Book Description
Galaxies are perhaps the most popular of all visual targets that are sought after by visual observers. At present the only way to get up-to-date information, is to query various (often highly technical) speciality books or digging deeply into the Internet. This can be a time consuming and often frustrating task, as the data aren’t often compatible. This book satisfies the need for a modern, comprehensive review in combining the three major aspects: the physical background on the nature and data of galaxies, the relevant instrumentation and viewing techniques, and finally the targets and their individual appearance in telescopes of various apertures. To illustrate the latter, a comprehensive sample of galaxies, including quasars, groups and clusters of galaxies is presented. This combination of theoretical knowledge and practical information guarantees successful observing sessions. The book could become a standard source on galaxy observing for all kinds of amateur observers, from the beginner to the experienced.
Customer Reviews:
A very good book.......2007-10-04
It is excellent writting, comprehensive, analytical and all subjects well presented and in the appropriate order.
most up-to-date, clearly structured reference book on galaxy observing.......2007-08-13
Wolfgang Steinicke was the leading author of the german "Praxishandbuch Deep Sky"(Kosmos 2004), which I like very much. So I started reading his new book on Galaxies with high expectations...and I was not disappointed :
I believe this is the most up-to-date, clearly structured reference book on galaxy observing - satisfying a very broad range of interests.
In three major sections, the authors not only address the needs of the most ambitious observers, but frequently add encouraging hints for beginners as well.
I recommend it A) as a reading book to gain a broader knowledge
and B) as an excellent planning guide when you want to observe MUCH MORE than the most commonly known galaxies.
SECTION I (70 pages) provides a basic understanding of the different types of galaxies and clusters, plus all those data that are important for visually observing them.
Chapter 1 explains different galaxy classification schemes, special cases and pecularities - then chapter 2 introduces pairs, groups and clusters of galaxies and shows their place within the hierarchy of the universe.
Chapter 3 presents a well structured overview for many different types of galaxy catalogs, containing galaxy data and nomenclatures. Advantages/disadvantages of these catalogs are discussed and their data quality is critically judged.
I strongly recommend to study this chapter 3 on catalogs first, because the same presentation structure is followed in the later SECTION III on observing programs.
SECTION II (33 pages) covers the Technical Aspects on observing galaxies.
Key technical instrumentation aspects are only summarized briefly (chap.4), but the Theory of Visual Observation (chap.5), together with practical recommendations on observing, star hopping and observing logs (chap.6) demonstrate the authors very broad experience in finding, identifying faint galaxies and documenting them.
SECTION III (110 pages) on "What to Observe? - The Objects" contains the largest, most valuable part of the book.
An instructive combination of "photo/textual" descriptions presents a large number of objects in the most "objective" way :
Not counting individual galaxies inside groups or clusters (though mentioned in the tables), a total of 500 objects are listed in data tables - following that same structure introduced in SECTION I. Each data table is immediately followed by a separate table with textual descriptions. Around 600 such descriptions are given, based on the visual appearance of each object with different instruments: 1. binocular (if possible),
2. medium aperture telescope(6-10"), 3. large telescope(13-20", sometimes larger).
All these observation descriptions in chapters 7 to 10 stem from renowned observers; e.g. Steve Gottlieb, Steve Coe, beside the authors.
Chapter 7 suggests a variety of Observing Programs, based on
a) M-, NGC/IC- or UGC- CATALOGS
b) Sky Areas and constellations
Chapter 8 suggests selection criteria which are dependent on the characteristics of the individual galaxy; i.e. by sorting them by their distance or by their appearance.
Chapter 9 concentrates on Groups and Clusters; i.e. by listing a) pairs and trios, b) small groups and chains, then c) clusters.
Chapter 10 finally suggests interesting targets "off the beaten path" or in the category of "ultimate challenge".
My reason for mentioning all these details is to demonstrate that this book is quite well organized - especially for all those readers with a minimal amount of patience and learning will.
There is only one unfortunate omission : Springer printed the 1.edition of this unique reference book without a page index !!!
However, after I emailed the author, he swiftly produced an INDEX OF ALL OBJECTS (xls), which can easily be downloaded
from the (Homepage Wolfgang Steinicke).
