Star Watch: The Amateur Astronomer's Guide to Finding, Observing, and Learning about More Than 125 Celestial Objects

by Philip S. Harrington

Book Overview

Your Passport to the Universe

The night sky is alive with many wonders-distant planets, vast star clusters, glowing nebulae, and expansive galaxies, all waiting to be explored. Let respected astronomy writer Philip Harrington introduce you to the universe in Star Watch, a complete beginner's guide to locating, observing, and understanding these celestial objects. You'll start by identifying the surface features of the Moon,...

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0471418048
• ISBN13: 9780471418047
• Release Date: July 2003
• Publisher: Wiley (TP)
• Length: 301 Pages
• Weight: 1.28 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.7" x 7.5" x 9.2"

Customer Reviews

Good book for the beginner

This is one very well thought out book...but then again it is written by Phil Harrington, an authority on all things astronomy. The book covers everything from observing the moon and planets to deep sky objects. Seeing that it was a spin off from Phil's observing section in Starware, it has all his "at the eyepiece" sketches. What I found particularly helpful were the detailed star maps. Right up there with Turn Left at Orion. Highly recommended for the beginner!

Star Watch, Great Finding Charts , Seasonal Window Charts!!

A well done book (soft cover) with Seasonal Finding Charts, Complete Famed Messier Catalog (110 of the Clusters, Nebula, and Galaxies thru most backyard telescopes)and brighter NGC'S. Even Maps of the Moon's features plenty for the casual observor as myself, Bonus Info on Double Stars, Planets as well !! Beautifully done. Wish I had this book years ago, even if you have the latest goto telescopes is a fantastic aid as lists what to expect to see with binoculars, 3 to 5 inch telescopes, and larger. Does not photograph every item but still enough to wet the appetite. Also a Great Value Book !! Just under 300 pages of pure enjoyment !!

Great book for any amateur astronomer!

This book is just awesome! It is written in a way where you don't feel that you're reading an Atlas.Two months ago, I was going to buy a GOTO telescope but this book saved me my money. It gave me my hope of finding objects on my own back and I was indeed able to find a lot of deep sky objects easily.I don't even need to take a star chart with me outside when I observe anymore. This book has everything I need.Definitely recommended to anyone who wants to know where deep sky objects are in the sky in a detailed way.

The best text for those newly introduced to the skies

I am a serial hobbyist. I pick up a new hobby about once every year (and keep most of my old ones) and this year it's astronomy. With any new hobbies I check out maybe a dozen books from the library to read about the subject straight from the firehose. By then I know what books I'd like to keep."Sky Watch" is as important to me as my telescope! My telescope does not have the computerized automatic finder so I have to search for galaxies I'd like to see. This book has all my favorites listed and it's well drawn diagrams get me there in a hurry. The book is very similar to "Turn Left at Orion", which appears to be the most popular in the category (and deservedly so.) "Turn Left's" diagrams assume more familiarity with the constellations so you can stumble a little bit, but it's "naked eye/telescope" views help you zero in on smaller object if the telescope's optical rotation of the view confuses you. I believe "Sky Watch's" diagrams are easier to read and navigate, and will get you to the region-of-interest quicker. Buy "Sky Watch" first, use a low-power eyepiece when seeking, and put in a high power eyepiece when you've found it. Use "Turn Left" when you need to hop from star to star using a high-power eyepiece.Using this book as your guide, you will quickly develop an "astronomer's head" for finding your favorite celestial objects, and the ability to make good use out of any optics, whether it be binoculars, a basic telescope, or some money-is-no-object major league light-bucket.

A very well written "motivator".

I have had a lifelong interest in astronomy;in fact it was ranked very high as a possible career choice when I was (a LOT) younger. After reading this book , it left me wishing that it had been available sooner. It stands alone in a field filled with "guidebooks" , for it assists both the rank beginner and the old duffers in finding some of the most beautiful and interesting objects in the heavens.Let me state that this is not a children's book. It is not overly technical , but assumes that the individual using it is somewhat equipped for the hobby (obsession?) with at least a pair of binoculars , and probably is able to buy or obtain access to a small "backyard" telescope. For a properly equipped individual, this is a real "guided tour" that certainly stimulates the appetite for "more". The book is divided into sections that the author describes as "near space" and "deep space". Near space consisting of the Moon and other Solar System objects ; planets , the Sun , comets , etc. , and deep space being all extra-solar system objects , such as double stars , nebulae , star clusters , and galaxies.For me , the book was a great re-motivator. I found that I had never really "lost interest" -my interest was simply dormant , and for my part I must give Phil Harrington alot of credit. This is a soft cover book , so it accompanies me outside ; I make notes in the margins and have come to regard it as a friend come over to help me find new objects , an re-find things I could find many years ago and had forgotten.I rated the book on the following points: content (information)-5 stars; readability-5 stars ; clarity of instructions-5 stars. It isn't a glitzy "coffee table" book ; it was meant to be used. So--5 stars all the way!