Description: The Night Sky Companion takes a look at astronomy every day over the course of the year offering an overview of general history, soft science, astronomical trivia, and observing guides and motivation. Designed to appeal to readers at all skill levels and involvement, it provides a digest for sky watchers interested in all-in-one-place information that includes history, current events, and of course interesting objects to be observed on any given day. The Moon is followed through its phases with observing instructions, annotated pictorial maps, concise photos, and the science and history of what makes lunar observing a fascinating challenge.

Unaided eye observers are offered an opportunity to view many objects or events; learn about their history, science and how just "looking up" can be rewarding. Binocular and small telescope users will find a wealth of things to view using simple star hop instructions and finder charts. This book is more than just an observing guide, it's a way of learning your way round the night sky. Large-aperture telescope users looking for a challenge are not ignored either. Some of the finest deep-sky objects are detailed, with finder maps and photographs, most of them taken by talented amateurs.

Be it a meteor shower, double stars, variable stars, solar viewing, lunar features, a variety of catalog studies, history or the physics and science behind the stars -- you'll find it here, written in an easy-going style ideal for dipping in on the relevant day, or even reading from cover to cover.

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Description: Exploring the wonders of the cosmos doesn't require expensive and complicated equipment -- the moons of Jupiter, breathtaking nebulae, and distant galaxies are all visible through binoculars. Binocular Highlights is a tour of 96 different celestial sights from softly glowing clouds of gas and dust to unusual stars, clumps of stars, and vast star cities (galaxies) -- all visible in binoculars. Each object is plotted on a detailed, easy-to-use star map, and most of these sights can be found even in a light-polluted sky. Also included are four seasonal all-sky charts that help locate each highlight.

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Description: Whether you're a seasoned astronomy whiz, or merely starry-eyed, this journal is ideal for anyone who looks into the sky in wonder. With a durable, flexible binding and a sleek cover printed with glow-in-the-dark stars, the Stargazing Journal includes checklists, constellation names, eyepiece equations, and other handy references for stargazers.

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Description: This annotated catalog, compiled by one of today's most experienced double-star observers, is as user-friendly as it is comprehensive! More than 2,100 of the sky's most alluring double and multiple stars are listed with coordinates, brightnesses, colors, and informative commentaries. Make it an essential part of your astronomy library.

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Description: So you have a small telescope, and you'd like to know what you can see with it? Enough to keep you busy for a lifetime. This compilation of all 60 of Sue French's Small-Scope Sampler columns from Sky & Telescope will get you started on the journey and introduce you to a wealth of deep-sky wonders that will entertain you for years to come. Most of the objects presented in this book are visible in a 4-inch telescope under a moderately dark sky. They include variable and multiple stars, star clusters, nebulae, and galaxies for every month of the year.

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Description: Veteran comet hunter and eloquent popular astronomy writer David H. Levy takes amateur sky-watchers on a fascinating journey into deep space in this enthusiastic and informative survey of the many far distant yet observable objects in the night sky. Light years beyond our solar system, deep sky objects include such intriguing phenomena as double and triple stars, nebulae, galaxies, and quasars. Designed to be accessible for even beginners, Levy's clear, elegant descriptions will guide astronomy buffs in any hemisphere and locale (light-polluted cities as well as dark countryside) to the wonders of our enormous universe.

As the discoverer or co-discoverer of 21 comets, including the famous Shoemaker-Levy 9 that crashed into Jupiter in 1994, Levy has devoted many decades of experience to observing the night sky. Over the years he has located over 300 deep sky objects, of which more than 100 "best and brightest" are featured in this book. Levy offers a physical description and a discussion of each object's history and beauty, as well as a star chart to aid in finding the objects. Proceeding from objects closest to our solar system to those farthest away, Levy gives readers an awe-inspiring glimpse into the structure of the cosmos.

Complete with both color and black-and-white photos, plus many helpful illustrations, Deep Sky Objects is the ideal guide to the wonders of the universe for both experienced and novice star gazers.

