Both beginning/novice amateur astronomers (at the level of Astronomy and Night Sky magazine readers), as well as more advanced amateur astronomers (level of Sky and Telescope) will find this book invaluable and fascinating. It includes detailed up-to-date information on sources, selection and use of virtually every major type, brand and model of such instruments on today’s market. The book also includes details on the latest released telescope lines, e.g. the 10-, 12-, 14- and 16-inch aperture models of the Meade LX-R series. As a former editor for Sky & Telescope, Astronomy, and Star & Sky magazines, the author is the ideal person to write this book.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
James Mullaney is an astronomy writer, lecturer and consultant who has published more than 700 articles and eight books on observing the wonders of the heavens, and logged over 20,000 hours of stargazing time with the unaided eye, binoculars and telescopes. Formerly Curator of the Buhl Planetarium & Institute of Popular Science in Pittsburgh, and Director of the DuPont Planetarium at USCA, he served as staff astronomer at the University of Pittsburgh's Allegheny Observatory and as an editor for Sky & Telescope magazine. One of the contributors to Carl Sagan's award-winning "Cosmos" PBS-Television series, his work has received recognition over the years from such notables (and fellow stargazers) as Sir Arthur Clarke, Johnny Carson, Ray Bradbury, Dr. Wernher von Braun, and former student NASA scientist/astronaut Dr. Jay Apt. His 50 year mission as a "celestial evangelist" has been to "Celebrate the Universe!" - to get others to look up at the majesty of the night sky and to personally experience the joys of stargazing. In recognition of his work he has been elected a Fellow of the prestigious Royal Astronomical Society of London. For information on his two professionally-produced, widely-acclaimed DVDs "The Heavens Declare!" and "Celebrating the Universe!", contact him at arcturussj@aol.com.
