Turn Left at Orion: A Hundred Night Sky Objects to See in a Small Telescope--and How to Find Them

Book Description

A superb guidebook described in Bookwatch as 'the home astronomer's "bible"', Turn Left at Orion provides all the information beginning amateur astronomers need to observe the Moon, the planets and a whole host of celestial objects. Large format diagrams show these objects exactly as they appear in a small telescope and for each object there is information on the current state of our astronomical knowledge. Revised and updated, this new edition contains a chapter with ten new spreads describing spectacular deep sky objects visible from the southern hemisphere, and tips on observing the upcoming transits of Venus. It also discusses Dobsonian telescopes, with hints on using personal computers and the Internet as aids for planning an observing session. Also new to this edition are redrawn "Guidepost" figures at the beginning of each season chapter that allow readers to visualize a three-dimensional view of the sky's dome; redesigned seasonal object layouts that provide more space for the naked-eye charts; a new spread on double stars near Boötes has been added to Spring, replacing the "Shrinking Double" spread; and a unique "When and Where to Look" table has been added to the last page, among other new features. Unlike many guides to the night sky, this book is specifically written for observers using small telescopes. Clear and easy to use, this fascinating book will appeal to skywatchers of all ages and backgrounds. No previous knowledge of astronomy is needed.

Customer Reviews:

Best Book for Prospective Telescope Owners.......2007-09-25

Most astronomy books and magazines for amateurs are filled with highly-processed, color photographs of planets and deep sky objects taken with long-exposures through observatory telescopes. I call these photos astroporn because they raise new telescope owner's expectation to unrealistic levels. One cannot see full color detailed images through a small telescope with the naked eye. "Turn Left at Orion" accurately describes with sketches what one will actually see.

I recommend that prospective telescope buyers check out "Turn Left at Orion" before they fork over their hard earned cash. If you decide to buy a telescope anyway, this book gives clear directions on how to find and observe over one hundred objects in a non-technical way making it the best book to start with. While this book may be too simple for experienced amateurs, I highly recommend it for it's accurate descriptions and clear instructions.

Good but..........2007-09-01

Many have sung the praise of this book...I'm somewhat of a "newbie" had a 13" Dobsonian "light-bucket" 20 years ago, but never really did much...just bot a 102mm Celestron spotting scope. So have been buying books to aid me in getting into Astronomy better this time...This book is good for children...but a better book for adults is Neil Bone's Deep Sky Observer's Guide. It's also set up for small scopes under 100mm. The Orion book has very simple finder maps and is organized by season. Bone's book is organized by type of object, such as "open cluster" and then by easy to difficult to find. Bone's finder charts are much better in artistic value and use, being white stars on blue background, where as most of Orion's are black stars on white background. Orion has 100 objects to view, Bone has over 200...At the end of Bone's are: 8 very nice star charts as well as each constellation listing objects and a Messier List and a list of Objects by Magnitude and finally a list of Objects by Seasons (to view). All in all 215 power packed pages!...Yes the Orion is a hard back, but the binding is glue-injected pages, will the binding crack and pages fall out??...Bone's is a paperback, but the leaves are folded and stitched, so pages will NEVER fall out. Bone's book is 5X8, Orion is 9X11 1/2 much bigger to take outside and pack around. I woun't be using Orion much. Bone I will use a lot.

Not the book for me!.......2007-06-22

I am an amateur and bought this book based on the other reviews and ratings given. I was looking for a book to help me locate some of the more interesting night sky objects and this one seemed to be "the book." Well, when I got the book, I opened it up and immediately felt a little overwhelmed by all of the text-and I do mean there is a lot of text. More than I wanted. This book just wasn't what I was looking for in a guide to the night sky. Perhaps later on, I will find this book more helpful.

Don't get frustrated with your small scope!!!!!!.......2007-04-30

I've read a series of astronomy books, but Left at Orion and Nightwatch (by Dickinson) are at the top of my list. If I had a small refractor, Left at Orion would be the best pick. Nightwatch by Dickinson is best for picking the right scope and accessories and learing the celestrial objects (e.g. planets and stuff). However, Left at Orion is the best for learing how to locate objects in the night sky USING A SMALL TELESCOPE. I've been pulling my hair out about not being able to locate objects for the longest, but now I have a great tool that will help me. This is the book you use in the dark. I sit down by my scope with my RED flashlight and this book that is such a great guidance. So don't get frustrated and throw away your small scope just yet. Get comfortable and use this guide. You can always upgrade and have the small scope for for any company who wants to join you. I wish I didn't return my small scope so quickly. Anyways, after reading this book, I bought an 80mm refractor to travel on the plane with because I can't lug that big Newtonian Dob around. Yes, Left at Orion and Nightwatch are the best picks whether you have a small refractor or a big reflector. However, Nightwatch (by Dickinson) is a book to buy when you want to upgrade your telescope. Be ware: Dickinson does NOT have the nicest things to say about the small telescopes, however, if you want to upgrade, BUY NIGHTWATCH FIRST BEFORE PURCHASING A NEW TELESCOPE!!! Please read the other reviews to help guide your purchase.

