Binocular Astronomy (Patrick Moore's Practical Astronomy Series) [Paperback]

Stephen Tonkin (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 1846283086 | ISBN-13: 978-1846283086 | Publication Date: November 30, 2006 | Edition: 1st Edition.

This book contains everything an astronomer needs to know about binocular observing. The book takes an in-depth look at the instruments themselves. It has sections on evaluating and buying binoculars and binocular telescopes, their care, mounting, and accessories. In addition there is a selection of fifty fine objects to be seen with 50mm and 100mm binoculars.

The advantages of using both eyes for astronomical observing are many and considerable, largely because of the way the human brain processes visual information. This book enables the astronomer to maximize those advantages.

Editorial Reviews

Review

From the reviews:

"Binoculars are an often-overlooked lower-cost alternative for introductory astronomy students and beginning amateur astronomers. … The detailed information on buying and maintaining binoculars will be particularly useful for those who have always used telescopes. … Photographs and drawings are excellent and enhance the usefulness of the book; the appendixes contain additional information to enable proper selection and expert use of binoculars in astronomy. An excellent addition to the well-regarded Practical Astronomy series. Summing Up: Highly Recommended. General reader; lower-division undergraduates; faculty/professionals." (D. H. Gifford, CHOICE, Vol. 44 (11), August, 2007)

From the Back Cover

Anyone who has used a binocular telescope or even wide-field binoculars to look at the night sky will know just how breathtakingly beautiful the view can be when you observe with both eyes.

Observing galaxies and nebulae with ‘regular’ prismatic binoculars is just a beginning. Binocular eyepieces and adapters can be added to almost any commercially-made astronomical telescope, and of course specialized astronomical binoculars can be assembled or purchased complete. These range from modest instruments to giants that are basically two large telescopes mounted together.

Binocular Astronomy contains everything you’ll need to know about this exciting branch of astronomical observing.

Understanding the physics and physiology of binocular visual astronomy is followed by an in-depth description of how to choose, test, and buy the best equipment. Details of care and maintenance, mounting, and using binocular telescopes follow. Finally, Steve Tonkin presents introductory lists of some of the most exciting objects for 2-inch (50mm) and 4-inch (100mm) binoculars, complete with finder charts.

Begin your own journey into binocular astronomy here!

Product Details

• Paperback: 304 pages
• Publisher: Springer; 1st Edition. edition (November 30, 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1846283086
• ISBN-13: 978-1846283086
• Product Dimensions: 9.2 x 6.2 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.3 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,075,609 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars Good How-To Source an Binocular Astronomy, September 6, 2011

By 

M. Frieber "Steel Bicyclist" (NJ USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Binocular Astronomy (Patrick Moore's Practical Astronomy Series) (Paperback)

Binoculars are great for astronomy because they are more portable than telescopes. They are also wonderful because one can use both eyes, which is much more comfortable and natural than one eye through a telescope. However, one can see more through a telescope.

I've ground mirrors and assembled a couple of reflectors. I have enjoyed amateur astronomy for decades. I use binoculars both alone and to assist in telescope astronomy. I use a 10x50, individually focused, porro prism binocular. This is simply the best choice for astronomy. In fact, such a binocular is necessary to find objects in order to hone in on them with the finder scope of the telescope. You don't need the best binocular made, just the best one you can afford. Of course, if you are one of those earthlings who belong to the "go to" school, then you don't need binoculars and probably aren't reading this anyway.

The book has some good information on collimating, disassembling, and care. It explains about different types of binoculars and how to use them. The book also contains useful star maps of 50 deep space objects for medium sized (mine) binoculars and 100 deep space objects for larger binoculars. This is good because amateur astronomers who are into binocular astronomy eventually get "giant" binoculars. But you should still start of with and keep the medium sized ones. These maps are probably best used along with a larger star atlas such as the Tirion 2000 to help figure out just where one is in the sky.

My only question with this book, and I took no points away for it, because it is more a matter of opinion, is why does the author have birding binoculars on the front cover? On page 40 he claims to see as much of the night sky through his 10x42 roofs as his 10x50 porros. This speaks perhaps more to the author's smaller dilating pupils than the binoculars, which may be the reason he can't see more through the porros. This may be misleading to a budding astronomer with young eyes, which can become more dilated in darkness and be able to take advantage of 10x50s or even 7x50s for that matter. The latter would let in more light, which would be wasted on someone with less than a 5mm exit pupil.

Overall, a good read and resource. Personally, I use "Binocular Highlights" by Gary Saronik and "Celestial Sampler" by Sue French, which I find a little more user friendly. As well, when I am doing some serious observing, I bring along "The Night Sky Observers Guide" and always the Tirion 2000 Sky Atlas. If I bring nothing else, I always bring that last one.