Subjects:  1. Nature / Field Guide Books    2. Popular works    3. Radio Astronomy    4. Science/Mathematics    5. Star Observation    6. Non-Classifiable   

Reviews (12)

Is this the best book on Binocular astronomy?
This book was a bit of a disappointment after hearing all the glowing reviews. After wading through 6 chapters with terrible photo reproductions of telescopic (not binocular) views, where many sky objects are described as not suitable for binoculars, we arrive a chapter 7 which is the reference list of binocular objects. This consumes half the book and is a complete reference list ordered by constellation with a paragraph description of most. But you will need another reference to find them since there are no maps here.
If you have large binos, don't miss this book
This book covers +1000 deep sky objects plus solar system objects for binoculars. It includes many faint objects that can be seen with ordinary binos under very favourable conditions so the observers with largebinoculars can use this book better. Although there are +1000 objects givenin the book, most of them are not explained but rather their basic datalike coordinates and magnitude are given. It does not have maps so you needan atlas with this book. However; this book is very useful with itstabulated data and constellation-based organisation. You cannot find anyother complete and well prepared list and data of objects visible inbinoculars. The author also groups Messier objects into 4 difficulty groupswhich is helpful for inexperienced observers.

A Classic Reference and Observing Guide
Touring the Universe Through Binoculars remains the single most authoritative source for people who want to view the night sky with binoculars.Sure, there are other books on the subject, but Touring theUniverse stands apart for its thorough survey of the binocular sky.Thisbook lists objects that the other books miss entirely (and that the authorsprobably don't even know exist!).Read more

Subjects:  1. Astronomy    2. Astronomy (General)    3. Astronomy - General    4. Binoculars    5. Handbooks, manuals, etc    6. Nature    7. Nature / Field Guide Books    8. Observers' manuals    9. Science    10. Science/Mathematics    11. Star Observation    12. Astronomical observation: observatories, equipment & methods    13. Science / Astronomy   

Reviews (3)

fun
I have nothing else to compare this plainesphere with as this is my first one.This is a very fun and quick way to learn the constellations as well as the most popular Messier objects.On the back of this chart, there are tables and other information.The author explains which objects are visable with the naked eye, binoculars or telescopes.
a very decent jumbo planisphere
Pros: A Great Way to Learn the Nighttime Sky
For the beginning amateur astronomer there is no better aid to learning the stars and constellations than a planisphere - and I think David Levy's new rendition of this old device is as good as they come.Read more

Subjects:  1. Nature    2. Nature / Star Observation    3. Nature/Ecology    4. Star Observation    5. Astronomy - Star Guides    6. Nature / Field Guide Books   

Subjects:  1. Astronomy - Star Guides    2. Binoculars    3. Crafts & Hobbies    4. General    5. Hobbies/Crafts    6. Nature    7. Nature / Field Guide Books    8. Reference    9. Star Observation    10. Telescopes    11. Consumer guides & advice    12. Popular astronomy   

Reviews (4)

Excellent treatment of the subject
If you are new to astronomy or new owner of a Meade ETX, this book assumes no prior knowledge and gives very concise description of what you can and cannot do with the ETX, as well as instructions on maintenance and set up that go far beyond the owners manual. Full of links and with a detailed bibliography that will take you as far as you want to go in the world of ETX or other small telescopes. Highly recommended.

Bad
I eagerly awaited this book, but then I deeply regretted that I've bought it. It's definitely not worth the paper. Well, the book contains everything I knew before, but all I want to know in addition (and there is still a lot!) is not adequately addressed. Very sparse technical information, no drawings, bad illustrations, no hints at all, nothing but ridiculously simple explanations. I would love a good ETX book - but this is not it
I wanted to like this book, but unfortunately it's not worth the paper it's printed on.There is more and better information available free on Mike Weasner's terrific website (referenced on almost every page of the book).Nor does the book provide a valuable and handy reference - the long text articles about tuning the scope etc lack diagrams, illustrations, useful pictures... I almost laughed when the Seasonal Name Star Charts appeared several to a page and so small as to be utterly useless.Want to know how to carry your ETX outside?This book is for you.Want to know anything about accessories, programming the AutoStar, what the inside of the ETX looks like, CCD imaging, or similar topics?Forget it, it's not in there.Conclusion: If you want a good astronomy book, consider "The Backyard Astronomer's Guide" or "NightWatch".If you want ETX-specific information, visit Mike Weasner's website.And save your money until a useful ETX book is published - there is a need for one, but unfortunately this is not it. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Astronomical Instruments    2. Astronomy - General    3. Astrophysics & Space Science    4. Catadioptric systems    5. Nature    6. Nature / Field Guide Books    7. Reflecting telescopes    8. Science    9. Science/Mathematics    10. Star Observation    11. Astronomical observation: observatories, equipment & methods    12. Astronomy    13. Observational and Computer-controlled    14. Popular astronomy    15. Science / Astronomy   