Get this book for ASTRONOMY buffs........2007-02-12

This book was given to an ASTRONOMY buff along with a telescope.

Average customer rating:

Very good reference book for any astrophotographer
Great Introductory book
My best book on astrophotography
I hesitated to pick up a copy of this book...
Advanced Math Major Needed

Astrophotography for the Amateur
Michael A. Covington
Manufacturer: Cambridge University Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 0521641330

Book Description

With this extraordinary handbook, you, too, can frame the stars and have them hanging on your livingroom walls. Astrophotography for the Amateur provides a complete guide to taking pictures of stars, galaxies, the Moon, the Sun, comets, meteors and eclipses, using equipment and materials readily available to the hobbyist. Based on suggestions from readers of the first edition, the new edition has been completely updated and expanded to include new chapters on computer image processing and CCD imaging; expanded advice on choosing cameras and telescopes; completely updated information about films; a much larger bibliography; and hundreds of new photographs (in color and black and white) demonstrating the latest equipment and techniques. Astrophotography for the Amateur has become the standard handbook for all amateur astronomers. This new edition provides an ideal introduction for beginners and a complete handbook for advanced amateurs. It will also appeal to photography enthusiasts who will discover how to take spectacular images with only modest equipment. Michael A. Covington received his Ph.D. at Yale University. He is the author of several books, including Syntactic Theory in the High Middle Ages (Cambridge, 1984). He is a Senior Member of the IEEE and is the Associate Director of the Artificial Intelligence Center at the University of Georgia.

Customer Reviews:

Very good reference book for any astrophotographer.......2002-07-25

Micheal Covington's book covers all aspects of astrophotography starting from objects, from camera selection to films, exposure methods, mounts and drives, guiding of the mount & guiding accuracy/errors, and of course the CCD imaging. I also gives ideas on how to build a simple barn door mount. It does not end at taking exposures. After an exposure is taken we have to convert it into an acceptable quality print or into a computer file. Images can be greatly improved by digital processing. So it also covers image processing ideas. The only point to be noted is that one must look at his website and download the errata. The book has many printing errors, some of which are trivial though. That, of course, must not deter any user. I consider is my best field guide book on this topic. I believe his recent edition has got over these errors - not mine. I bought mine in 1999.

Great Introductory book.......2002-03-05

This book is a must in doing amateur astrophotography if you are going serious. It has lots of information which is very useful.For example it teach you to calculate the focal ratio using diferent techniques of takig pictures with the telescope, it help you calculate the exposure times in order to photograph the moon or a constelation on a tripod.
It is an excellent source but you have to do calculations(formulas).If you don't like numbers, this book is not for you, but if you do like numbers this book is very useful.

My best book on astrophotography.......2001-12-18

I've bought a handful of books on the subject, and this one is head and shoulders above the rest. Some of the other books have lots of pretty pictures, and very little information on actually taking photos. I found the instructions easy to follow, and when I had a question, or needed to figure something out, this book always had it. Two big thumbs up!

I hesitated to pick up a copy of this book..........2001-08-26

I've been trying my hand off and on for the last year at astrophotography with my Meade LX-200. In that time I've scoured the internet, devoured newsgroup, and emailed enough astrophotographers that you'd think I was trying to get elected to NASA or something. In all that time, one name and reference guide kept coming up as a "must have". Astrophotography for the Amateur by Michael A. Covington.

Everywhere I turned, everyone I asked, their answers always seemed to come down to "...because Michael Covington does it this way" or "Yeah I tried doing it that way but after reading Astrophotography I tried it this way and received better results". That attitude actually "put me off" this book. Here I wanted to learn how to do astrophotography, not follow some recipe in a book. After finally browsing through a friends copy I was immediately impressed with the book as a reference guide, and when comparing it to my own notes and conclusions found several area's where I had erred, resulting in poor photo's. Of course, the flip side is true as well.

Some of the info in this book (even though it is a second edition) is dated such as film types and recommendations. I've found his exposure calculations for Lunar photography to be way over exposed.

