Product Description

Viewing the Constellations with Binoculars is a complete guide to practical astronomy, written for beginners, intermediate-level astronomers, and even people who have not yet turned their gaze to the night sky. The required observing equipment to get the full value from this book is no more than a pair of regular 10 x 50 binoculars, but even more can be seen with a small astronomical telescope.

This comprehensive introduction to astronomy and practical observing is far more than a guide to what can be seen in the night sky through binoculars. It introduces the reader to some basic (and some not-so-basic) astronomical concepts, and discusses the stars and their evolution, the planets, nebulae, and distant galaxies. There is a guide to selecting and using binoculars for astronomy, as well, as a ‘getting ready to observe’ section containing invaluable practical hints and tips.

The second part of the book is an extraordinarily complete atlas and guide to the night sky down to 30º N (covering all the USA and Europe). It is illustrated with superb and sometimes beautiful amateur astronomical photographs, detailed maps (down to 5th magnitude), descriptions, and data on all astronomical objects of interest.

Product Description
For anyone who has tried—and failed—to find the Big Dipper or Orion's Belt, this information-filled reference guide is the perfect introduction to discovering the wonders of the sky.Includes computer-generated maps that simplify identification, a mini-almanac to pinpoint the planets each month as well as advice on buying and using binoculars or a telescope, even a table that explains when to watch for meteor showers. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

Good for beginners NOT FOR KIDS!
Bought this for my daughter because the reviews said good for beginners... JEEZ! Not for kids though! I wish there were astronomy books for beginner KIDS!

This book uses terms maybe not so easy for younger people. A bit dry, even for me.

It's on the bookshelf and hasn't come off.

Fine Introduction
This is a good introduction of astronomy's techniques for beginers, It is well explained and concise. Including humor and acurate data, it will make you a good amateur astronomer. It works even if you are latin-american. ... Read more

Product Description

The Meade LX200 series of telescopes was introduced in 1992 and represented a giant step forward in technology for amateur astronomers - computer control. The LX200 series telescopes were an instant success and have outsold all other astronomical telescopes put together. Steady development has continued to the present day, and LX200s are available in a range of apertures from 8-inch through the giant 16-inch, which is widely installed in university astronomy departments and the smaller public observatories. For anyone considering buying a high-end Meade telescope, the book offers an experienced user's guide to what can actually be achieved with it.

So You Want a Meade LX Telescope also provides detailed discussions about some of the many software packages available to aid optimizing and actually using the scope. The typical results are discussed so readers can know what to expect. Also reviewed are essential accessories such as CCD cameras and the latest Active Optics units.

These extraordinary telescopes are capable of amazing results, but using them and setting them up can be a chore. That's why this book is essential reading for anyone who has bought or upgraded to an LX200 or its top-of-the-range companion, the RCS400 (later re-designated the LX400ACF).

Customer Reviews (2)

so you want to use your computer to run your telescope!
this is certainly a useful and well written text, but it does not live up to its title, does not fill an important need within a brand category such as meade telescopes, and does not recognize the specific categories of amateur and semipro astronomers or the way they approach a telescope. my comments emphasize the disparity between the book's title and contents, and the fact that the contents are in fact highly specialized: they certainly don't tell you how to select a telescope!

the first heading on the first page is "computers and astronomy," and roughly 150 of the book's 230 pages consists of chapters such as "essential software for basic operations," "software adjustment of polar alignment," "autoguiding," "using advanced software" and so forth. another 40 pages is devoted to balancing and polar alignment, the different types of telescopes, generic telescope accessories, updating firmware, telescope retailers and online user groups. i judge only about 30 pages or less than 15% of the book is actually concerned with meade specific products or guidelines for their use.

it's a shame, because the meade user manual appears to have been written by a retired engineer, full of facts but meager with guidance. what is the best way to position the tripod on unpaved soil, or use the gps system, or update location or time information, or autoalign the scope? when autoalignment fails, why does that happen? how should one transport the scope, or store it (batteries left in, or taken out?), care for the optics, or clean dirty optics? how does one ventilate or cool down the scope prior to viewing? what specifically does "advanced coma free" (ACF) optics mean, and how specifically do ACF optics differ from newtonian, cassegrainian or ritchey-chretien optics? what are the best eyepieces to use for different circumstances, and which are the recommended manufacturers? on all these practical and highly important issues, both harris and the manufacturer user guide have nothing at all to offer.

