A Field Guide to Stars and Planets (Peterson Field Guides(R))
Average customer rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • excellent guide to astronomy
  • It had what I wanted!
  • Supreme writing and wonderful pictures
  • This is one of my "desert island" books.
  • For those serious about learning astronomy
A Field Guide to Stars and Planets (Peterson Field Guides(R))
Jay M. Pasachoff
Manufacturer: Houghton Mifflin
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0395934311

Book Description

The fourth edition of this best-selling field guide has been completely revised and updated to include the latest information from leading astronomical sources. All the time-sensitive material is new and valid through 2010: solar eclipses, phases of the moon, positions of the planets, and more. Twenty-four Monthly Sky Maps, all newly revised and in color, show exactly what you'll see when facing north or south in the night sky. Fifty-two Atlas Charts, also revised and in color, cover the entire sky, including close-ups of areas of special interest such as the Pleiades and the Orion Nebula. The hundreds of thousands of devoted users of the previous editions of this guide have been eagerly awaiting this new volume so they can continue to enjoy their hobby in the coming decades.

Customer Reviews:

4 out of 5 stars excellent guide to astronomy.......2006-05-13

I found this book has a lot of interesting and useful information. It also shows planetary positions till 2014. The atlas is a little crammed at ~2.9mm/degree but not problematic.It is very detailed, going to stellar magnitude 7.5 ,with 2,500 deep space objects.I use it in conjunction with a planisphere and it works really well.I suggest laminating the covers because this book will dog ear with a lot of field use. Overall,this is an excellent resource book.

5 out of 5 stars It had what I wanted!.......2005-10-06

It had, specifically, the moons of the planets that I had been working on; it saved me a lot of hunting around for them. Now I have it for future reference. -- Ray Tetrault

5 out of 5 stars Supreme writing and wonderful pictures.......2004-05-23

This was a great astronomy book that i used countless times with my telescope. without this book i would not be able to know where almost half the stars in the sky are. Wonderful writing that is easy for a amaueter astronomer like myself and many others. The pictures are the best part. The mind bending images of stars nebulaes and solar eclipses are enough. Wonderful book!!!

5 out of 5 stars This is one of my "desert island" books........2004-05-07

If I had to choose a small number of books to take with me into exile on some deserted island somewhere, this would definitely be one of them (and offhand I'm not sure I can name any others).

An entire astronomy library packed into a single portable field guide, Jay Pasachoff's entry in the Peterson Field Guide series is a delightful introduction to, and reference for, the universe revealed in the night sky.

If you have any interest in astronomy at all, you can always find something in here to look at or just to sit and ponder about.

Besides the obvious things like monthly star charts for both northern and southern hemispheres, the book contains a complete 52 chart atlas of the sky put together by Wil Tirion with notes on objects in each chart, clever finder charts and tables for the planets for a ten year period, history and lore of the naming of the constallations, many, many photographs of astronomical objects taken by Hubble and other telescopes, an atlas of the moon, and many enlightening charts and tables of things like details of the brightest/nearest stars, the planets and their moons, and so on.

There's a section on each of the planets, and of course lots of coverage of the sun and eclipses of the sun and moon.

It always surprises me that this book doesn't seem to get as much respect in astronomical circles as I think it deserves. While you can certainly fill a library with astronomical books and atlases that are better than this field guide in any one area, you will not do better than this book in stuffing all of that information together in one "to go" package.

An excellent gift for a child starting to get interested in science and the world at large.

I could go on, but you should just buy the book and see for yourself :-)

G.