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Book Description: In this new edition of their classic guide, Ian Ridpath and Wil Tirion bring the night sky down to earth with brand new sky charts, diagrams, and photos that enrich the clear, engaging text. Stars and Planets will delight both latent astronomers who have yet to touch a telescope and the more star-savvy who have spent many a night outside craning their necks behind a lens. The introduction presents the basics of astronomical observation while answering such questions as: How did constellations come to be? Do the stars within them have anything to do with one another? Do stars really flicker? Next comes the book's centerpiece: an excellent series of maps of the night sky from hemisphere to hemisphere, month to month and, above all, charts showing all 88 constellations, including some 5,000 stars (Sample Pages). The text vividly relates the human history behind each constellation and notes their most prominent stars while offering sundry stimulating facts.

The second section focuses on the astrophysics behind stars, galaxies, the sun, the planets, comets and meteors, and more. Striking full-color photos, maps, and illustrations appear on almost every page. The guide concludes with helpful tips on the optical tools of the trade and on astrophotography. Astrophysicists and amateur skywatchers agree that Stars and Planets is simply the most user-friendly, compact source of celestial information available. No one should leave home at night without it.

• Up-to-date full-color photos and data, including recent planetary images
• Monthly maps of the night sky as seen from latitudes throughout the world
• Charts of all 88 constellations, with data and notes on bright stars and other objects of interest
• Illustrated introduction to stars, nebulae, galaxies, and the solar system
• Advice on choosing and using binoculars and telescopes

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Sky & Telescope Review: February 2001 p.86-87

Completely revised, this compact pocket-size field guide (4-1/2 by 7-1/4 inches) is a fact and picture filled reference for amateur astronomers of any level of experience. This edition has been updated with the latest information from NASA, the European Space Agency, the Jet Propulsion Laboratory, and other sources. It contains more than 230 photographs (most in color) and many great diagrams.

There is also viewing information on solar eclipses, meteor showers, planet positions, and Moon phases -- all valid through the year 2010. The revised edition offers 8 Moon maps, 52 detailed color star charts covering the entire sky (chart scale of 6mm per degree), stars to magnitude 7.5, and 24 monthly sky maps for observers in both hemispheres. A very handy field guide and reference whether using binoculars or a telescope.

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Sky & Telescope Review: February 2001 p.86-87

Book Description: This guide 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.

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Book Description: Many amateur astronomers live in or near cities and have to carry out their observing from relatively light-polluted sites. Fortunately this is not the problem it used to be, and a combination of skill, observing techniques, and modern technology, such as image-intensifiers, can now be used to astonishing effect to view the night sky in real-time. Illustrating the book with images and some of his own superb drawings, Antony Cooke explains how to observe some of the most spectacular objects from less than perfect observing sites.

The only practical guide to observing truly spectacular astronomical objects from less than perfect locations. The only book to deal in depth with the application of image intensifiers to real-time astronomy. Includes extensive catalogs of spectacular objects that can be seen from suburban sites in both hemispheres. Gives advice on viewing objects and on making realistic images by drawing or video. Contains spectacular images and drawings from the author's own collection.

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Description: In full color throughout, the seventh edition of Ian Ridpath and Wil Tirion's famous guide to the night sky is fully revised and updated for planet positions and forthcoming eclipses up to the end of the year 2011. The book contains a chapter on the main sights visible in each month of the year, and is an easy-to-use companion to the night sky. It will help you to identify prominent stars, constellations, star clusters, nebulae and galaxies, to watch out for meteor showers, and to follow the movement of the four brightest planets. Most of the sights described are visible to the naked eye and all can be seen with binoculars or a small telescope. The Monthly Sky Guide offers a clear and simple introduction to the skies of the northern hemisphere for beginners of all ages.

Ian Ridpath has been a full-time writer, broadcaster and lecturer on astronomy and space for more than twenty-five years. He has written and edited more than 40 books, including A Comet Called Halley (Cambridge, 1985). Wil Tirion made his first star map in 1977. Since then he has illustrated numerous books and magazines, including The Cambridge Star Atlas.

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Description: A concise reference by a best-selling astronomy author. The Guide to Stars and Planets is a practical guide to the night sky featuring detailed maps of the moon and constellations, plus a host of recommendations on what to look for and when. In a compact format, this book is illustrated with charts, maps, and stunning photographs from the world's finest Earth- and space-based telescopes.

A concise introduction offers a practical guide to telescopes, home observatories and astronomical photography for amateur astronomers. Detailed entries describe the following astronomical objects, organized by the closest to the furthest from Earth:

• The Moon
• The Sun
• The planets
• Solar system debris
• The stars
• The galaxies
• The constellations
• Observing eclipses, comets and meteors

The Guide to Stars and Planets is an ideal introduction to astronomy and a concise reference for hobbyists of all levels of experience.