I have to make a correction here, originaly I (and others) noted the lack of CCD imaging information in the book and I need to note that the first addition makes no mention of CCD, while the second edition has a section detailing the diffrences between CCD and film work. It also has a brief section devoted to CCD work. Its not as indepth as his discussions on film work.

Advanced Math Major Needed.......2001-06-05

Unless you're extremely fluent in advanced mathematics, calculus, etc., this book is not for the faint of heart. For those of us who never got past shop math - forget it. The formulas and calculations are enough to knock you out or at least put you to sleep. I'll give it a re-read again, but first drive through, just blew me away - sorry, math was never my strong point! Overall - 2's the best this rates for non-mathemeticians.

Average customer rating:

Incredibly helpful
Excellent book
The amateur Astronomer's BIBLE!!!!!!!
Good book for amateur astronomers
Probably The Best Single Reference For Stargazers

The Backyard Astronomer's Guide
Terence Dickinson , and Alan Dyer
Manufacturer: Firefly Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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NightWatch: A Practical Guide to Viewing the Universe
Turn Left at Orion: A Hundred Night Sky Objects to See in a Small Telescope--and How to Find Them
Star Ware: The Amateur Astronomer's Guide to Choosing, Buying, and Using Telescopes and Accessories
Astronomy Hacks: Tips and Tools for Observing the Night Sky (Hacks)
Astronomy For Dummies (For Dummies (Math & Science))

ASIN: 155209507X

Book Description

What type of telescope is best for beginners? Can I use my camera to take photographs through a telescope? How good are the new computerized telescope mounts? What charts, books, software and other references do I need? These questions are asked time and again by enthusiastic new amateurs as they take up recreational astronomy.

But accurate, objective and up-to-date information can be hard to find. Throughout the 1990s, the first edition of The Backyard Astronomer's Guide established itself as the indispensable reference to the equipment and techniques used by the modern recreational stargazer. Now, authors Terence Dickinson and Alan Dyer have produced an expanded and completely updated edition that again sets the standard for accessible and reliable information on one of the world's most popular hobbies.

Dickinson and Dyer -- both full-time astronomy writers -- bring decades of experience to their task. They explain why telescopes often perform much differently from what the novice expects. They recommend the accessories that will enhance the observing experience and advise what not to buy until you become more familiar with your equipment. They name brands and sources and compare value so that you can be armed with the latest practical information when deciding on your next purchase. Sections on astrophotography, daytime and twilight observing, binocular observing and planetary and deep-sky observing round out this comprehensive guide to personal exploration of the universe. Dickinson and Dyer's elegant yet straightforward approach to a complex subject makes this book an invaluable resource for astronomers throughout North America.

With more than 500 color photographs and illustrations, The Backyard Astronomer's Guide is also one of the most beautiful -- and user-friendly -- astronomy books ever produced.

Customer Reviews:

Incredibly helpful.......2007-09-21

I can't overstate how useful this book is. It covers naked-eye stargazing, binoculars, the history of amateur astronomy, telescope designs, eyepieces, accessories, setting up your new scope, the sun, moon, planets, stars, deep-sky objects, astrophotography, and just about anything else an amateur astronomer might want to know about. The reviews of telescope and eyepiece brands and models are particularly useful. I love browsing through telescope catalogs, but I also want expert advice on what brands and models are worth seeking out and which to avoid. This book delivers. The full color photographs throughout are a nice touch. The heavy paper and solid binding ensure that the book will last forever, which is good, because you'll be using it a lot.

I wish _every_ hobby had an intro book this useful.

Excellent book.......2007-07-15

If you are considering buying only one book on amateur astronomy this should be it. It covers the basics of observing, available equipment with recommendations, and much more while presenting it in an easy to read and understandable format. Dickinson and Dyer should be commended for putting together this book which must have been a monumental effort. It is truly one of the premier books ever written on this topic. It definately belongs in the hands of every backyard astronomer.

The amateur Astronomer's BIBLE!!!!!!!.......2007-05-24

Search no longer, everything you need to know is right here in this book.

1. Different types of scopes
2. Must have accessories.
3. Waste of time accessories
4. Recommended scopes.
5. ect, ect, ect.

It's the book that keeps on giving! Yes I also own Dickinson's "Nightwatch" and like another reviewer said, there's some repetition , which made me skeptical about buying this book, but if you already have "Nightwatch", this book goes into waaaaaaaay more depth. this is definately a must have for people who haven't purchased a scope yet and are trying to make a decision. I know how hard that decision is when you know very little about telscopes and accessories and every review you see is praising every telescope you look at. Where do you start? You start here.

Good book for amateur astronomers.......2007-05-06

I highly recommend this book to the serious amateur astronomer wanting to get the most from the night sky.