4 out of 5 stars For those serious about learning astronomy.......2004-01-13

For the very new to star charts and guides, this was a bit daunting at first. It is not a quickie guide. But after reading through it and learning the terminology it has lived up the "Peterson field guides" tradition. The maps and charts are very clear and it is chock full of interesting facts. It even has a small section on telescopes and binoculars that was helpful.
This guide if full of wonderful pictures and charts, it has become one of the more dog eared field guides in the house right after my Petersons bird books!
I would defiantly recommend this book to any one who is serious about astronomy.
Smithsonian Handbooks: Stars and Planets (Smithsonian Handbooks)
Average customer rating: 5 out of 5 stars
  • i like it
  • DK Publishes Another Great Book
Smithsonian Handbooks: Stars and Planets (Smithsonian Handbooks)
Ian Ridpath
Manufacturer: DK ADULT
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Turtleback

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ASIN: 0789489880

Book Description

A visual guide to the night sky viewed from around the world. The clearest and sharpest recognition guides to the natural world, Smithsonian Handbooks make identification of individual animals, plants, minerals, and other phenomena sure, simple, and straightforward. Authoritative text, hundreds of crystal--clear charts and photographs, and a simple, jargon--free approach make the Smithsonian Handbook of Stars and Planets the most accessible and comprehensive guide to observing the night sky, suitable both for beginners and experienced astronomers alike.

Customer Reviews:

5 out of 5 stars i like it.......2007-05-06

written by an amateur. easy to read. easy to follow. gives a picture of what constellations "look" like. educational.

5 out of 5 stars DK Publishes Another Great Book.......2003-08-11

As in all other DK books, colored pictures, photographs, and high-quality gloss paper are found in this book. This book clearly gives a drawing of the constellations, a little history, where it is visible (latitudes), and at the very end, finishes it off with a map of all of the stars from both hemispheres, meaning that you can take this book anywhere in the world and use it! Plenty of information to be found in this book for star gazers. For pros, it's a great reference as it lists individual star names, also, like M2, etc.
Stars and Planets
Average customer rating: 4 out of 5 stars
  • okay
Stars and Planets
Joachim Ekrutt
Manufacturer: Barron's Educational Series
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0764113100

Book Description

The brand new edition of this favorite star watchers' handbook has all of its maps, tables, and charts updated to chronicle celestial events throughout the first decade of the twenty-first century. The book provides month-by-month sky maps for both the northern and southern hemispheres. An astronomical calendar tracks all of the solar system's planets, and a set of tables shows all phases of the Moon up to the year 2010. Gatefold front and back covers open to show solar and lunar eclipses for the same ten-year period. A 22-page illustrated A-to-Z dictionary describes major celestial objects and events. The book features 175 sky maps, charts, and diagrams, plus 30 dramatic full-color photos.

Customer Reviews:

4 out of 5 stars okay.......2002-11-24

it is pretty good book for youngsters I think it's really good it 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.
The Planet Observer's Handbook
Average customer rating: 4 out of 5 stars
  • The Intro may have skewed my opinion....
  • A bit too advanced for me
  • An extensive exposition of the Solar System
  • A must-have for the dedicated planet observer!
  • An excellent guide to practical planetary observations.
The Planet Observer's Handbook
Fred William Price
Manufacturer: Cambridge University Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0521627087

Book Description

This is an informative and well-illustrated guide to planetary observations for amateurs. After a brief description of the solar system and a chapter on the celestial sphere, readers are shown how to choose, test and use a telescope with various accessories and how to make observations and record results. For each planet and the asteroids, details are given of observational techniques, together with suggestions for how to make contributions of scientific value. From a general description and detailed observational history of each planet, observers can anticipate what they should see and assess their own observations. The chapter on planetary photography includes the revolutionary use of videography, charge coupled devices and video-assisted drawing. There are also chapters on making maps and planispheres and on photoelectric photometry.

Customer Reviews:

3 out of 5 stars The Intro may have skewed my opinion...........2003-06-11

Unlike the other reviews, I thought the book was not that technical at all. The book at first seemed to dedicate too many pages to the same topics you find in every beginner astro book, telescope types, eyepiece types, etc... The information on the planets were not as detailed as I had hoped (sans Saturn). Most of this information and much more can be found on the Web. I did think the chapter on the minor planets was worth the read.

I must admit, my opinion of this book may have been heavily skewed because I "accidentally" read the introduction. In there, Fred Price compares planetary astronomers to real "observers" and anyone who observes deep-sky objects to "sightseers".