the other drawback is that astronomers come in flavors: the big divide is between the visual observers (with their lifetime checklists of the messier 110 or herschel 400) and the astrophotographers (with their CCD cameras); the visual observers divide further into variable star, near earth object or deep sky observers, to name only three. each group prefers different strategies for organizing their night time viewing, right down to the ways they use star atlases and sky software to plan out the sequence of galactic locations and viewing times for objects they intend to observe and the eyepieces or filters they will use. these activities are all software related: harris says nothing about them. worse, in the 30 pages where he does talk about meade products, he rather annoyingly speaks of the meade LX400 (which he owns) as the "top of the line" scope, and the LX200 as "also very good", omitting the more obvious and important facts that meade no longer makes the LX400 scope, the LX400 actually *must be* computer controlled and, because of its shorter focal length and larger secondary mirror, is better suited for astrophotography than visual observing.

again, this book has quite a lot of useful and well presented information on aligning, collimating and controlling a telescope with computer software and the primarily photographic application of a telescope operated by computer. for any information outside that narrow bailiwick ... you're still stuck with the meade user guide.

Needed this book years ago.
Patrick Moore's book is a great find and I could have used it years ago but even today I find the information and presentation perfect for me as an owner of a Meade 10" LX200GPS.Great book very informative and packed with useful information. ... Read more

Product Description
Patrick Moore has pulled together a group of professional and amateur astronomers, each an expert in a particular field, to describe how to observe every category of object that is within reach of an astronomical telescope of modest size.

Each chapter deals with a different class of object, covering the whole range of possibilities from the Moon, planets and stars to more specialised observations of comets, novae, and meteors.

If you own - or are thinking of buying - an astronomical telescope, here is the book that will help you get the most enjoyment out of it. It also explains how best to use your telescope for proper scientific observations, for astronomy is one of the few remaining areas of science where a lot of useful work can be carried out by non-professionals.

A companion book, The Modern Amateur Astronomer, deals with the non-observational aspects of astronomy, from buying a telescope (or making your own), through electronic equipment and accessories, to more technical aspects such as spectroscopy and astrophotography. ... Read more

Product Description
Telescopes - refractors and reflectors - are the main items of equipment used by almost every amateur astronomer. The purpose of astronomical telescopes is to collect and focus more light than the human eye can, forming an image that can be viewed, photographed, or analysed. Astronomical Equipment for Amateurs makes buying and using both telescopes and their ancillary instruments easy for astronomers of all abilities. It begins by looking at the advantages and disadvantages of the basic types of refractors, reflectors, mountings and accessories. Observation techniques are also included, along with the use of filters, (colour, anti-pollution and nebula), types of photography (piggy-back, prime focus and eyepiece projection), and also CCD imaging (including types of CCD camera and their advantages and disadvantages compared to photography). Martin Mobberley provides a fascinating insight into astronomical software. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

A perfect complement to Star Ware by Harrington
Mobberley goes into a little more detail concerning mounts, photography and CCD imaging than Harrington. Although the book is biased towards SCT's and it has an english accent, he does an excellent job in his explanationof the practical limits of telescopes and accessories. I found it a perfectcomplement to Harrington's excellent, must have, Star Ware for anyoneconsidering purchasing telescopes and accessories. ... Read more

Product Description
Document and sketch your skywatching experiences in this astronomy notebook.Record your frame of reference, sketch key features in the night sky, record the astronomical coordinates for your observation, describe and sketch the object or event observed, describe the object or event viewed in detail, record quantitative data, and perform calculations in your notebook.This astronomy notebook serves as a diary for your observations of the night sky, and as a notebook in which to record quantitative data and qualitative observations.Compared to traditional blank notebooks/journals or starting from scratch with a word processor, this astronomy notebook provides a built-in structure for more organized observations.A class using these notebooks will record observations with a more uniform format.Assigning regular viewings of celestial objects and events to be recorded in this notebook is a great way to give astronomy students practice observing the night sky. ... Read more

Product Description
This is Patrick Moore's major work to date. To it he has brought all his experience of observing the sky with equipment available to the amateur and his years as lecturer and guide to the beginner as well as to the experienced observer. The result is a book that is essential reading for the inexperienced and a constant guide to those who have some astronomical knowledge and experience. Organized for ease of reading and reference, it discusses the equipment of the amateur, provides a course in the nature of the skies, the solar system, the stars, and the universe. It contains maps, charts, and tables needed by the observer, together with a large number of diagrams and photographic illustrations. This volume thoroughly updates and supplants Patrick Moore's earlier standard work, The Amateur Astonomer. Patrick Moore is Director of the Armagh Planetarium in Ireland. From 1954 to 1963 he was Director of the Mercury and Venus Section of the British Astonomical Association. He was wrriten and lecturer extensively. ... Read more

Product Description
Together, this two-volume set provides amateur astronomers with all the information they require to set up their telescopes and embark upon an exciting exploration of the night sky.Complete with trouble-shooting advice, practical tips for observing over 200 interesting celestial objects, and information about the latest products and resources, this set of Covington's two books is an essential purchase for every new telescope owner. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

How to use "Go To" scopes and what to use them on
Covington's "Practical Amateur Astronomy 2 Volume Set" is for beginner and intermediate amatuer astronomers who have or are thinking of aquiring a computerized telescope. It consists of two titles, "How to Use a Computerized Telescope" and "Celestial Objects for Modern Telescopes", which complemet each other well.