Probably The Best Single Reference For Stargazers.......2007-04-23

In one volume, Dickinson and Dyer have managed to cover about 95% of what amateur astronomers want to know to get a solid start in this fascinating hobby. From naked-eye observing to binocular astronomy, through sophisticated telescopes and astrophotography, this book provides solid info in an easy-reading, photo-filled format that will be a good companion on those cloudy nights when you're restricted to armchair astronomy. Especially helpful to me were the extensive tips on how to comfortably observe using lawnchairs and tripod-mounted binoculars. Your neck will thank you, too.

Enthisiastically recommended.

Star Watch: The Amateur Astronomer's Guide to Finding, Observing, and Learning About over 125 Celestial Objects

Average customer rating:

Essential tool
It Goes With a Telescope or Binoculars.
excuse me, a beginner's book?
Starwatch
Harrington's Star Watch Shines

Star Watch: The Amateur Astronomer's Guide to Finding, Observing, and Learning About over 125 Celestial Objects
Philip S. Harrington
Manufacturer: Wiley
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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Sky & Telescope's Pocket Sky Atlas

ASIN: 0471418048

Book 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.

Customer Reviews:

Essential tool.......2007-09-23

As others have said, this is not a glossy, colorful coffee-table book. In fact, you won't find any color pictures in this book at all. Just lots of black and white text and drawings. And yet, I have found this book to be one of the most useful astronomy guides. Why? Two main reasons.

First of all, the star charts. The author shows you how to "star-hop" from a bright star to an obscure deep sky object, which makes finding it so much easier. He also includes textual directions on how to find the object, step by step, star by star.

Second reason is expectations. As the owner of a 6" telescope, I used to be disappointed when I first started this hobby that the views of deep sky objects weren't as fabulous as I had expected from seeing colorful pictures of nebulae, galaxies, and star clusters. Frequently these items seemed like just fuzzy, ghostly grayish images to me. Well, as this book explains, that's how they look to most of us with medium (6" to 8" telescopes). And to the naked eye they will never look as colorful as they do in photographs. This book rates objects by how they would look in binoculars, small telescopes of 3" to 5", and medium telescopes of 6" to 8". He'll also tell you how easy or hard it is to find every object, and what you can expect to see in each type of instrument. He also includes his own sketches of how some of these objects look through his 8" reflector. Often they look not much better than how I see them in my 6" reflector, which is a great comfort.

Excellent book for amateur astronomers - it will tell you exactly how to find the most interesting objects and what to expect to see once you do find them, depending on what instrument you're using.

It Goes With a Telescope or Binoculars........2007-02-12

The book has a big list of things you can see with only a pair of binoculars. So I gave the nerds both binoculars and a telescope.

Very good book.

excuse me, a beginner's book?.......2006-01-23

Maybe I am even less talented than I thought, maybe I am just downright stupid, maybe problem is in my expectations, as I expected something more visual and less technical.. but this book is not a beginner's book. I bought a telescope for my son this xmas, and I wanted to know what the heck we are looking at once skies clear over Croatia. This book will not serve that purpose. IF I WERE an astronomy / physics anthusiast (NEVER!), THEN this book would have been a beginner's book.

Starwatch.......2006-01-15

I used this book for my beginning astronomy class I took online and it was very user friendly and the information is quite understandable. I really liked this book and the information it entails. Enjoy this book

Harrington's Star Watch Shines.......2005-08-20

An excellent beginner's book or a back-to-basics guide for expeienced observers, Harrington meticulously lays-out the celestial sphere and ways to find and enjoy it's wonders.

This patient step by step approach not only teaches the fundamentals and skills of stargazing, but calibrates our expectation realistically regrarding what we can expect to see depending on the instrument we use and the local conditions.

Harrington selects for us 125 fascinating objects to observe
using them to develop techniques for finding and viewing.

I would recommend this work as a great primer for neophyte amateur astronomers.

Average customer rating:

A Very Good Book

The Guide to Amateur Astronomy
Jack Newton , and Philip Teece
Manufacturer: Cambridge University Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 0521444926

Book Description

Getting started in amateur astronomy can be frustrating. Without a helpful friend to lend advice, choosing a telescope, learning the buzzwords, or viewing the deep sky season by season can seem daunting. Now amateur astronomers can turn to The Guide to Amateur Astronomy to get started or, if they are more advanced, to learn all the techniques of serious telescopic observing. The authors begin by showing readers how to find their way about the night sky with little or no equipment. For the stargazer who becomes addicted they include a complete catalog of the night sky's most intriguing star clusters, nebulae, and galaxies. More advanced projects include astrophotography, telescope construction, planetary observing, comet hunting, variable star recording, and nova discovery. The new edition covers the exciting developments in the world of astro-software for the home computer and the techniques of electronic imaging or charged-coupled devices (CCDs).

