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Title: Deep Sky Companions : The Messier Objects by Stephen James O'Meara ISBN: 0-521-55332-6 Publisher: Cambridge University Press Pub. Date: July, 2000 Format: Hardcover Volumes: 1 List Price(USD): $40.00 |
Average Customer Rating: 4.18 (17 reviews)
Rating: 5
Summary: a labor of love
Comment: This book is a tremendous help to those of us setting out to find the Messier objects. The biggest problem with finding objects is figuring out what they should like like in a telescope -- sometimes I've got something in the finder or telescope and I'm not certain what it is. O'Meara solves that problem by providing photographs and his terrific drawings, not to mention is verbal paintings which could make a blind person see the objects. He devoted hours to each single object, waxing poetic at times about the merits and downsides to every single object. The first few chapters give some good history and background of Messier and other famous comet hunters. As a final plus, the book is printed on very high quality glossy paper so it's a pleasure to read. As a field guide, it would have been helpful to have it spiral bound, but that's my only suggestion for improvement. The author even includes a helpful appendix of other interesting sky objects that are not Messier objects, all of which are worthwhile telescope targets. A winner!
Rating: 5
Summary: The new standard in Messier Guide Books
Comment: At first I was reluctant to buy this new book because I already own several Messier books. However, the author has clearly established this book as a must have for amateur astronomers that are interested in deep sky objects. The key to the success of the book is a combination of the text, photos, excellent finder charts, and the unique drawings. The author writes in a personal style and adds many new ways to observe and view deep sky objects, ie appreciate the messiers. This book in combination with the recently published "year round messier marathon" by pennington will allow relatively new amateur astonomers to locate and observe galaxies, star clusters, and nebulae.
Rating: 4
Summary: An Essential "Backyard Astronomer's Reference".
Comment: When well known 18th century comet hunter , Charles Messier , compiled a list of "confusing objects" in 1774 , little did he think that the list would outlive his fame as the "comet ferret". The list ultimately reached 110 objects that appeared comet-like in the primitive refracting telescopes of Messier's day. The first inkling that these non-stellar objects were a facinating collection of star clusters , gaseous nebulae , and galaxies was the work of Sir William Herschel , who was able to resolve many of these hazy and mysterious objects into clusters of stars.
The author , Steven O'Meara , has carefuly observed all 110 objects with a 4" telescope from one of the darkest and clearest observing sites on Earth , the island of Hawaii , on the slopes of Mauna Kea. I really shake my head in wonder at the drawings the author has produced ; could anyone REALLY see these objects THAT well? I remain a little doubtful.
The book , nevertheless , has some rather small scale star charts to assist the backyard astronomer in finding these objects. Also provided is a B&W photograph , along with an "artistic" sketch by the author.
One thing I generally find fault with in these "observing guides" is the level of optimism conveyed to the average user re: the visibility of the object through any class of instrument , whether binoculars , telescope , or the naked eyeball. I personally believe that really experienced observers wildly overstate what neophytes can expect to see at any given time.
With that little rant aside , this is still a book that should be on the shelf of any budding backyard astronomer. "Four stars" is really a gift on my part--realistically 3 1/2 stars , but one of the few up-to-date pictorial and reasonably scientific books on the subject available today.
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Title: Deep-Sky Companions: The Caldwell Objects by Stephen James O'Meara ISBN: 0521827965 Publisher: Cambridge University Press Pub. Date: 03 February, 2003 List Price(USD): $40.00 |
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Title: Sky Atlas 2000.0, 2nd Deluxe Edition by Wil Tirion, Roger W. Sinnott ISBN: 0521627621 Publisher: Cambridge University Press Pub. Date: 13 November, 1998 List Price(USD): $50.00 |
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Title: The Backyard Astronomer's Guide by Terence Dickinson, Alan Dyer ISBN: 155209507X Publisher: Firefly Books Pub. Date: October, 2002 List Price(USD): $49.95 |
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Title: Turn Left at Orion: A Hundred Night Sky Objects to See in a Small Telescope--and How to Find Them by Guy Consolmagno, Dan M. Davis, Karen Kotash Sepp, Anne Drogin, Mary Lynn Skirvin ISBN: 0521781906 Publisher: Cambridge University Press Pub. Date: 19 October, 2000 List Price(USD): $25.00 |
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Title: Nightwatch: A Practical Guide to Viewing the Universe by Terence Dickinson ISBN: 1552093026 Publisher: Firefly Books Pub. Date: November, 1998 List Price(USD): $29.95 |
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