Hmmm... the AAVSO might differ with that opinion, as would a number of organizations who do deep sky research. Maybe I was just too sensitive, but the introduction did rub me the wrong way. It is true, I do often "sight see" deep sky objects for the challenge of seeing something I had not seen and to improve my "observing eye" (ability to see detail with your eyes). I do not care what Dr. Price thinks of me in doing so. However, I know many people who think the opposite way, that observing the planets is a dull and boring task that already much is known about. I think both sides are wrong to be so damned elitist about it.

Besides that, it is a good book :-)

3 out of 5 stars A bit too advanced for me.......2003-04-09

I was surprised by the technical flavor of this book, as I expected (wrongly, it turned out) a beginner to mid-level observation handbook which I could take out with me on my observation trips.

The book is over 400 pages long, all written in 10 point Times font. There are very little illustrations and photo, and they are all in black and white. So it looks like a college science textbook and is very challenging visually.

Each of the sections on each planet have the same subsections such as "History of Observation" (mostly useless to me), "Observing [Jupiter, etc.]" and "Space craft Obsevation of [Jupiter, etc.]"

It also seems that to see most of the stuff described in this book, you need to have a telescope that is at least 8 inches, so that is out of my league.

However, in fairness, I know that this is a very compresensive book on the subject, and answers all possible questions that one may have on observing the planets.

But as I said, this book is more suitable for the advanced amateur Astronomer.

5 out of 5 stars An extensive exposition of the Solar System.......2001-08-09

This terrific book is an illustrated and textual exposition of the Solar System - a guided tour of the planets and their characteristics - from the transients of Mercury to eclipses and occultations of Pluto and Charon. Except for a few singular and minor omissions, The Planet Observer's Handbook qualifies as one of the best works on the Solar System to date. In fact we've included it on the Belmont Society's "Required Reading List" for the amateur astronomer.

Advanced amateurs may want to skim through the first chapters - dealing with telescope types, accessories, components of the celestial sphere, and introductory terminology. There are however, some eye-catching moments for jaded readers, like the apodizing (antidifraction) screen, a simple homemade device to limit diffraction and the effects of atmospheric turbulence while not adversely affecting image contrast or quality (it's actually an old trick, but not that well known).

This book was not intended to be a "post card catalog" of pretty pictures. Thus there are no contemporary photographs such as pictures of Venus from the HST, or a Cassinni fly-by image of Io against the festooned background of Jupiter. There are however, many pertinent photos and illustrations to serve historic interest and to offer educational impact. We find this arrangement to be perfectly suitable and appropriate.

Some may be surprised and/or a little disappointed that our moon is not included here. But keep in mind that the moon is a subject unto itself, and thus deserves a work of a separate magnitude - and there are several available.

There are some disappointments: Aside from some basic illustrations for the purpose of scale, this work is notably lacking in accurate renditions of the orbital planes of major satellites. Also, in light of various discussions about several other oddities, there is virtually none (or even any speculation) about the drastic tilt of Uranus. We find this to be curiously conspicuous, as it's one of the most striking anomalies in the Solar System.

There is skillful discussion of little-known and much-neglected Solar System components, like the Kuiper Belt and the Oort Cloud, and some insightful speculation of such things as their respective associations with short and long term comets. There is also some discussion of an almost ubiquitous "Planet-X", the existence of which is argued to this day as being the cause for Neptunian perturbations. This parallels some speculation (or at least the opinion) that Pluto and Charon are in fact not the ninth planet and its moon, but simply major lost-in-space chunks of accreted or captured "debris".

We found the brief presentation and subsequent explanation of Bode's Law to be the best we have seen offered in a non-college level text. This intriguing mathematical statement is so staggeringly significant, (yet surprisingly simple) that it boggles the mind.

Finally, there is considerable discussion of the data and knowledge that can be contributed by amateur astronomers. This discussion is a clever form of interactive "provocation" and is to be applauded. Author Price emphatically encourages dedicated amateurs to take up the gauntlet, and involve themselves in observational contributions to the sciences, and he makes a fair attempt at describing how to accomplish it, including addresses of where to send your observations and data. However, you shouldn't feel bad if you don't have the time or the inclination to engage in such ambitious activities.