Customer Reviews:

A Very Good Book.......1999-05-01

I first saw this book at my local library and this book is very good. There are some out dated items in the book such as cold cameras, but the ccd parts we well written. The book is well written and both authors I feel have done an excellent job.

Star Ware: The Amateur Astronomer's Guide to Choosing, Buying, and Using Telescopes and Accessories

Average customer rating:

Vital reading for a astronomy enthusiast
Good Buying Guide
Excellent book
Star Ware 4
Way too technical -- No pictures -- Not for the novice

Star Ware: The Amateur Astronomer's Guide to Choosing, Buying, and Using Telescopes and Accessories
Philip S. Harrington
Manufacturer: Wiley
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0471750638

Book Description

Praise for Star Ware

"Star Ware is still a tour de force that any experienced amateur will find invaluable, and which hardware-minded beginners will thoroughly enjoy."

- Robert Burnham, Sky & Telescope magazine

"Star Ware condenses between two covers what would normally take a telescope buyer many months to accumulate."

- John Shibley, Astronomy magazine

Whether you're shopping for your first telescope or your fifth, don't be surprised if you feel overwhelmed by the dazzling array of product choices, bells and whistles, and the literature that describes them all. That's why you need Star Ware.

In this revised and updated Fourth Edition of the essential guide to comparing and selecting sky-watching equipment, award-winning astronomy writer Philip Harrington takes you telescope shopping the easy way. He analyzes and explains today's astronomy market and compares brands and models point by point. Star Ware gives you the confidence you need to buy the telescope and accessories that are right for you and the knowledge to get the most out of your new purchase, with:
*

Extensive, expanded reviews of leading models and accessories-including dozens of new products
*

A clear, step-by-step guide to every aspect of selecting telescopes, binoculars, filters, mounts, lenses, cameras, film, star charts, guides and references, and much more
*

Ten new do-it-yourself projects for building your own astronomical equipment
*

Easy tips on setting up, using, and caring for telescopes and other astronomical equipment
*

Lists of where to find everything astronomical, including Web sites and resources; distributors, dealers, and conventions; and corporate listings for products and services

Customer Reviews:

Vital reading for a astronomy enthusiast.......2007-08-15

I have found this book to be a veritable wealth of information with the uncommon aspect of actually giving critical, unbiased assessments of the wide and varied array of astronomical hardware available.

While you might not agree with all his observations, the assessments appear to be based on actual hands-on experience, and I find it refreshing to see reviews that don't uniformly praise every single item under scrutiny!

I really enjoyed this book and look forward to future updates.

Good Buying Guide.......2007-07-08

I now own the last 3 editions of this. An excellent and extensive introductionj to astronomical equipment and accessories definitely worthwhile for the new astronomer. Even worthwhile for many more experienced astronomers. Includes a section featuring many DIY accessories.

Excellent book.......2007-06-25

There are a number of books out there that cover available equipment for Amateur Astronomy. However, I haven't found any that cover this area as in depth as this book. The Author, Phil Harrington has certainly done his research, and brings this information to the reader in an easily understood way. I first bought this book in 2006 and found some of the information to be a little dated at that time. When I saw that there was going to be an updated version coming out, I knew I would be purchasing it. I purchased the updated version and it wasn't at all lacking. At the time of it's release (4/2007) it is current with regards to available equipment for the Amateur Astronomer. This book is easy to read and understand. When I am looking to purchase a new piece of equipment, Starware is the first book I grab for the information I need.

Star Ware 4.......2007-05-20

There's a ton of useful information here. At a price of less than almost astro accessory, it's highly recommended.

Way too technical -- No pictures -- Not for the novice.......2006-12-03

This book is not for the novice interested in learning about the basics of telescope buying.

It is a very hard read as it is not organized nicely, has pages and pages of technical jargon, tons of unnecessary repetition...

They describe certain telescope features and don't explain why one feature might be better over another. They just mention the features.

The book contains a lot of reviews on outdated equipment and nothing on the latest telescopes.

It did not provide a simple outline of the various features one should look for in a telescope -- perhaps aperture, focal length, mm diameter, etc. -- this is what I was looking for.

I found more informative concise information on Yahoo! Answers for free.

I decided to purchase another book that was meant for the newbie and explains in simple terms what one should look for and has a lot of great photos and diagrams. It does not contain technical terms adfinitum that would only help a professional astronomer.