The first book, "How to Use a Computerized Telescope" , is divided into two sections. The first covers basic topics on the use, care and feeding of telescopes in general. The second looks at three classic "Go To" telescope families. If you are looking to buy a computerized telescope, or already own one and want to get more out of it, then this is a good place to start.

Chapters:
PART I - Telescopes in general
1. Welcome to amatuer astronomy
2. How the sky moves
3. How telescopes track the stars
4. Using equatorial mounts and wedges
5. Telescope optics
6. Eyepieces and optical accessories
7. Astrophotography
8. Troubleshooting
PART II - Three classic telescopes
9. Three that led the revolution
10. Meade LX200
11. Celestron NexStar 5 and 8
12. Meade Autostar (ETX and LX90)

Though the models described in detail in the book are no longer the latest models, the foundations will allow one to get a better understanding of how computerized telescopes work, and how to get more out of their use.

In the second volume, "Celestial Objects for Modern Telescopes", Covington suggests various targets and observing programs. But that is not all. Also are tips on how to get the most out of various sources to identify the object of interest from various catalogs or atlases and to be able to tell a "Go To" telescope how to point to it. Probably the most useful pages in the book are the Bayer/Flamsteed to SAO cross-index and the GVCS constellation codes and star numbers.

Chapters:
PART I - Amatuer astronomy
1. Using this book effectively
2. Observing sites and conditions
3. The Moon, the Sun, and eclipses
4. The planets
5. Comets, asteroids (minor planets), and artificial satellites
6. Constellations
7. Stars - identification, nomenclature, and maps
8. Stars - physical properties
9. Double and multiple stars
10. Variable stars
11. Clusters, nebulae, and galaxies
PART II - 200 interesting stars and deep-sky objects
12. How these objects were chosen
13. The January-February sky (R.A. 6h-10h)
14. The March-April sky (R.A. 10h-14h)
15. The May-June sky (R.A. 14h-18h)
16. The July-August sky (R.A. 18h-22h)
17. The September-October sky (R.A. 22h-2h)
18. The November-December sky (R.A. 2h-6h)
Appendices
A. Converting decimal minutes to seconds
B. Precession from 1950 to 2000
C. Julian date, 2001-2015

The logical follow up for "How to Use a Computerized Telescope", this volume shows one how to use the various sources available to find the objects one is interested in studying. If I had this book when I first bought my LX200, I would have developed better habits in planning my observing sessions by being able to identify objects in the manner that the telescope has them identified in its database to find them quicker to allow more time for study and or imaging. ... Read more

Product Description
The strong and effective links between amateur and professional astronomers were brought into prominence at Colloquium 98 of the International Astronomical Union. Amateur observations of such objects as comets, variable stars and novae serve to complement work done with expensive instrumentation by professionals. They fill gaps left by big science and often contribute significantly to astronomical knowledge. The book covers: - historical contributions by amateurs, - observational methods, problems and instrumentation, - results of amateur observations, - popularization. Overall, an exciting and enthusiastic account of stargazing, the hobby that can turn into science. ... Read more

Product Description
Comprehensive guide for every amateur astronomer who hopes to do more than just star-gaze. Paper. DLC: Astronomical instruments. ... Read more

Product Description
Getting started in amateur astronomy can be frustrating. Without a helpful friend to lend advice, choosing a telescope, learning the buzzwords, or viewing the deep sky season by season can seem daunting.Now amateur astronomers can turn to The Guide to Amateur Astronomy to get started or, if they are more advanced, to learn all the techniques of serious telescopic observing.The authors begin by showing readers how to find their way about the night sky with little or no equipment.For the stargazer who becomes addicted they include a complete catalog of the night sky's most intriguing star clusters, nebulae, and galaxies.More advanced projects include astrophotography, telescope construction, planetary observing, comet hunting, variable star recording, and nova discovery.The new edition covers the exciting developments in the world of astro-software for the home computer and the techniques of electronic imaging or charged-coupled devices (CCDs). ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

A Very Good Book
I first saw this book at my local library and this book is very good. There are some out dated items in the book such as cold cameras, but the ccd parts we well written. The book is well written and both authors I feelhave done an excellent job. ... Read more