The average amateur astronomer who is even mildly interested in the Solar System will benefit greatly from this work, and will likely gain a great deal of knowledge and insight about the countless and innumerable objects that circle the Sun.

Highly recommended.

5 out of 5 stars A must-have for the dedicated planet observer!.......2001-02-13

This book is a good read for the general amateur astronomer and a required text for the dedicated planet observer. I fall in the "general amateur" category and do not have the patience nor inclination to devote my observing time to sketching the planets night after night. Yet I enjoyed the book anyway and it gave me a sound appreciation for the dynamic nature of our neighbors in the solar system as well as the numerous ways in which the serious amateur can contribute to the science.

This book is replete with details on the numerous features visible on the planets through amateur telescopes. It also gives advice on what type of telescope to use and what magnifications to employ. Basic scientific data on each planet (rotation rate, mass, distance, etc.) is included for reference as well as a lengthy history of observation for each planet, but the emphasis of this book is on *amateur observation*, as implied by the title. You won't find theories on Saturn's cloud decks or the origins of Mars' surface features. What you will find are detailed tips and advice on how to look for and draw the spokes in Saturn's rings, festoons between Jupiter's cloud belts, the "purple haze" on Mars, filters to employ, etc.

A necessary work at a great price for the hardcore planet observer! For the casual amateur, a bit expensive and over-the-top but still a useful addition to the library. I give it five stars because it adheres to its stated purpose faithfully and with style.

4 out of 5 stars An excellent guide to practical planetary observations........1998-09-14

Fred Price has produced a wonderful guide to the inquisitive amateur astronomer who wants to undertake solar system observations. The book provides a very thorough and useful discussion of the solar system and "celestial sphere," and progresses into a fairly standard, but very informative, discussion about telescopes and atmospheric conditions. The meat of the book assigns one chapter to each planet; for each planet the author provides the essential orbital characteristics, physical properties, etc., and an enlightening relation of the history of each planet's observations. This history not only prepares the observer for what to expect to see at the eyepiece, but allows him to place the quality of his observations in historical context. Finally, Dr. Price provides suggestions of good science which a dedicated and moderately well-equipped amateur can perform, contributing usefully to human knowledge of the solar system. I found this book quite informative, and found that it has enriched my observing experience at the telescope.
A Field Guide to the Stars and Planets (Peterson Field Guides)
Average customer rating: Not rated
    A Field Guide to the Stars and Planets (Peterson Field Guides)
    Jay Pasachoff
    Manufacturer: Tandem Library
    ProductGroup: Book
    Binding: School & Library Binding

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    ASIN: 0613354060
    DK Handbooks: Stars and Planets
    Average customer rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars
    • Great field guide for those new to the sky
    • Outstanding for novice or intermediate amateur astronomers
    • Nice coffee table book
    • Nice starter book...
    • So Simple, Even I Can Find What I'm Looking For!
    DK Handbooks: Stars and Planets
    Ian Ridpath
    Manufacturer: DK ADULT
    ProductGroup: Book
    Binding: Paperback

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    ASIN: 0789435217

    Amazon.com

    Stars and Planets is a sturdy, thorough field guide for amateur astronomers. The book's first section is a general introduction to astronomy. A solar system primer and constellation catalog are followed by a month-by-month night sky guide. Filled with clear, easy-to-read star charts, photos, and diagrams, this is the perfect starter for beginning astronomers, and a handy reference for those with a little more experience. You'll find information on stargazing equipment, a glossary of terminology, and the history of each cosmic feature's discovery. Like all the Eyewitness Handbooks, this one will be a terrific addition to your family science library. --Therese Littleton

    Book Description

    . The visual guide to the night sky viewed from around the world. END

    Customer Reviews:

    5 out of 5 stars Great field guide for those new to the sky.......2006-06-17

    I sat down at a local book retailer and compared this book with both the Peterson Field Guide, and the National Audubon Society's Field Guide to the Night Sky. I was purchasing this book for a teenager who is taking a serious interest in the stars, and I wanted him to have a field guide to accompany the 10x50 binoculars I bought him. My immediate response was to look at the Audubon text because I had an older edition and was attracted to the plastic blue cover. I also knew of 'Peterson' since I had one of those growing up as a teenager. I looked at them both, and also found this Princeton edition which I had no experience with.