The better book is entitled "A Simple Guide to Telescopes, Spotting Scopes, and Binoculars" and you can purchase on Amazon for $10. This book is helpful for not only telescope selecting for the novice, but also for set up, etc for after you get the telescope.

Emphasis on the word simple!

Thank goodness I decided to check it out at my local Borders, as I was about to buy it sight unseen on Amazon due to the great reviews above. It would have been a waste of money!

National Audubon Society Field Guide to the Night Sky (Audubon Society Field Guide Series)

Average customer rating:

Fallen from grace
Excellent Guide
'Out on the lawn I lie in bed...'
A Stargazer's Delight!
Everything you want to know, and more

National Audubon Society Field Guide to the Night Sky (Audubon Society Field Guide Series)
NATIONAL AUDUBON SOCIETY
Manufacturer: Knopf
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Turtleback

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ASIN: 0679408525
Release Date: 1991-10-15

Book Description

The perfect companion volume for Hale-Bopp watchers, this guide explores the fabulous mysteries above, from planets in our solar system to the constellations in both the Northern and Southern hemispheres, stars, galaxies (including the Milky Way), nebulae, astronomical bodies, objects, phenomena, and -- yes -- comets. Night Sky provides a concise guided tour of the heavens with 48 monthly sky charts of the northern sky and 88 constellation charts, each offering a detailed map of individual constellations. Essays on the universe, the solar system, and constellations introduce the reader to the wonders of the sky.

Customer Reviews:

Fallen from grace.......2006-08-26

I've used this book for years with happy results. I've often impressed friends with my knowledge of planetary positions in the night sky by using the "planetary longitude" table in the appendices.

However, this year marked the end of the usefullness of the planetary longitude table(which is something I use a lot). It only has information through 2005. Audubon should offer an update to this so I don't have to purchase the book again just to get the P.L. table.

Excellent Guide.......2005-11-28

If you're interested in studying the night sky by eye, this is an awesome guide. The explanations are clear, the charts are great, and the background material is interesting. It will tell you what you can see up there, how to find it, and when you'll be able to see it, which was exactly what I was looking for. This book has everything you need to appreciate your backyard view more fully.

'Out on the lawn I lie in bed...'.......2004-12-21

For those who remain spellbound by the canopy of night with all the beauty and mythology and mystery gazing at the stars brings to mind, this book is a godsend. Without requiring previous courses in astronomy and without spending hours cross referencing words to match constellations to match positions to match meanings, this book comfortably and beautifully offers maps and photographs, essays and information that make looking heavenward all the more exciting. The writing is accurate, updated, understandable to the novice, and makes a terrific companion to seeking answers and directions to the stars and the planets. A valuable aide to your appreciation of the universe! Grady Harp, December 2004

A Stargazer's Delight!.......2003-04-01

One of my favorite books on the bookshelf, simply because of its easy-to-read format, and information for both the amateur stargazer and serious astronomer. The book covers everything that the curiousity seeker is looking for, with an exhaustive selection of sky charts for each month, a detailed section featuring each constellation with its history and details, and an exciting tour of the solar system and its celestial denizens.
Plenty of information, and just the right amount of photographs, too. A handy guide for everyone curious about the world "up there"!

Everything you want to know, and more.......2002-02-04

I'm not astronomer, but I can tell that the volume of information in this guide would impress even a hardcore stargazer. The book includes exhaustively detailed descriptions of all notable phenomena visible with a telescope, lists the entire Messier Catalog with descriptions of each item, has comprehensive starcharts meticulously organized by date, and has a description of all the major star constellations. There is also an in-depth analysis of the solar system and a complete scientific background on all the terminology.

A layman reading this guide will come away with enough information to at least sound like an expert on the night sky. There are even some sections on speculative astronomy, such as the nature of black holes and the Big Bang theory. If you are at all interested in astronomy, this is THE guide to get. It will serve as an invaluable counterpart to your telescope, and makes fascinating reading any time. As far as I have seen, there isn't a published guide to compare with this one.

Star Maps for Beginners: 50th Anniversary Edition
Average customer rating:

Star maps

Expect to Wear Out Your Copy

best book for beginners

The most dog-eared sky reference book I have

The easiest way I've seen to find and identify stars, planet

Star Maps for Beginners: 50th Anniversary Edition
I.M. Levitt , and Roy K. Marshall
Manufacturer: Fireside
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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Similar Items:

National Audubon Society Pocket Guide to Constellations of the Northern Skies (National Audubon Society Pocket Guides)

Find the Constellations

Exploring the Night Sky: The Equinox Astronomy Guide for Beginners

Astronomy For Dummies (For Dummies (Math & Science))

The Stars: A New Way to See Them

ASIN: 0671791877

Book Description

Designed with the beginner in mind and useful to anyone interested in astronomy. Star Maps for Beginners is the classic guide to viewing and understanding the heavens. Its superb maps -- drawn in the shape of two crossed ellipses -- provide the reader with a unique perspective on the sky and have been widely acknowledged as the easiest system yet devised for locating any constellation at any time of the year.