A Wealth of Information, Poorly Organized.......2007-04-17
This book is filled with a lot of really interesting information on galaxies. However, it is extremely disorganized. My copy of this book is now full of bookmarks to help me find information later. Why? This book has no index. Let me repeat that--this book has NO INDEX. This is an unforgivable sin for any reference book! Furthermore, the subtitle is "and how to observe them." There is not a clue about how to observe galaxies. Instead, the pictures of galaxies are taken through large professional telescopes that for the most part are not even identified. There are observer's descriptions for some galaxies, but most of these are through 20" and larger telescopes. Only a few descriptions are for telescope sizes you might be likely to own.
On the plus side, there are a number of pointers to more information sources, but often these are given in large, undifferentiated lists, instead of the authors making specific recommendations.
Some of the descriptions of galactic structure and evolution are extremely sparse. You won't find a clear definition of Seyfert galaxies, for example.
If you're looking for a definitive work on galaxies, this isn't it. But if you want to learn some interesting facts, you might find this book a fun read. You'll probably come away with some observing ideas as well, but stock up on bookmarks!
Book Description
An introductory illustrated and comprehensive guide to observing and understanding the night sky.
This book provides a survey of science's growing understanding of space and includes details of the latest space probes. The most recent photographs from the world's finest observatories and space-based cameras capture the wonder and beauty of the universe.
Astronomy covers a wide variety of heavenly phenomenon:
- Distant stars
- Planets of the Solar System
- Comets and shooting stars
- Eclipses
- Black holes.
Vivid cross-sections of the planets with a concise description and a chart of their relative distance from the sun provide at-a-glance information. A series of monthly sky charts point out constellations, star clusters, galaxies, nebula and more.
The sky maps use easy-to-read symbols to identify open and globular star clusters, galaxies and planetary nebula. The constellations are labeled and diagramed. Spectacular images of space phenomenon are further explained with colorful digital graphics.
Nebula, clusters, galaxies, etc. are profiled with color images and short descriptions. A pictograph tells whether binoculars or a telescope is required.
Astronomy is a fascinating and easy-to-use illustrated reference for amateur astronomers of all levels.
Customer Reviews:
Easy To Follow, Beautiful Photos ...................2004-11-29
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 !!
Book Description
A handy and comprehensive reference to the 300 most interesting celestial objects.
This book provides a tour through the galaxy, from its solar core to its outer limits, with all the highlights and the very latest data about the universe.
Convenient data sidebars with each entry provide facts and figures on every object- including mass, magnitude, density, radius, rotation period, and surface and core temperatures. An annotated cross-section of the object enhances this information, and a full-page photograph brings the object to life.
Additional spreads bring together and explain related objects or phenomena. For example, the corresponding pages for the sun include solar power, sunspots and solar flares. Others examples include:
- Mercury: Mercury's surface
- The asteroid belt: Eros 433
- Jupiter's moons: 10, Europa, Callista
- Uranus: Uranus' rings, Ariel and Titania
- Outer belts and comets: Halley's comet; Deep Impact
- Space telescopes: International Space Station.
300 Astronomical Objects is a handy reference for the amateur astronomer.
Customer Reviews:
It completes well with larger guides intended for coffee-table display........2007-03-05
Jimie Wilkins and Robert Dunn's 300 ASTRONOMICAL OBJECTS: A VISUAL REFERENCE TO THE UNIVERSE packs in some amazing astronomical photos usually seen in much larger titles, providing an excellent introduction to each object and specific examples accompanied by one or more large photos. From a close-up of the Great Red Spot to guides to the solar system, Milky Way and more, amateur astronomers will find this an outstanding visual and factual treat which offers the convenience of a smaller format lending to take-along totes. It completes well with larger guides intended for coffee-table display.
Book Description
Modern astronomical telescopes, along with other advances in technology, have brought the deep sky – star clusters, nebulae and the galaxies – within reach of amateur astronomers. And it isn’t even necessary to image many of these deep-sky objects in order to see them; they are within reach of visual observers using modern techniques and enhancement technology. The first requirement is truly dark skies; if you are observing from a light-polluted environment you need Tony Cooke’s book, Visual Astronomy in the Suburbs. Given a site with clear, dark night skies everything else follows… this book will provide the reader with everything he needs to know about what to observe, and using some of today’s state-of-the-art technique and commercial equipment, how to get superb views of faint and distant astronomical objects.
