NightWatch: A Practical Guide to Viewing the Universe

NightWatch: A Practical Guide to Viewing the Universe

NightWatch: A Practical Guide to Viewing the Universe
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Book Summary Information

Photographer: Terence Dickinson
Foreword: Timothy Ferris
Illustrator: Adolf Schaller
Illustrator: Victor Costanzo
Illustrator: Roberta Cooke
Illustrator: Glenn LeDrew
Edition: Spiral-bound
Published: 2006-09-12
ISBN: 155407147X
Number of pages: 192
Publisher: Firefly Books

Book Reviews of NightWatch: A Practical Guide to Viewing the Universe

Book Review: A well written introduction to stars
Summary: 4 Stars

I always wanted to own a telescope. This was the year. I talked to people, read reviews, joined online forums...thought I knew what I was doing and bought the thing. First night out I realized - I have absolutely no clue what to look for up there!!! This book is the perfect answer to that question, as well as an extremely good beginner's guide. There is enough detail to give you the sense that you are learning a lot, but not so much detail that you feel overwhelmed and intimidated. My recommendation is buy this book BEFORE you buy a telescope or binocs or any gear whatsoever. Use the book for a while just to learn your way around the sky. They have great suggestions for where to go and how to get there after that. Highly recommended!!!

Summary of NightWatch: A Practical Guide to Viewing the Universe

The third edition of Nightwatch continues its tradition of being the best handbook for the beginning astronomer. Terence Dickinson covers all the problems beginners face, starting with the fact that the night sky does not look the way a modern city-dweller expects. He discusses light pollution, how to choose binoculars and telescopes, how to pronounce the names of stars and constellations, telescope mounts, averted vision, and why the harvest moon looks especially bright. Most of the lovely photographs in the book were taken by amateurs, which gives the section on astrophotography a particularly inspirational gleam.

Dickinson's star charts are very handy, each covering a reasonable field of view and mapping the most interesting amateur objects. He gives good advice for planet watching, which he notes "is one of the few astronomical activities that can be conducted almost as well from the city as from dark rural locations."

Altogether, the watchword for Nightwatch is indeed "practical"--this is a book to be used, not just read. Spiral-bound to lie flat or to fold back undamaged, it's a field guide that pulls its own weight in the field. Author Timothy Ferris says, "Like a good night sky, Nightwatch is clear and wind-free. Try it and see for yourself." --Mary Ellen Curtin


Thoroughly revised, updated and expanded.

The first three editions of NightWatch sold more than 600,000 copies, making it the top-selling stargazing guide in the world for the last 20 years. The key feature of this classic title is the section of star charts that are cherished by backyard astronomers everywhere. Each new edition has outsold the previous one because of thorough revisions and additional new material.

NightWatch has been acclaimed as the best general interest introduction to astronomy. The fourth edition has improvements over the 3rd edition in every chapter, including:

  • The famous charts, ideal for stargazers using a small telescope or binoculars
  • A complete update of the equipment section, including computerized telescopes
  • An enlarged photography section, including how-to instructions for using the new generation of digital cameras for astronomical photography, both with and without a telescope
  • The tables of future solar and lunar eclipses, planetary conjunctions and planet locations, updated through 2018.

This edition includes for the first time star charts for use in the southern hemisphere. There are also dozens of new photographs throughout the book that show the latest thrilling discoveries made by current space observatories and probes.

(20071211)

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