think Fred Schaaf's recent book, 50 Best Sights in Astronomy and How to See Them, was written just for me (ISBN: 978-0-471-69657-5, $19.95 MSR in paper, available on Amazon).

My library has some 18 other books on astronomy, and I've used many - some have a large number of tables (even the chemical composition of stars, asteroids, and the like) and most have star charts, many have diagrams of both telescopes and azimuth and equatorial systems and even graphs of comparative radiations - after all, science is important. I use some of them occasionally to determine a particular fact and to confirm what I have in my telescope, but few of them (other than those with color pictures) qualify as "enjoyment reading." But Schaaf is truly the "poet of the stars" that William Sheehan has called him, and has written a book that is as enjoyable to read on a cloudy night as a rainy afternoon.

Consider his Sight 13 - Bright Comet with Long Tail:"Of all the wonders in the heavens, there are two that have inspired fear and awe more often than any others: eclipses and comets. ... There is a central reason that comets were feared by our ancestors: of all the heavens' major kinds of sights, comets seemed to be the only ones that were spectacularly unpredictable and variable." Or, his Sight 26 - The Pleiades: "Everyone is first awed b y the strangeness and splendor, then moved to affection by the gentle loveliness of the Pleiades. Almost every culture in the world and throughout history has imagined the cluster as something gentle and delicate - a group of maidens, a flock of doves, or a mother hen and its chicks."

Schaaf has organized his book by Sights from the widest to narrowest view - starting, justly, with the entire night sky, 180, as Astronomy's Greatest Sight, and moving to 100, naked-eye scans, to 50 to 15 groupings, and then to 15 to 1 and finally less than 1. For the novice he quickly explains what is necessary, telescopes or binoculars, for enjoyable viewing and relates personal stories as to his own viewings. I think those personal stories are some of the best parts of his book (although he does include a few spectacular color plates for the truly visual of us). The method of organizing by size of the Sight works very well.

If you've forgotten the joy that can come from "just looking" at the heavens, 50 Best Sights is a wonderful way to recover the awe and appreciation for their beauty. A good pair of binoculars and a planisphere,are all that is necessary to enjoy most of Schaaf's Sights; a small quality rich field scope works for many of the rest. A "big" scope isn't necessary to "just look." ... Read more

Product Description

Many amateur astronomers are short of time. A full-time career usually takes up most waking hours, and there very often simply isn’t time for leisurely observing sessions, at least a few hours’ sleep being something of an imperative during the week. Fortunately, modern technological advances such as computer-controlled telescopes equipped with GPS, north-seeking and level detection, have made setting up a telescope much quicker. Today’s imaging systems enable time-pressed astronomers to take excellent astrophotographs of many objects without the hours-long exposures that used to be a feature of this aspect of astronomy. This book explains what to attempt in a short timescale (and what not to), and how to use today’s top-value commercially-made equipment to get the most astronomy out of the least time.

Make Time for the Stars showcases a wide array of quickly performed astronomical projects, including various novel or new approaches to observing. There are also useful tips for maximizing and enhancing the user’s time at the telescope, extracting optimal performance, efficient set-up, and easily carried out optical maintenance. Significantly, the book features detailed information on alternative imaging techniques, which can provide exceptional levels of realism for far simpler and less time-consuming effort.

There is also guidance on equipment, such as, what to look for and also what to avoid, so that the reader may acquire only what is appropriate, and not more, for the kind of results he/she may have in mind. A wide range of available budgets is taken into account.

The book concludes with a guide for the efficient organization of deep-space observing (an area which is often frustrating and unproductive when time is limited), easy daytime observing projects, and an extensive Internet resource section.

Customer Reviews (1)

Another Great Book by Antony Cooke!
I now own all 3 astronomy books by Mr. Cooke: "Visual Astronomy in the Suburbs", Visual Astronomy Under Dark Skies", and most recently "Make Time for the Stars".All three of these books I would consider to be invaluable to anyone even slightly interested in astronomy.Mr. Cooke is always concise and always interesting.The latest volume, "Make Time for the Stars" is (presently) my favorite, although the other two (all three are part of Patrick Moore's "Practical Astronomy" series) are every bit as good!What a wonderful addition to any astronomer's book collection!It makes a great gift! ... Read more

Product Description
This book to explains how the astronomer can investigate the sky without the need for a telescope, expensive materials, or complicated mathematics. The subjects covered include: making different types of sundials; measuring the stars' positions; telling time by the stars; making a simple planetarium; predicting the motions of the moon and planets. ... Read more

Product Description
Transient phenomena are short-lived astronomical events, unusual in a science in which time is more often measured in millennia than milliseconds. There is a fascination with transient phenomena, predictable or otherwise, that astronomers of all abilities share. In Meteors, Comets, Supernovae, Neil Bone gives guidelines for observers, including the best possible periods (months or years) to see seasonal but unpredictable phenomena like meteors and sunspots. Recording such outbursts involves visual observing techniques, photography, and even the relatively new field of the video recording of meteors, which are also examined in detail. The book also includes material about phenomena that occur in the lower atmosphere (such as "ozone eaters", nacreous clouds, solar and lunar haloes), which although not strictly astronomical in their nature attract the attention of dedicated sky-watchers. ... Read more