    A quick run-down of build (binding, pages), charts, photos, and arrangement of content is listed for each text:

    Audubon: nice plastic cover, very thin paper for text (not suitable for dew or teenage abuse) and nice paper used for charts and photos, charts are okay, photos are not listed beside text (lose context of photo), lots of other good info, but maybe too much info and not well organized(?)

    Peterson: good cover, good paper, charts are very detailed but good for indoor use only (not suitable for red light use at night) because of colored stars (color of stars specify spectral types - not useful to beginner looking for clusters and galaxies with binoculars). I don't recall other info since I put the book down after seeing the star charts.

    Princeton: good cover and paper (thick - should handle dew and typical teenage abuse), charts are good contrast white stars on light blue background (stars to mag 5 or 6, I think?), very good info on historical significance of each constellation, and any objects viewable in that constellation - also shows most significant objects in context of the constellation they are found.

    I sat down at home and thumbed thru the text a few times and was quite pleased with it. It has a brief run down on each planet (sort of an introduction) along with some decent photos. We've used the book a couple times since purchasing it, and I would have to say that it is a joy to use when trying to get acquainted with the night sky. I don't expect it to tell me anything and everything about equipment and the nature of the universe - I just need it to help me find what I'm looking for.

    5 out of 5 stars Outstanding for novice or intermediate amateur astronomers.......2002-05-16

    If you own only one astronomy field guide, this should be it. The charts are accurate & easy to read, the text is informative but not overpowering, and the design is very reader friendly. The monthly star charts can be used from most latitudes - both northern and southern.
    This is the third edition of this book. I've been a fan of it since it was first published in the mid 1980s.

    3 out of 5 stars Nice coffee table book.......2001-11-30

    I found this book to be interesting, but not in-depth enough for intermediate astronomers. The information on the planets is overly simplistic and for entertainment purposes. For example, instead of having a graph of basic information for every planet, sometimes it lists essential information (like orbital period) and sometimes it doesn't which makes it useless as a reference.

    I suggest it for the younger prospective amateur, but for older users get the Peterson's Field Guide: Stars and Planets. Very sturdy build and good guide for charting the planets.

    4 out of 5 stars Nice starter book..........2001-05-30

    This is a nice, streamlined book. Logical layout, sharp photography, and a clean, crisp design. The first portion discusses the universe and stars (addressed below), and is followed by another section that provides a 2-4 page profile on each planet, including when and where in the sky it's visible until 2009. Following these sections, is a large section covering all the official constellations in alphabetical order with at least one interesting item to check out from each constellation. Obviously, some have more: Sagitarius, Scorpius, Orion, etc. A brief constellation history is provided, along with a small map depicting the constellation stars, surrounding stars, and objects of particular interest. These objects are coded with simple icons to denote "viewability": naked eye, bino, scope, etc. The last section of the book has monthly sky maps. I purchased the flex-cover edition, which is made of some quasi-vinyl material that's quite nice. The book itself seems well made and durable. Why only 4 stars? I have two issues. #1, I wish it were spiral bound. #2, it's not as forthright about its hypothetical aspects as it should be (planetary core composition, Big Bang mechanics, Oort Cloud (!), etc.) Other than that, the book is highly recommended and a pleasure to read/use.

    5 out of 5 stars So Simple, Even I Can Find What I'm Looking For!.......2001-02-19

    I am one of those people who has trouble finding specific constellations, and is never quite sure whether I'm looking at Jupiter or Venus. I carry around little scraps of paper from the newspaper so I can figure out which planets are visible . . . but have a hard time reading the scraps in the dark.

    With this book, I can see when and where each planet will appear through 2012. I can also get all the help I need to know what constellations are up there now, and which ones will be present when.

    As a result, I can finally introduce the starry heavens in an appropriate way to younger people. I already know a lot about astronomy, but the night sky was beyond me. No longer! Whew!

    Although my four children did not get much help with the heavens from me, the grandchildren will receive great benefits from this resource.