Subjects:  1. Astrophysical jets    2. Astrophysics & Space Science    3. Congresses    4. Nature / Field Guide Books    5. Radio Astronomy    6. Science    7. Science/Mathematics    8. Star Observation    9. Astrophysical jets--Congresses    10. Astrophysics    11. Science / Astrophysics & Space Science   

Reviews (39)

Turn Left at Orion - Beginners Astronomy
The book was just what I wanted, reasonably priced, and promptly delivered.So far, reading it has been very informative and I want to dig into it more soon.

Excellent
Make this the first book you buy for anyone with a telescope. It is user friendly, well written and illustrated, and will ignite a passion for chasing the beautiful objects scattered through the night sky. Also useful is the guide on interesting Southern Hemisphere objects, including those in the LMC and SMC.
Turn left at Orion and you'll be right with the stars
I purchased this book and the Backyard Astronomers book at the same time.I use them both.......a lot!!This book is great because it gives you sky views (drawings not pictures) that really give you an idea of what to expect when looking up at the sky with unaided eye or through a telescope.The description that accompanies the objects of interest are well written and thought provoking. As a newbie to backyard astronomy I couldn't be more satisfied by the information I've received from this book. As others have stated, this book is a great astronomy starter book, but will inevitably be a life time companion for all of your night sky viewing. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Amateurs' manuals    2. Astronomy    3. Astronomy (General)    4. Astronomy - General    5. Astronomy - Star Guides    6. General    7. Nature    8. Nature / Field Guide Books    9. Reference    10. Science    11. Science/Mathematics    12. Astronomical observation: observatories, equipment & methods    13. Popular astronomy    14. Science / Astronomy   

Subjects:  1. Astrophysics & Space Science    2. Cosmic background radiation    3. Nature / Field Guide Books    4. Science    5. Science/Mathematics    6. Star Observation    7. X-Ray Astronomy    8. X-ray sources, Galactic    9. Astrophysics    10. Science / Astrophysics & Space Science   

Reviews (6)

A must have for the amateur astronomer
This is a must have book for the amateur astronomer.It has in-depth coverage of deep space objects.It lacks detailed charts, however, this is not the authors purpose.It rates a 5 on the strength of its meaty content.If you need a chart, buy one to accompany this book.A star wheel will also be useful.

brilliantly written and self-contained
This is the only binoculars-specific astronomy book I own, but it is a beauty. Craig Crossen is a wonderful writer, one who makes you want to run out with your binos and check out the things he describes. He also manages to cram an entire mini-course on the structure of the Milky Way into his Binocular Astronomy book, and includes a good serving of the famous E. E. Barnard photographs of Milky Way starfields. Add to this the fact that the book ends with a reprint of Tirion and Crossen's Bright Star Atlas, and you are ready to go out and observe (provided you've remembered to bring your binoculars!). ALL amateur astronomy books should be this good, this complete and this inspiring.

A Classic for Amateurs
This high quality and well written book will certainly join Burnhams three volume set as a long term classic, for those wanting to explore the sky with binocs.The numerous drawings and charts are priceless in locating interesting objects.It's a pity this excellent book is listed as "buy it used" by Amazon, with none shown as available used, since mine arrived spanking new in three days from Richmond to Maine via UPS in a highly professionally wrapped box for only a... handling fee and zero shipping charges from Willman-Bell the publisher.The inclusion of the outstanding Tirion Star Atlas is a huge plus, highly useful with only the naked eye, as well as with binocs and small telescopes.A Best Buy for anyones library.When you or the children in the family are ready to go beyond Rey's priceless "The Stars-A New Way to See Them", this book should come next. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Amateurs' manuals    2. Astronomy    3. Astronomy (Specific Aspects)    4. Binoculars    5. Constellations    6. Nature / Field Guide Books    7. Observers' manuals    8. Science/Mathematics    9. Star Observation   