Product Description
The Sky at Night book series, formerly published by Philips, documents the 40 most recent episodes of Sir Patrick Moore's record-breaking TV program of the same name. This program is the only major long-running TV program featuring astronomy topics in both the U.S. and the U.K. Each episode reviews current events and hot topics in the field of astronomy.As in the twelve earlier volumes, each of the episodes has been re-written into short, punchy essays from the past four years of broadcasting. Each chapter covers the subject of a particular show in The Sky at Night TV series. As such, this book presents a synopsis of the most significant events in astronomy during this 40-episode period.Patrick Moore has fans the world over, for whom these volumes are essential reading. The Sky at Night programs (and, of course, the books) feature many of the greatest living astronomers, astrophysicists, cosmologists, and astronauts - people such as Sir Martin Rees (President of the U.K.'s prestigious Royal Society, and Astronomer Royal), Prof. Gerry Gilmore, astronaut Eugene Cernan, and many more. Chris Lintott, the co-star of the latest episodes of Sky at Night, has a massive fan base that derives equally from The Sky at Night and from his paradigm-shifting astronomy website Galaxy Zoo, which has some 150,000 members. ... Read more

Product Description
In the ten years since this award-winning book was originally written by Michael Porcellino, the field of astronomy and its discoveries has grown by leaps and bounds. From the astounding images sent back by the Hubble Space Telescope, to the bright comet Hale-Bopp from the fleet of Martian probes, to the long-distance explorations of the Moon, Jupiter, Venus and Saturn--the universe has become more accessible than ever. And thanks to this revised and thoroughly updated new edition by astronomer and science writer, Patricia Barnes-Svarney, anyone with an interest can delve into its wonders.

From the very close up to the far reaches of space, THROUGH THE TELESCOPE presents a uniquely "user-friendly" view of the universe, and offers both novice and advanced amateur astronomers some of the best tools available to watch the nighttime skies.

You'll learn all about:* Setting up a good, user-friendly telescope system* How to look at the universe in order to really see it* Upgrading your telescope for peak performance* How to spot a star cluster, a nebulaOeven a supernova* Forming your own network of amateur astronomers.

Complete with a web site appendix and fully updated charts on eclipses and planetary oppositions well into the year 2000, this edition of an acclaimed book will be an invaluable users guide for aspiring astronomers entering the new millennium. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (5)

Excellent guide
This is an excellent guide for the amateur astronomer, with copious information on both what to look at in the sky and what to buy to do so, including both binoculars and telescopes. It has copious information on every aspect of skywatching, down to the best filters to view the various planets through. It's very supportive of amateur astronomy, consistently pointing out the contributions that amateurs have made and continue to make to the science (one of the few sciences where this is still possible).

Quibbles: a few formatting problems, where the formatting notation shows up instead of italics or whatever was intended. And they repeat the urban legend about Galileo going blind from observing the sun (though admittedly I just recently found out that this is mistaken).

Other than that, it's an excellent book, though more of a reference than a "sit-down-and-read" book, which is what I did with it, at least for now.

Meanwhile, I wonder if some of the other reviews (below) apply to the earlier edition of the book, since I did not encounter the same problems.

A poor excuse for a book on amateur astronomy
I pity the novice who purchases this book with the intention of learning about amateur astronomy.The book is a demonstration of what happens when someone rushes it to publication, does not KNOW the subject and builds poorly on a work that wasn't very good in the first place. There are so many terrifically awful errors in this book, it would take another book to document them.Pictures of microscopes where telescopes shouldbe, refractor telescopes described as Dobsonians, etc, etc.The illustration/pictures are also slipshod, out of focus and poorly rendered.I cannot believe a suposedly reputable publishing house could release this "joke" of a text on amateur astronomy.It should be withdrawn from the market NOW and burned. -Richard Anderson

Badly in need of copy editing
It's amazing McGraw-Hill let this one out at all.There are typographical and syntactical errors on almost every page.I can't comment on technical accuracy, as I am a beginner at astronomy.But I do know when I've seenthe same photograph twice with different, and inconsistent, captions.Thepublisher did a real disservice to the author of this edition--and to thememory of the author of the original version--by rushing this to marketwithout at least showing it to a copy editor.

Warning: bad book!
This is the worst astronomy book I've encountered in forty years as an amateur astronomer!It is full of errors and has some of the poorest illustrations (out-of-focus, incorrectly labeled) I've ever seen in a commercial publication.Anyone interested in buying and using telescopeswould be much better served by NightWatch by Terence Dickinson, TheBackyard Astronomer's Guide by Dickinson and Dyer, or Phil Harrington'sStar Ware.

Excellent reference book
As an amateur in astronomy, I found this book very educative. It covers all aspects of astronomy - from naked eye view of the sky to deep space objects, binocular to large telescope obesrvation, etc. Though it waswritten in 1989, the book will continue to be a reference book to allinterested in astronomy. ... Read more

Product Description

This is a book about the physics of stars and starlight. The story of starlight is truly fascinating. Astronomers analyze and interpret the light from stars using photometry and spectroscopy, then inspirational detective work combines with the laws of physics to reveal the temperatures, masses, luminosities and outer structure of these far away points of light. The laws of physics themselves enable us to journey to the very center of a star and to understand its inner structure and source of energy!

Starlight provides an in-depth study of stellar astrophysics that requires only basic high school mathematics and physics, making it accessible to all amateur astronomers. Starlight teaches amateur astronomers about the physics of stars and starlight in a friendly, easy-to-read way. The reader will take away a profoundly deeper understanding of this truly fascinating subject – and find his practical observations more rewarding and fulfilling as a result.