Now revised for the 1990s, with updated planet charts and a new section on spotting meteor showers. Star Maps for Beginners includes:

12 complete maps -- one for each month -- showing the positions of the constellations viewed from every direction

a synoptic table that shows how to choose the proper map for use at any time special tables that give approximate positions of the planets for the years 1992 through 1997

the most up-to-date overview of the solar system available today the latest facts about each of the planets -- orbit, size, atmosphere, internal structure, climate, and terrain

a full chapter on the history and development of the constellations, and the ancient legends and mythological lore surrounding them

a special section on meteors -- how they originate and when and where to spot them.

Initially published in 1942 and now celebrating its 50th anniversary, Star Maps for Beginners has sold more than 450,000 copies.

Customer Reviews:

Star maps.......2007-09-19

My son loved this book of constellations. They were easy to read and had good information.

Expect to Wear Out Your Copy.......2003-01-03

My tattered copy sitting on the shelf as I write this attests to it's value. I'm no major astronomer in any sense of the word, but a major part of what I DO know about the night sky was gleaned from its pages. It is what the title suggests: "For Beginners". It refrains from being too technical, the charts for the months of the year are easy to understand and use, and it's ar less expensive than other books of its kind. If your wish is to begin a hobby in astronomy, or better yet, if you simply are curious as to how to find your way around the night sky, this is a wonderful place to start. You will amaze yourself with what you'll know after only a few nights with this book. However, please note how up-to-date your copy is when buying it here or elsewhere. Hopefully, it will be as much a joy to you as it has been for me these past six years.

best book for beginners.......2002-01-07

I'll echo the comments of the reviewers below. I've looked at many books of star maps and I've written articles on the night sky for local newspapers. This book is by far the best - it's easy to use and the constellations are depicted just as they appear in the sky - without a lot of confusing, unnecessary additions. The accompanying essays are informative, entertaining and easy to understand.

It's a huge shame that this book evidently has not been updated in 10 years. So, yes, the planet information is out-of-date. (But before you learn to find planets you first need to learn to identify constellations and bright stars - that's where Star Maps for Beginners outshines all the others.)

I, too, have given away countless copies of this book. It's great for almost all ages. (Well, let's say for a bright 10-year-old and up.) I'm buying it again as a gift for someone who sells telescopes for a living. He never heard of it and he doesn't know what he's missing.

The most dog-eared sky reference book I have.......1999-10-16

It's true, it doesn't show where the planets are but for identifying constellations and stars, any time from about 6 pm to about 5 am, you can't beat this book. I write a What's Up In the Sky weekly column and I'd be lost without this book. It gives basic information, delineates the differences in the seasons, skywise, and throws in some mythology also. The chart, telling which sky map corresponds to the time of night is invalueable. I can't imagine looking at the sky without this book.

The easiest way I've seen to find and identify stars, planet.......1999-06-15

I'd be hard pressed to say how many copies of this book I have given away. Unlike most other star guides, this book gives clear, easy-to-follow maps and directions for finding stars and planets. A separate star map is provided for each month of the year. Just turn to the month you are looking at stars in and in no time, you can identify what you are looking at.

Book Description

For as long as there have been people, men and women have looked up into the night sky and wondered about the nature of the cosmos. Without the benefit of science to provide answers, they relied on myth and superstition to help them make sense of what they saw. Lucky for us, we live at a time when regular folks, equipped with nothing more than their naked eyes, can look up into the night sky and gain admittance to infinite wonders. If you know what to look for, you can make out planets, stars, galaxies , and even galactic clusters comprising hundreds of millions of stars and spanning millions of light-years.

Astronomy For Dummies tells you what you need to know to make sense of the world above us. Written by one of the most well-known astronomers in the world, this fun, fact-filled ,and accessible guide fills you in on the basic principles of astronomy and tells you how to:

Identify planets and stars
Explore our solar system, the Milky Way, and beyond
Understand the Big Bang, quasars, antimatter, black holes, and more
Join the Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence (SETI)
Get the most out of planetarium visits
Make more sense out of space missions

From asteroids to black holes, quasars to white dwarfs, Astronomy For Dummies takes you on a grand tour of the universe. Featuring star maps, charts, gorgeous full-color photographs, and easy-to-follow explanations it gives you a leg up on the basic science of the universe. Topics covered include:

Observing the night sky, with and without optics
Selecting binoculars and telescopes and positioning yourself for the best view
Meteors, comets, and man-made moons
Touring our solar system and becoming familiar with the planets, asteroids, and near Earth objects
Our Sun, stars, galaxies, black holes and quasars
SETI and planets revolving around other suns
Dark matter and antimatter
The Big Bang and the evolutions of the universe

You might think the cosmos is a vast and mysterious place, but Astronomy For Dummies will make it seem as friendly and familiar as your own backyard.