    Even if you are good at identifying objects in the night sky, this book will be a valuable, convenient reference for you.

    Enjoy the lore that our ancestors appreciated by seeing new aspects of the night-time sky!
    Through the Telescope: A Guide for the Amateur Astronomer, Revised Edition
    Average customer rating: 2 out of 5 stars
    • Excellent guide
    • A poor excuse for a book on amateur astronomy
    • Badly in need of copy editing
    • Warning: bad book!
    • Excellent reference book
    Through the Telescope: A Guide for the Amateur Astronomer, Revised Edition
    Patricia L. Barnes-Svarney , and Michael R. Porcellino
    Manufacturer: McGraw-Hill
    ProductGroup: Book
    Binding: Paperback

    AstronomyAstronomy | Astronomy | Science | Subjects | Books
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    ASIN: 0071348042

    Book Description

    In the ten years since this award-winning book was originally written by Michael Porcellino, the field of astronomy and its discoveries has grown by leaps and bounds. From the astounding images sent back by the Hubble Space Telescope, to the bright comet Hale-Bopp from the fleet of Martian probes, to the long-distance explorations of the Moon, Jupiter, Venus and Saturn--the universe has become more accessible than ever. And thanks to this revised and thoroughly updated new edition by astronomer and science writer, Patricia Barnes-Svarney, anyone with an interest can delve into its wonders. From the very close up to the far reaches of space, THROUGH THE TELESCOPE presents a uniquely "user-friendly" view of the universe, and offers both novice and advanced amateur astronomers some of the best tools available to watch the nighttime skies. You’ll learn all about: * Setting up a good, user-friendly telescope system * How to look at the universe in order to really see it * Upgrading your telescope for peak performance * How to spot a star cluster, a nebulaÖeven a supernova * Forming your own network of amateur astronomers. Complete with a web site appendix and fully updated charts on eclipses and planetary oppositions well into the year 2000, this edition of an acclaimed book will be an invaluable users guide for aspiring astronomers entering the new millennium.

    Customer Reviews:

    4 out of 5 stars Excellent guide.......2002-02-01

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

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

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

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

    1 out of 5 stars A poor excuse for a book on amateur astronomy.......2000-12-14

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

    1 out of 5 stars Badly in need of copy editing.......2000-07-05

    It's amazing McGraw-Hill let this one out at all. There are typographical and syntactical errors on almost every page. I can't comment on technical accuracy, as I am a beginner at astronomy. But I do know when I've seen the same photograph twice with different, and inconsistent, captions. The publisher did a real disservice to the author of this edition--and to the memory of the author of the original version--by rushing this to market without at least showing it to a copy editor.

    1 out of 5 stars Warning: bad book!.......2000-03-04

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

    4 out of 5 stars Excellent reference book.......1999-09-18

    As an amateur in astronomy, I found this book very educative. It covers all aspects of astronomy - from naked eye view of the sky to deep space objects, binocular to large telescope obesrvation, etc. Though it was written in 1989, the book will continue to be a reference book to all interested in astronomy.
    The Cambridge Encyclopedia of Amateur Astronomy
    Average customer rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    • Excellent book
    • Good Book on Mediocre Paper
    The Cambridge Encyclopedia of Amateur Astronomy
    Michael E. Bakich
    Manufacturer: Cambridge University Press
    ProductGroup: Book
    Binding: Hardcover

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    Similar Items:
    1. The Cambridge Encyclopedia of Stars The Cambridge Encyclopedia of Stars
    2. The Backyard Astronomer's Guide The Backyard Astronomer's Guide
    3. NightWatch: A Practical Guide to Viewing the Universe NightWatch: A Practical Guide to Viewing the Universe
    4. Star Watch: The Amateur Astronomer's Guide to Finding, Observing, and Learning About over 125 Celestial Objects Star Watch: The Amateur Astronomer's Guide to Finding, Observing, and Learning About over 125 Celestial Objects