Reviews (1)

okay
it is pretty good book for youngsters I think it's really goodit has some things that you might have not ever heard before.But now it's outdated somewhat because it doesn't tell when the stars are in in 2002 or 2003. But really anything else on it's great. the other problem is that it doesn't show ou not much things on earth as jupiter or any other planet on in the glossary. It has customary measurement and metric if you want to know. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Astronomy    2. Astronomy - General    3. Astronomy - Star Guides    4. Handbooks, manuals, etc    5. Nature    6. Nature / Field Guide Books    7. Nature/Ecology    8. Observers' manuals    9. Planets    10. Science    11. Star Observation    12. Stars    13. Science / Astronomy    14. Stars, interstellar matter   

Reviews (9)

Stikky Night Skies is 'Bound' to work-Guaranteed!
I just returned from a sailing holiday in the Florida Keys and took Stikky Night Skies with me - The book is fantastic. The first evening out under the stars I was able to lead a pretty comprehensive tour of the night sky from the cockpit.
Easy way to learn to recognize constellations
A simple but effective approach, "Stikky Night Skies" teaches the reader how to recognize six constellations, 4 major stars, a planet, and how to always determine north in the night sky.Besides showing the constellation pattern and describing how to recognize it the book contains multiple pages of actually night skies to practice on.After completing the book it is fairly simple to locate each of the constellations mentioned. 200 black pages with little white dots on it ... that's all?
After all the reviews I read here I expected a lot more. Before I cover the content of this book let me tell you that the binding of this book is pittyful - it fell apart after the first indoor use. The printing quality appears to me like a cheap black and white newspaper print (no pictures or decent draws), just that the paper is somewhat thicker. The book consists only of black pages with wihte dots on it resembling stars. In one or two easy sentences on each page you are supposed to figure constellations. It works and in an hour you are about to find 5 or 6 constellations in the book. Read more

Subjects:  1. Astronomy - Star Guides    2. Children: Grades 4-6    3. Juvenile Astronomy    4. Juvenile Nonfiction    5. Nature    6. Nature / Field Guide Books    7. Science & Nature - Astronomy    8. Star Observation   

Reviews (3)

Excellent!
I have the book and have taken the class with Dr. Malphrus.Both were extremely "Ben"eficial to my physics eduacation.This book is interesting on both the historical and scientific level.An excellent view into an evolving science.

Go Doc Malphrus!
We haven't really read the book but we're students of his and we love him. He's an awesome guy. GO DOC!

A comprehensive guide to the beginnings of radio astronomy.
This book offers an excellent look into the history and making of the science we now know as radio astronomy.Dr. Malphrus' book is also easy to understand, you need not be a physics major to make sense of the science he discusses.A great book for a interesting look into the once invisibleworld of radio astronomy. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. History    2. Life Sciences - Evolution    3. National Radio astronomy Obser    4. National Radio astronomy Observatory (U.S.)    5. Nature / Field Guide Books    6. Radio Astronomy    7. Reference    8. Science    9. Science/Mathematics    10. Star Observation    11. Astronomical observation: observatories, equipment & methods    12. History of science    13. Inter-war period, 1918-1939    14. Postwar period, 1945 to c 2000    15. Second World War, 1939-1945    16. USA   

Reviews (2)

Amazing little book
Essentially a high quality sky atlas in a small but highly readable format, including a listing and short discussion of the objects that are interesting in each of the 88 constellations.
Amazingly good for a shirt-pocket Star Atlas.
This little "gem" is often overlooked by serious astronomers, but its small format (8cm x 11.5cm) gives you a star atlas in your shirt pocket! Separate chart for each constellation, down to mag 5. Lots of DSOs, including the Messiers, are marked. Recommended! ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Astronomy - Star Guides    2. Nature / Field Guide Books    3. Nature/Ecology    4. Cosmology & the universe    5. Popular astronomy    6. Reference works   

Reviews (2)

A Best Buy - But Beware! It's a Repeat
This beautifully produced book is a superb addition to the library of any backyard astronomer or anyone from eight to eighty.It's a best buy for several reasons. Very informative, didn't want to put it down
After picking this book up at a Sam's club out of curiosity I found that I couldn't put it down and ended up putting it in the cart. My companion is a begining Astronomy buff and he couldn't get enough eighther. We were reading it to each other and trying to read it at the same time. We have learned alot from this book and have put it to good use with his new telescope. I highly remommed this book to the person who has always wanted to get started in astronomy! ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Astronomy    2. Astronomy - Star Guides    3. Handbooks, manuals, etc    4. Nature    5. Nature / Field Guide Books    6. Nature/Ecology    7. Observers' manuals    8. Star Observation    9. Universe   

Subjects:  1. Astronomy    2. Astronomy (General)    3. Nature / Field Guide Books    4. Observers' manuals    5. Science/Mathematics    6. Star Observation    7. Stars   

Reviews (18)