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Description: 'Deep Sky' refers to the universe beyond our own solar system. Using binoculars or telescopes, any sky-gazer can become a deep sky observer. The Deep Sky Observer's Guide looks beyond individual stars to target star clusters, double stars, nebulae, and galaxies suitable for small telescopes. The Deep Sky Observer's Guide introduces the basics of observing and explains what equipment is required. A chapter is devoted to each type of deep sky target. There are more than 200 such objects featured, with 126 color illustrations and star-finder charts.

The Deep Sky Observer's Guide is also available in a convenient pack that comes with deep sky charts and an observing calendar.

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Book Description: If there were a canon for viewing the night sky, Charles Messier would be its author. The galaxies, star clusters, and nebulae cataloged by the famous comet hunter in the late 1700s are still the most widely observed celestial wonders in the heavens. They are the favorite targets of amateur astronomers, with such rich variety and detail that they never cease to fascinate.

This book provides new and experienced observers with a fresh perspective on the Messier objects. Stephen James O'Meara has prepared a visual feast for the observer. Using the finest optical telescopes available for amateur work, he describes and sketches the view from the telescope as never before. There are new drawings, improved finder charts, and new astronomical data on each object, including findings from the Hubble Space Telescope. Expand your universe and test your viewing acumen with this truly modern Messier Guide. It is a must for budding night watchers.

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Sky & Telescope Review: May 1999 p.79-80

Book Description: For more than two centuries, amateur astronomers have earned their stripes by observing the 109 star clusters, nebulae, and galaxies cataloged by French comet hunter Charles Messier. Sir Patrick Moore has compiled a new list of 109 deep-sky delights, the Caldwell Catalog, which covers the entire celestial sphere. Stephen James O'Meara has observed all 109 Caldwell objects and Deep Sky Companions presents his beautiful sketches and detailed visual descriptions and discusses each object's rich history and astrophysical significance. The latest fundamental data on each object are tabulated, and the book's star charts will lead observers to each object's precise location.

Stephen James O'Meara is known worldwide for his precise drawings of astronomical objects as seen through the telescope. Among his many astronomical achievements, he was the first to sight Halley's Comet on its 1985 return; he noticed the dark spokes in Saturn's B ring before the Voyager 1 spacecraft imaged them; and he was the first person to determine the rotation period of the distant planet Uranus. The International Astronomical Union named asteroid 3637 O'Meara in his honor. He is also the author of Deep-Sky Companions: The Messier Objects (Cambridge, 1998) and co-author with his wife, Donna Donovan O'Meara, of Volcanoes: Passion and Fury (Sky Publishing, 1994).

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Sky & Telescope Review: June 2003 p.62-64

Book Description: Stephen O'Meara's new and exciting observing guide spotlights an original selection of 109 deep-sky objects that will appeal to sky-watchers worldwide. His 'hidden treasures' include a wonderful assortment of galaxies, open clusters, planetary nebulae and more, all of which have been carefully chosen based on their popularity and ease of observing. None of these objects are included in either the Messier or the Caldwell catalogs, and all are visible in a 4-inch telescope under dark skies. Stunning photographs and beautiful drawings accompany detailed visual descriptions of the objects, which include their rich histories and astrophysical significance. The author's original finder charts are designed to help observers get to their targets fast and efficiently.

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The most detailed guide to observing galaxies, clusters and nebulae available in a single volume. An excellent resource for the experienced amateur astronomer. Provides detailed technical and visual descriptions of over 2,000 deep-sky objects as viewed through three different telescope apertures -- 2.4-inch (6 cm), 6-inch (15 cm), and between 8- to 12-inch (20 to 30 cm). Objects are listed alphabetically by constellation along with RA and Dec coordinates, dimensions, magnitude, and orientation.

Note: Not suitable for observers in the Southern Hemisphere as only objects north of -50° are included.

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Book Description: The Messier Catalogue is a list of 110 galaxies, star clusters and nebulae, and includes many of the brightest and best-known objects in the sky. Amateur astronomers who find all the objects on the list in one night have successfully completed the Messier Marathon. The Observing Guide to the Messier Marathon contains over 90 easy-to-use star maps to guide the observer from one object to the next, and provides tips for a successful night of observing. Don Machholz also tells the story of the eighteenth-century astronomer, Charles Messier, and how he came to compile his extensive catalogue. His complete guide to the Messier Marathon will help the amateur astronomer to observe the Messier Objects throughout the year, using a small telescope or even a pair of binoculars.

