Summaries and Customer Reviews are supplied by Amazon.com

• Binocular Messier Club
• Urban Observing Club
• Deep Sky Binocular Club
• Double Star Club
• RASC Finest NGC List

Average Customer Rating:

The One Book

Customer Rating:

I have been an amatuer astronomer for 20 years, and there are a lot of books on my bookshelf that I love. When I go to the field, however, this is the One Book that always comes with. It has much of the comprehensive nature of my multi-volume observers guides, but in a nice small package. It's got information that's useful to me whether I'm using my 22" Starmaster with GOTO drive, star hopping with my TeleVue 85 on it's simple Panoramic mount, or any scope in-between. This book is an incredible achivement.

Great Astronomical Field Guide

Customer Rating:

Don't leave this book behind when you head out to your next star party! It is an indispensable field guide packed with star charts and information on several hundred deep sky objects (DSOs) and multiple stars. The book starts with a brilliant introduction to observing deep sky objects. It continues with a section describing equipment used for deep sky observation. In the introduction, you'll learn about (or be refreshed on) topics like multiple stars, stellar magnitudes, declination and right ascension, clusters, nebulae, galaxies, etc. In the section on observation equipment, you'll find details on binoculars and telescopes, advantages and disadvantages of different sizes, types, and features of both types of instruments. Loads of information on the various accessories you'll need for your observing sessions are found in this section. Also, several planetarium software packages and star atlases are described in detail. The constellation maps are very thorough and photos of the region (mostly at 60' field width) show what the DSOs look like on film. The star maps typically show a 10 to 15 degree field width, with a 5 degree finder field and a 1 degree eyepiece field. The maps use black stars on a white background. The Thompson duo have provided a great guide to observing that brings me back to astronomy after many years away from the hobby. I think this book will hook you in as well.

Wonderful reference for a new observer!

Customer Rating:

I'm a relatively new amateur astronomer, having bought my first telescope less than a year ago. My telescope is an 8in Orion Dobsonian. This book has become my constant companion while observing. Before beginning my session, I use this book to create my observing list. While observing, I use the finder charts to find the each item in my list. As I observe, I use the text to take in some great info about what I am observing. Here's what I really like about this book: 1. All photographs have the same field of view. They haven't zoomed in on dim or small objects. They don't have a wide view for large objects (beyond what I can see with my telescope). The photograph gives a terrific idea of what I will find as I search. 2. The finder charts never fail to bring me close to the object I want. Both the charts and the text description bring me right to the object. 3. The choice of objects in this book fit great with my goal to earn the Astronomical League pins. It's not the pins that I want but the learning that goes with the work for these pins. They are a great sampling of most of the types of objects in the sky. The only improvement that I would make would be to make all print bigger. I've just begun to use cheaters for reading and observing in the dark makes the problem worse. For example, the print at the bottom of each page shows the current chapter or constellation. I often refer to this text as I move around the book. It's just too small to read with my red flashlight alone. Love this book!

Illustrated Guide to Astronomical Wonders

Customer Rating:

As a newbie to the wonder of star gazing, I personally found this book a must-have because of its timeliness at my current level of experience. While I own a Go-To telescope (SCT), most of the time I have found that I enjoy star-hopping instead. The Thompson's Guide has helped me, in short-order, to find DSOs that I was having trouble finding. The approach of occasionally using geometric relationships has helped, on many nights, to increase the number of objects I've been able to find. This book has served me as more than just a key guide in simplifying star-hopping techniques; the black/white images and the related commentaries are also of immense benefit. Finally, quite a bit of historical information is also provided in a brief, yet beneficial form. I'm ready for their next volume, which I hope contains an additional 450 DSO objects for me to pursue!

Excellent Book For Amateur Astronomers!!

Customer Rating:

'Illustrated Guide to Astronomical Wonders: From Novice to Master Observer' is an absolute must buy for any and all amateur or even experienced astronomers. Filled with 500+ pages of content spread over 50 chapters, this book will enable you to start really using your telescope and finding all the wonders that the stars have to show to anyone that wants to open their eyes!! Jam packed full of star charts will locations, names, and related phenomena information in the area of where you will be looking, this is a hobbyists 'candy' book, just waiting to be unraveled and enjoyed! My only complaint with this book is that I wish the images were printed in color. I realize that most of the pictures with a space background will be really black, but I feel that some color would really help make the content jump off the pages even more. Not only does the book tell you about phenomena to look at in the sky, there also is information on the type of equipment that can be used to gaze up up up as well as general astronomical information. If you are a star gazed, pick this book up! ***** HIGHLY RECOMMENDED