A good introduction to astronomy
This book is a multifaceted introduction to astronomy. I used it as the text in an observation-oriented astronomy class, and the students loved it. Overall, I would rate it at 3-4 stars, but let me evaluate its 5 focuses individually. As an exposition of general astronomy, I give it 4-5 stars. It is attractively illustrated and clearly written, an engaging and informative introduction to astronomical principles.
Nice intro to amateur astronomy
I picked this book up practically on a whim from the clearance table at a local bookseller, and was very pleasantly surprised at how good of a book it is after getting it home. Skywatching is a good book, but there is a better one
Skywatching is a good book. But the book "Practical Skywatching" gives you two books for the price of one. It literally contains the best of the books "Skywatching" and "Advance Skywatching" in one reference. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Astronomy    2. Astronomy (General)    3. Handbooks, manuals, etc    4. Nature / Field Guide Books    5. Nature/Ecology    6. Observers' manuals    7. Star Observation   

Reviews (3)

A small big astronomy book
Do not let the small size of this star atlas to mislead you (48pp) I bought this Cambridge Pocket Star Atlas with the intention of replacing another star atlas that I lost, and my surprise was big when I discovered that this booklet includes detailed descriptions and easy to understand explanations for such a concepts (to lay people like me) as Declination and Right Ascension, equinoxes, meridian passage, Apparent visual magnitude & Absolute visual magnitude, the Spectral types (O, B, A, F, G, K, M), Synodic Period, etc.
Great Help in Stargazing
This book was great. It helped me to understand alot about the night sky.This book tells me all about the constellations and other heavenly bodies, such as the Orion Nebulae, the planets, sun and moon.This book is a perfect guide to the heavens for adults and children. Buy this book. It is GREAT.

Great Help in Stargazing
This book was great. It helped me to understand alot about the night sky.This book tells me all about the constellations and other heavenly bodies, such as the Orion Nebulae, the planets, sun and moon.This book is a perfect guide to the heavens for adults and children. Buy this book. It is GREAT. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Astronomy - Star Guides    2. Atlases    3. Cosmology    4. Nature    5. Nature / Field Guide Books    6. Science    7. Science/Mathematics    8. Star Observation    9. Stars    10. Popular astronomy    11. Science / Astronomy   

Reviews (1)

A clear, step by step manual for astronomical calculations.
This book is a manual for performing astronomical calculations on a PC.It starts with a chapter on the history of astronomy, then progresses through background chapters on telescope design, unit conversions, and timeconversions.With these elements explained, it dives into the center ofthe issue and presents chapters on sun, moon, earth and planetarycalculations.These include such things as planetary coordinates, risingand setting times, and many others. Each calculation is carefully explainedwith numerous examples.The included 3.5 disk contains a series of smalldos basic programs which can perform all the calculations in the book. These programs should run in any pc with dos or windows.Some of thecalculations, especially for planetary position, are simplified for ease ofuse at the expense of a small amount of accuracy.Great book. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Astronomy    2. Astronomy (General)    3. Computer Books: Operating Systems    4. Data processing    5. Microcomputers    6. Nature / Field Guide Books    7. Star Observation   

Subjects:  1. Astronomical Instruments    2. Astronomy - General    3. Australia    4. Nature / Field Guide Books    5. New South Wales    6. Radio Astronomy    7. Radio telescopes    8. Science    9. Science/Mathematics    10. Star Observation    11. Astronomical observation: observatories, equipment & methods    12. Popular astronomy    13. Radio telescopes--Australia--New South Wales    14. Science / Astronomy    15. c 1960 to c 1970    16. c 1970 to c 1980    17. c 1980 to c 1990    18. c 1990 to c 2000   

Reviews (1)

Viewing the California night sky
Joining others in the lovely 'Starwatch' series with its excellent regional focus is a guide for Northern California amateur astronomers, NORTHERN CALIFORNIA STARWATCH, which offers specifics on the constellations visible to Northern California residents. Each of the 12 star maps herein - one for each month - is set for Northern California especially, allowing residents to literally use their backyards as an observation point. Plenty of science and insights on myths and legends accompanies these star charts, making it a guide the entire family can readily enjoy.
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Subjects:  1. Astronomy    2. Astronomy (General)    3. Astronomy - General    4. Astronomy - Star Guides    5. California - Local History    6. California, Northern    7. Nature / Field Guide Books    8. Observers' manuals    9. Science    10. Science/Mathematics    11. Star Observation    12. Astronomical observation: observatories, equipment & methods    13. California    14. Non-Classifiable    15. Popular astronomy