Product Description
Commercially-made astronomical telescopes are better and less expensive than ever before, and their optical and mechanical performance can be superb. When a good-quality telescope fails to perform as well as it might, the reason is quite probably that it needs a little care and attention! Here is a complete guide for anyone who wants to understand more than just the basics of astronomical telescopes and accessories, and how to maintain them in the peak of condition. The latest on safely adjusting, cleaning, and maintaining your equipment is combined with thoroughly updated methods from the old masters. Here, too, are details of choosing new and used optics and accessories, along with enhancements you can make to extend their versatility and useful lifetime. This book is for you. Really. Looking after an astronomical telescope isnÆt only for the experts - although there some things that only an expert should attempt - and every serious amateur astronomer will find invaluable information here, gleaned from Barlow PepinÆs many yearsÆ experience working with optical instruments. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

Not living up to the expectations
The title of this book is: Care of Astronomical Telescopes and Accessories - A manual for the Astronomical Observer and Amateur Telescope Maker. This should make clear what to expect inside the book. Actually it consists of 253 pages and is divided into two main parts, Section I, Optical Equipment and Section II Care and Maintenance, the latter being the topic. So actually only about 60% of the book do deal with what the title promises, namely Care and Maintenance.
If you buy such book you are most likely already the owner of some astronomical equipment and would like to learn how better to take care of it. So you'll be asking yourself what purpose a 96 page primer on telescopes and accessories serves. What a waste of precious space that could have been used for better information as we will see.
Unfortunately even some basic mistakes are to be found in Section I. For example 1 Ångstrom equals 10-5 cm should in reality be 10-8 cm. Ångstrom is by any means no longer an official standard measure of the electromagnetic wavelength, since quite some time this is expressed in Meters or in the optical range in nm.
It is a bit strange to state: When Amateur Astronomers use the word `Telescope' they refer to the complete set from tripod foot to optical tube assembly. I never found this in any of the forums or elsewhere.
The name of Abbe is permanently written incorrectly as Abbé. This should not happen to an author who claims to have vast experience.
Quite a few incorrect sentences can be found like Dolland and his son and Peter. Speaking of John and Peter Dolland and their work, it is definitely necessary to mention that they did not pay tribute to Hall's work even though they had great profit from that.
The hints on Point of Purchase checks are useful but missing any reference to Yahoo Groups or similar forums where a wealth of information can be found before and after purchase.
A new mathematical procedure can be found: Divide by half. That should of course read ...by two. A division by half equals a multiplication by two.
The references to certain pictures should be made at least like see figure 3.12 and not see Chapter 1. To make live easier the page number would be quite helpful. It seems the author took it rather easy as there are even some incorrect cross-references.
It seems the author has never heard about carbon fiber as a well established material for optical tubes. At least he claims that some makers are experimenting with it. Also the fact that a white surface reflects better than a black one is mistaken as better cooldown for white tubes.
Some interesting recommendations are given in Section II, the 60% of the book dealing with the topic. Breath cleaning as well as cleaning with rainwater are being recommended in different cases. While breath cleaning is not a good idea due to the pollution by grease and even smoke particles in the case of smokers and rainwater is no replacement to demineralized water since acid rain is well known worldwide except to the author.
What size does an 8 Penny coin have? It seems to be a well known dimension to the author. The Antoniadi scale for seeing is used by most observers in Europe according to the author. I'd like to know what experience he really has. Even in Europe the Pickering scale is being used.
Don't misunderstand me here, the book gives some detailed information on care of telescopes and equipment. It could be done much better, however, by replacing the Section I on optical equipment basics with lots of pictures and drawings about how things are performed correctly. By drawings I do not mean the sketches by the author showing telescopes in general as kind of an artist's impression without relevance to the subject.
The general impression of the book? You can get the same and actually better information through the internet and from forums as well as from many manufacturers of astronomical equipment. I am happy I only borrowed this book. It did by no means live up to the expectations.

The Best, from the Best
I cannot specifically review this book, as I have not yet read it.I can, however, "review" the author, so to speak.Mr. Pepin was my uncle, until his unexpected and tragic recent passing.Throughout his life, he always amazed me with both his wealth of astronomical knowledge and his adeptness at working with, and even constructing his own, telescopes.This combination of intellectual and physical skill have now resulted in this great volume, just released posthumously.It is ironic that my uncle first embraced astronomy when the death of his own mother prompted him to look heavenward.Now, in his death, he inspires us to look heavenward as well.I have observed, and I believe he would agree, that if we cannot with our eyes look upon Heaven, at least we can gaze at the heavens. ... Read more