Customer Reviews

Celestial Sampler: 60 Small-Scope Tours for Starlit Nights (Stargazing)

5 star:		(13)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Celestial Sampler is a conglomeration of Sue French's "Small Scope Sampler" articles that appear in Sky & Telescope magazine each month. It collects 60 installments since its July of '99 introduction. Each article guides the reader through a half dozen or so objects to look at that are nearby one another, so star hopping from one to the other is easy.

The articles are helpful in that they highlight inconspicuous things to look at, such as random NGC objects, and obscure double stars, while visiting old favorites, like the Messier objects. As such, the book is best suited for beginner-to-intermediate level observers who have tackled the major objects out there (M42, M57, etc.), and are looking for something more to look at.

Each article includes a list of around 5-15 objects, a few photos, and a finder chart that plots all of the objects, with stars down to about mag 7-9. The finder charts closely resemble what you'd find in Sky Atlas 2000.

The text of each star hop briefly describes how best to find each object, and a description of the object itself. Frequently each object is described under multiple apertures, though her 4-inch aperture is her "workhorse" scope, and gets the most descriptions. Each object is listed in bold, so finding a description for something is quick and easy.

Overall, this is an excellent guide to finding some more "off the beaten path" stuff that's out there. Even if you already have the S&T issues in which these articles have been published, the book serves as an excellent field companion, since it is well-printed, and glossy, so dew won't be a problem. Recommended.

I have a subscription on Sky&Telescope magazine and I always read Sue Frenchs column "Deep Sky Wonders". Now she has compiled these columns in a book and ordered them by season and month.
In general I find it a very nice book, with good clear charts, nice photos and some drawings. More drawings would have been welcome, as they show better what you actually see at the eyepiece. Reading the book wants you to get out of your chair and observe the marvels described.
One effect of the compilation of individual columns is that there is some overlap: several objects are treated in two or three chapters. This is no handicap, as objects are written in bold and can thus be found easily in the main text.
There is plenty for everybody, whether you are 'just' using binoculars or have a scope small or big.

Last but not least: its really Sue French who wrote this book and should get due credit for it, Richard Fienberg 'only' wrote the foreword.

Highly recommended!

It is always a joy to receive my Sky and Telescope and NightSky (now deceased) magazines and open them up to Sue's columns to see what new celestial wonders await. This book is a compilation of her articles written over the years in a style that is entertaining, informative and not so technical that a novice like me can easily follow. Her introduction is a colorfully illustrated lesson on general astronomy with monthly sky charts, viewing tips and her personal approach to our science.

The book takes you month by month beginning with January`s wintry delights. Each of the objects discussed are illustrated by star charts and photographs clearly identifying each target and how to find it. This includes a chart listing the object, type, magnitude, distance, RA and DEC. The text is a delightful mixture of fact and myth. What you can expect to see is vividly described with various telescopes, apertures and magnification powers and her own personal observations. Whether your interests are in stars, planets, or deep space objects, there is something for everyone to enjoy and learn. I can't wait for her next edition of Celestial Sampler to be published!

Jack Fox, Richmond Astronomical Society

This book is compiled from Sue's older "Small Scope Sampler" column, which, as the title implies, emphasizes brighter targets, but also makes a point of describing the surprising things you can do with a small telescope if it's used with care beneath a reasonably dark sky. In this way she encourages those who are not equipped with gigantic instruments to go out and enjoy the many, many wonderful sights available to decent small telescopes. Sue's skills as a visual observer are equal to anyone's. Her writing is fluid and unpretentious. Her object selection covers all the bases.

For the past few years, Sue's column has been renamed "Deep Sky Wonders" in honor of an old tradition at Sky & Telescope magazine. Her next compilation will probably be drawn from these, and will feature more targets suitable only for larger scopes. Yet Sue still loves her 4" scope the most, and it still shows even in these later columns.

Really cool to see them all in one book.
I really like the sky map presentation and
her referrals to the aperture she is using

Visual equivalent to a sampler box of chocolates; every bite is a delight! This guide is a must for those who observe with a small telescope.

I really enjoy Sue's monthly column in S&T - this collection is geat!
Well laid out, and much easier to use without the ads S&T spaces in the monthly articles =-)

Her style, prose, and eagle eye's are unparalled - you'll enjoy this book and her star tours!

I recently got a telescope and purchased several books to help me get started viewing the night sky. This book is the one that I use the most. I find the information it contains very useful and the star hopping is a great help in locating objects that I want to view.

I like the columns. I travel frequently. A comfortably sized easy guide for binoculars seemed the right thing.

When your child asks for a telescope, this would be one of the two books to accompany that first optical instrument.

Sue is actually my aunt (through marriage) and we received a copy of her book as a gift from our grandparents (her parents) before it was even released for sale. We were never big star gazers but after reading her book we really found the book easy to read and came to realize all that we have been missing! Can't say enough great things about our Aunt and all her talent!! She is truly an amazing author and person!