    ASIN: 0521812984

    Book Description

    This complete reference provides a wealth of practical information covering all aspects of amateur astronomy. Organized thematically for ease of use, it covers observing techniques, telescopes and observatories, internet resources, and the objects that can be studied. Those new to the field will find tips, techniques and plans on how to begin their quest, and more advanced observers will find useful advice on how to get more from their hobby. Michael E. Bakich obtained a bachelors degree in Astronomy from Ohio State University and a masters degree in Planetarium Education from Michigan State University. He has written numerous original planetarium programs, and gives lectures on astronomy to groups of all ages. He is also a tour guide to eclipses and astro-archaeological sites. Bakich has written two previous books: The Cambridge Planetary Handbook (2000) and The Cambridge Guide to the Constellations (1995), both published by Cambridge University Press.

    Customer Reviews:

    4 out of 5 stars Excellent book.......2007-07-30

    The purpose of this book is to give someone just starting out in amateur astronomy a foundation from which to work. This book accomplishes that task very well. It covers the basics of a wide range of topics. The Author presents this material in a conversational style which makes it an easy read. While this book is very similar in purpose to Dickinson/Dyers's Backyard Astronomer's Guide, it doesn't go into as great a detail on most topics. If you are just starting out in amateur astronomy you should consider buying this book. Two additions I would have liked to have seen in this book were 1.) A section with starmaps, and 2.) A section on how to starhop with examples. These two items should be in any beginners book.

    4 out of 5 stars Good Book on Mediocre Paper.......2004-02-04

    An excellent book that takes a unique approach to explaining the world of amateur astronomy. I use this book more as a reference than a door to beginning to understand the huge world of astronomy (Terence Dickinson in Nightwatch does that best). Has an excellent Equipment section (especially the filters area), great planetary info in the Solar System section, and very handy reference charts in the back of the book.

    For the price of this book, you'd expect paper quality to at least be equal to The Backyard Astronomer's Guide (Dickinson, Dyer)-- but it isn't. The paper is cheap and really doesn't stand up well to the heavy page turning I have subjected it to - a minor gripe though. There is stuff in this book that is very hard to find elsewhere. Check it out in your local bookstore -- then buy it here at Amazon for a substantial discount off retail if you like it!
    Discover Planet Watch: A Year-Round Viewing Guide to the Night Sky With a Make-Your-Own Planet Finder
    Average customer rating: 3 out of 5 stars
    • A good but complicated book!
    Discover Planet Watch: A Year-Round Viewing Guide to the Night Sky With a Make-Your-Own Planet Finder
    Clint W. Hatchett
    Manufacturer: Hyperion Books (Adult Trd Pap)
    ProductGroup: Book
    Binding: Paperback

    AstronomyAstronomy | Astronomy & Space | Science, Nature & How It Works | Children's Books | Subjects | Books
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    ASIN: 1562828746

    Customer Reviews:

    3 out of 5 stars A good but complicated book!.......2000-03-25

    Planetwatch is a very good book with many interesting experiments, from tracing the moon to viewing Jupiter. The experiments range in level from beginner to expert. I like many of the experiments, but even the beginner ones are sometimes very complicated for anyone that has never tried astronomy before. It is still a very good book, though. It shares a lot of information about the solar system and makes you aware of what possible things an amateur astronomer could see. Overall, it is a very good astronomy book for beginners and advanced alike.
    Handbook for Planet Observers
    Average customer rating: Not rated
      Handbook for Planet Observers
      Gunter D. Roth
      Manufacturer: Faber and Faber
      ProductGroup: Book
      Binding: Hardcover

      AstronomyAstronomy | Astronomy | Science | Subjects | Books
      Solar SystemSolar System | Astronomy | Science | Subjects | Books
      ASIN: 0571083455

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      1. A Thousand Splendid Suns
      2. A Thousand Splendid Suns
      3. Adobe Photoshop Lightroom Book for Digital Photographers,The (Voices That Matter)
      4. All I Really Need to Know I Learned from Watching Star Trek
      5. An Introduction to Astrobiology
      6. An Introduction to Modern Galactic Astrophysics And Cosmology
      7. Astronomy: A Beginner's Guide to the Universe, Fourth Edition
      8. Astronomy Today (5th Edition)
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