Don Machholz is an engineer in Auburn, California. Interested in astronomy since childhood, he is a renowned comet hunter, having discovered nine comets that bear his name. He writes articles for local California newspapers and radio stations for special astronomical events. Between 1988 and 2000, Don Machholz was the Comets Recorder for the Association of Lunar and Planetary Recorders.

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Book Description: Based on field notes made by Michael Covington throughout his career as an amateur astronomer, this guide covers both the traditional and novel approaches to studying the night sky. In addition to the more standard techniques, it discusses the latest modern resources available to today's astronomer, such as personal computers, the internet, and computerized telescopes. Covington includes practical advice on site selection and weather; detailed instructions for observing the Sun, Moon, planets, and deep-sky objects; and newer specialities such as satellite observing and the use of astronomical databases. Written to complement How to Use a Computerized Telescope, this book appeals to astronomers with more traditional equipment.

Michael A. Covington is an associate research scientist at the University of Georgia. He is a computational linguist trained in the computer processing of human language and the computer modeling of human logical reasoning, and a widely recognized expert on the Prolog programming language. He is the author of nine books including Dictionary of Computer and Internet Terms, Seventh Edition (Barron's, 2000), Astrophotography for the Amateur (Cambridge, 1999), PROLOG Programming in Depth (Simon & Schuster, 1996), Cambridge Eclipse Photography Guide (1993), and Syntactic Theory in the High Middle Ages (Cambridge, 1985). A senior member of the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers, Covington is a Contributing Editor to, and former "Q&A" columnist of, Poptronics magazine.

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Back Cover: After an extensive introduction in Volume 1, which gives the beginner enough information to follow about 80% of the body of the material, the author gives comprehensive coverage to the thousands of celestial objects outside our solar system that are within the range of telescopes in the 2- to 12-inch range.

The objects are grouped according to the constellations in which they appear. Each constellation is dividied into four subject sections: list of double and multiple stars; list of variable stars; list of star clusters, nebulae and galaxies; and, descriptive notes. For each object the author gives names, celestial coordinates, classification, and full physical description. These, together with a star atlas, will help you find and identify almost every object of interest.

But the joy of the book is the descriptive notes that follow. They cover history, unusual movements or appearances, and currently accepted explanations of such visible phenomena as white dwarfs, novae and supernovae, cepheids, mira-type variables, dark nebulae, gaseous nebulae, eclipsing binary stars, the large Magellanic cloud, the evolution of a star cluster, and hundreds of other topics, many of which are difficult to find in one place. Hundreds of charts and other visual aids are included to help identification. Over 300 photographs capture the objects and, in themselves, are works of beauty that reflect the enthusiasm that star gazers have for their subject.

Recommended for intermediate to advanced amateur astronomers.

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Book Description: This book describes more than 300 of the finest celestial wonders that can be viewed with common "backyard" telescopes. The author uses an abbreviated descriptive form to accommodate as much information on observation as possible for both field and armchair use. In addition to the many showpieces themselves, nearly 24 other special objects are listed. The author also points out that many of these deep-sky objects are visible to the unaided eye on a dark, clear night and prove wonderful sights in binoculars and low-power telescopes. The Sun, Moon, and planets, as well as such bright asteroids as Ceres, Juno, and Vesta, are described and their positions given, as are open star clusters, diffuse nebulas, supernova remnants, spiral galaxies, elliptical galaxies, the Milky Way, and a host of other astronomical phenomena.

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Book Description: Here is an informative, up-to-date and well-illustrated guide to planetary observations for amateurs. After chapters on the solar system and the celestial sphere, the text explains 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, Price gives details of observational techniques, together with suggestions for how to make contributions of sound astronomical value. From a general description and detailed observational history of each planet, readers learn how to anticipate what they should see and assess their own observations.

New to this edition is a chapter on planetary photography that includes the revolutionary use of videography, charge coupled devices and video-assisted drawing. Another new feature is a section on the Kuiper Belt and Oort Cloud. Other chapters on making maps and planispheres and on photoelectric photometry round out the book's up-to-date treatment, making this indispensable reading for both casual and serious observer alike.

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