Book Description
Double stars are the rule, rather than the exception: our solar system, having a single sun, is in the minority. Orbiting satellites, ground-based observatories and interferometers have all helped discover many hundreds of new pairs - but this has left enormous numbers of wide, faint pairs under-observed or not observed at all. This is where amateur astronomers can help. Bob Argyle, a professional astronomer at Cambridge University, shows where enthusiastic amateur observers can best direct their efforts. The book caters for the use of every level of equipment, from simple commercial telescopes to micrometers and CCD cameras. Amateur astronomers who have gone beyond "sight-seeing” and want to make a genuine scientific contribution will find this a fascinating and rewarding field - and this book provides all the background and practical information that’s needed.
Customer Reviews:
for the amateur astronomer.......2006-12-04
Argyle's book is useful for the amateur astronomer. Showing how even in these days of multimillion dollar observatories, you can still make a meaningful contribution to astronomy with quite affordable and modest equipment.
The text goes through elementary optics, that can be found in such standard texts as Hecht and Zajac. But it quickly specialises in details specific to observing binaries in the visual spectrum. With simple measurement techniques whose geometry you can readily grasp and apply.
All a beginner need to know about double stars.......2005-03-23
I have been a amateur asteroid hunter for a few years but lately my interest switch to double stars. I found that information found on the web is too "bits and pieces". This book give me (an beginner) all the information I need. It is the best $30 I have spent.
Average customer rating:
- Detailed Data
- 2000.0 stars to Magnitude 8.0
- The Best Star Catalogue Ever made!!!!
|
Sky Catalogue 2000.0: Stars to Visual Magnitude 2000.0
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Similar Items:
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Double & Multiple Stars, and How to Observe Them
-
Double Stars for Small Telescopes: More Than 2,100 Stellar Gems for Backyard Observers (Stargazing Series)
ASIN: 0521277213 |
Book Description
This is a standard reference work for telescope users which gives positional and other data for galaxies, double and variable stars, and star clusters. This companion to Volume One includes comprehensive tables on 20,000 objects. Comprehensive treatment is given for each object: position for epoch 2000.0, magnitudes in the UBV photometric system; color index; surface brightness and Hubble classification for galaxies; and many other characteristics. This is a re-issue of a book first published in 1985 which has been out-of-print for several years. It has been made available again in response to many requests from users of Sky Catalogue 2000.0 Volume 1.
Customer Reviews:
Detailed Data.......2000-12-31
I bought this book because I was looking for a reference for all the double stars and deep sky objects shown in SkyAtlas 2000.0 charts that I could not find listed or old coordinates used in Burnham's Celestial Handbook made difficult to tell which is which. This is the one. For every object I am looking for data, this reference shows the mag, size, seperation. For galaxies it also lists the brightness, which is usefull and will help you to understand why you have spent endless nights searching for a mag 9.5 galaxy only to discover it's brightness is only mag 10.5 because it's light is spread over such a wide area. This is not a star chart format book, it is a data reference listed in order of RA for double stars and in order of NGC # for most everything else. There is a notes column that will cross reference the M objects, but you cannot look them up unless you have the NGC #. It's easy really, if you have a good set of charts that you are starting from. If you want to know all about the objects by constellation, get the three books that make up the set of Burnham's. Even though they are 1950 coordianates, the will teach you more than you ever thought you could know about the sky. Use this as a current data reference to fill in the blind spots.
2000.0 stars to Magnitude 8.0.......2000-01-05
This is NOT to be purchased unless you are very advanced in astronomy. I was hoping for a rework of the "New General Catalog" and this, as a gift, was way beyond me. I feel the description of this tomb should reflect its complexity
The Best Star Catalogue Ever made!!!!.......1999-10-05
This book contains hundreds of stars, down and including the magnitude 8.0. It is 99.999% accurate and no smudges! I recomend this book to anyone who is searching the stellar realm of the universe.