Customer Reviews:

Review.......2007-08-13

A good beginning book for Astronomy. Worth the money for someone just getting started.

Astronomy For Dummies.......2007-03-09

This book really helped me out. In my astronomy class, we were required to read between 6 and 7 chapters per week. That is an enormous amount of information to try to soak in. Astronomy for Dummies explained everything beautifully, thus helping me to understand and retain the information. The author's great sense of humor keeps you interested in the material as well. Astronomy for Dummies helps make learning fun.

Great for NERDY girls and boys........2007-02-12

I gave it to a girl who wants to be a doctor. The perfect NERD gift for a NERDY girl. I do not use that word disparagingly. NERDS are people or children who LOVE being smart. I'm a NERD too!

Great book, good for beginners........2007-01-19

I really enjoyed reading and learning about astronomy from this book. It is easy to understand, yet is has a lot of information. We had just purchased a telescope and this book was well worth the cost to get us up to speed.

This is the book I was looking for.......2006-11-19

I found most astronomy books are tough reads, not written for the wannabe amateur like me.

THis book is the exception, it is well written, easy and fun to read.

Exploring the Night Sky: The Equinox Astronomy Guide for Beginners

Average customer rating:

Young Minds Latch onto the Stars
Christians Beware - Big Bang theory & ET fantasy
Christians Beware - Big Bang theory & ET fantasy
Did well in 1987 .... needs a new edition now.
The bok that hooked me onto astronomy

Exploring the Night Sky: The Equinox Astronomy Guide for Beginners
Terence Dickinson
Manufacturer: Firefly Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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Find the Constellations
Star Maps for Beginners: 50th Anniversary Edition
Night Sky Atlas
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A Child's Introduction to the Night Sky: The Story of the Stars, Planets, and Constellations--and How You Can Find Them in the Sky

ASIN: 0920656668

Book Description

Exploring the Night Sky is aimed at novice star gazers anxious to expand their astronomical repertoire beyond the Big and Little Dippers. Dickinson has designed a superb introduction to astronomy that is clear, concise, beautifully illustrated, and very "user friendly" no matter what the child's age.

Customer Reviews:

Young Minds Latch onto the Stars.......2007-02-15

My eight-year-old grandson practically ate up this book, he was so excited and interested. He had gotten a telescope for Christmas and this book brought his explorations of the night sky to life.

Christians Beware - Big Bang theory & ET fantasy.......2002-12-13

I bought this for our science homeschool since it had a children's award and we just got a telescope. I was disappointed that the first page covers the Big Bang theory - an explosion formed the sun and earth - as well as on page 25. Then on pages 46-47 it covers extraterrestrials. It says "most people believe we are not alone", and "most of us would like to believe that we are not alone in this vast universe". Although he states there is no scientific evidence of alien life, he goes on to fantasize about what aliens could be like, ending with the statement that they would be so far ahead of us technologically, that they may have seen us and since we look primitive they decided not to contact us! I'm going to return the book. Although the other information is well written and the pictures are helpful, I find his big bang and alien assumptions improper food for the minds of my young. I feel sorry for the author, for he would not feel so alone in the universe if he realized there is a God.

Christians Beware - Big Bang theory & ET fantasy.......2002-12-13

Did well in 1987 .... needs a new edition now........2001-10-01

This is a good introduction, and the pictures are great. However, it's dated now. "Jupiter will be below Pegasus in 1987". The stargazing sections give a useful, though basic, guide to the night sky for each season, taking the reader logically from one constellation to another. References to the locations of the planets span 1987 to 1999. Don't look to this book if you want to know where to see the planets tonight. Despite that, the book was worth buying as a first introduction to astronomy.

The bok that hooked me onto astronomy.......2000-02-02

This wonderful book is the one that got me hooked onto astronomy when I was just an 8-year old boy. Now as I am in college and studying astronomy, this book even though old (written c. 1986), has not lost its charm and magic to me. The best part of this book is the beautifully rendered paintings of the night skies and other sights around the universe, which will leave you breathless and in awe of the majestic canvas of the skies. I give it a 2 thumbs up and many stars!

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