Book Description
This stunningly illustrated visual guide to the heavens deserves a place on every amateur astronomer's bookshelf. It features both sky maps and dramatic photos of all major constellations, from Andromeda to Virgo. It also provides a stargazer's excursion across the solar system, focusing on planets, asteroids, meteors, and comets. Exploring further into deep space, it presents breathtaking photos—many of them taken from NASA's famous Hubble telescope—of colliding galaxies, supernovas, and spirograph nebulae. The author advises beginners on nighttime sky-watching, whether they make their observations with the naked eye, with binoculars, or with a telescope. He also discusses unmanned space exploration, provides star maps for each month of the year, and explains such phenomena as the Big Bang and black holes. The Stargazer's Guide to the Universe is printed throughout in full color and features more than 250 photos and illustrations.
Customer Reviews:
Pompous title, down-to-earth text.......2007-05-07
The rather pompous title disguises a good beginner's guide to astronomy. The first two chapters provide a brief overview of our current understanding of astronomy, followed by a discussion of the instruments we now use to do astronomy, from Hubble to radio telescopes to space probes. After that comes the meat of the book, three chapters dividing the universe into our galaxy, outside our galaxy, and the solar system. Each chapter provides an overview followed by a host of examples. The examples are my favorite part of the book: each is a two-page spread, with a big beautiful photo on one side and an explanation on the other. The explanation consists not only of a brief text but a sky map showing the exact location of the object in the photo as well as a smaller, annotated version of the photo pointing out notable elements that appear in the image, whether it be craters or interstellar clouds of a particular composition or a ten-billion-year-old supernova. (I could have used some of that in my astronomy classes.)
The text is not terribly sophisticated, and I found myself skimming through it to get to the photo section. I also have one quibble and two errors. The quibble is that there's no mention of false-color imagery, even though I think a number of the photos are in false color - oxygen clouds are not automatically green. The errors are in the chapter on instruments. In one place it says the radio telescope at Arecibo is built into the top of a mountain. It's not, of course, it's built into the bottom of a (radio-dish-shaped) valley. It also states that the Very Large Telescope at Paranal, with its four 8.2 meter telescopes, has the light-gathering power of a mirror 200 meters across. Even with some additional smaller telescopes, that's unlikely: it would take another 590 8.2m telescopes to make that true. I assume he means the resolving power.
However, those are minor points in a beautiful and informative book. I got this at the library but would seriously consider getting my own copy, for both the beautiful photographs and the helpful explanations thereof.
Images that would have been impossible to get before........2005-11-08
Although most serious astronomers don't look at images through their telescopes (they have instruments like spectroscopes analyzing the light that's coming in) the images that have been produced in the last few years have been truly outstanding. For the first time mankind has sent spacecraft to objects in our solar system. We have rocks back from the moon, we have close up images of planets and moons, we have Spirit and Opportunity roving around on Mars. And we have the Hubble Space Telescope sending back astounding photographs.
The result is this book, filled with images and information that just a short time ago simply wasn't available. The images that are reproduced here are simply spactactular. The book starts with the biggest objects: galaxies and star clusters. Then it moves down to our own Milky Way Galaxy, and then to our own solar system.
This is a coffee table picture book, but with some truly out of this world images.
Customer Reviews:
Seminal work on double stars for amateur or professional.......1998-08-05
Couteau's work is considered one of the best treatises on double stars. Chapters on the history of visual double star astronomy, instrumentation, and observation are complemented by chapters on orbits and an appendix of some 500 double stars that have separations between 0.5" and 15" of arc. Throughout, the work is very readable, despite being a fairly deep subject. Certain chapters are more accessible than others, but the book is worth the appendix alone. Highly recommended.
Customer Reviews:
Worth the read.......2006-11-27
This book has become a collectors item, prices range from $195-$400. It's an excellent book but I would suggest borrowing it from a library, like I did, before making a decision to buy it. There is about 64 pages of technical information on issues associated with viewing DSO. I found the technical information interesting but difficult to follow at times, it took me a number of readings to absorb the material. The rest of the book is a compilation of Dr. Clark's observation logs and several appendices. For the most part he uses a homemade 8-inch f/11.5 Cassegrain. Glancing through the observational logs I noticed that Dr, Clark used either a 38mm (1), 28mm Erfle (9), 20mm Erfle (48), 12.5mm Orthoscopic (5), 12.4mm Erfle (48), 9mm Kellner (5), 7mm Erfle (9) and 6mm Orthoscopic (1), numbers in brackets are the number of times he used the eyepiece. There were about 68 observational drawings with the 20mm and 12.4mm eyepieces being used 48 times each, therefore dominating his observing. If Dr. Clark used more than 1 eyepiece for the observation he would sometimes label the eyepiece that yielded the best view. It is clear to me from Dr. Clark's book that a lot of DSOs and their details can be seen from a dark site by a visual observer with good averted vision skills, a few carefully choosen good eyepieces, such as a 20mm and 12mm for example, and a reasonably sized telescope ~ f/10, 8-inch SCT.
Not for the casual reader, but very informative.......2002-03-22
Want to see spiral arms of M33, M51 or M101... in a 10 inch scope? Confused about why certain not-too-dim "faint fuzzies" cannot be seen at all- even at low power under clear, dark conditions? Do you enjoy lots of graphs, charts, equations and technical writing? Then this book is for you.
Roger Nelson Clark's book gives the Serious observer of the deep sky the skills necessary to milk the most information out of every last photon of light when observing visually. He gives an extremely complete recounting of studies of the human visual system, most specifically in terms of its ability to adapt to dark conditions and perceive subtle differences in contrast, and its acuity under low-light conditions.
He asserts that there is, statistically, not a very wide range of light perception ability in the human population (amounsgt those without obvious visual disease) and that techniques he outlines in the book will help any committed student of the sky see more details.
His conclusions? The bottom line is: most of us aren't using enough magnification. Many assume that the "richest field" view of a scope, providing the brightest image per unit area, will also allow the for the greatest amount of observed detail. Clark, however, shows that this is not the case. Indeed, at low light levels, the human visual system is not very acute, (unlike daytime vision) and that many of the details in our favorite "faint fuzzies" simply cannot be seen unless they are magnfied enough for their light to spread out over a larger portion of our retinae.
Also, magnifying has the added effect of dimming the background around an object as well as the object itself. The human eye is excellent, it turns out, in perceiving subtle differences in contrast, and that an overall reduction in light per unit area does not affect this as much as one would think. What's more, when reducing the overall amount of light entering the eye, dark adapation improves. Clark outlines the results of studies that show that in complete darkness, the dark adapted human eye can detect points of light equivilant to an 8.5 mag star! So, in looking trough an eyepiece, one's eye can, in fact, become more dark adapted than it would be under the ambient light of the sky.
He demonstrates how to compute the "optimum detection magnification"- not too high not too low- for a given object, given its brightness per unit area and its size.
An excellent feature of the book are Clark's drawings of a host of astronomical objects through scopes of various sizes. This gives an excellent indication of what one should be able to see under decent atmospheric conditions.
One weakness in the book, I find, is the charts of "recommended optimum detection magnifications". While the concept that such a magification exists is a good one to know, and its exposition in this book complete and useful, the execution of this chart is full of glitches. While the overall gist of the book suggests that many of us aren't "cranking it up enough", many of suggested optimum magnifications are absurdly high. Many are useful, however. You'll just have to find out which is which for yourself. I chalk this up to sloppy editing.
Don't, however, let this dissuade you from getting this book. If you fit the desciption above, then this book will change the way you use your scope.
DEEPLY informative and teaching........1998-06-18
I found this book a must for anyone wanting to exploit visual limits in skygazing with a telescope. It analyses in depth the average visual acuity and translates the priorly published results ino a guide to get the best possible power to observe anything through a telescope. Then suggest (with lots of examples) a very usseful way of making a observing log. It includes a catalogue with more than 600 deep sky objects, a table wich can be used as a guide to observe them with a telescope an example computer program in Basic and Fortran to be used as a basis to get the best possible conditions to study any object. It helped me to find M1, M81 and M101 in the light poluted place un northwestern Mexico City were I use my 78mm telescope.
Average customer rating:
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Space and Astronomy: An Illustrated Guide to Science (Science Visual Resources)
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Manufacturer: Chelsea House Publications
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Binding: Hardcover
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ASIN: 0816061688 |
Books:
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- History: Fiction or Science? (Chronology, No. 1)
- History: Fiction or Science? (Chronology, No. 1)
- History: Fiction or Science? (Chronology, No. 1)
- History: Fiction or Science? (Chronology, No. 1)
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