Star Clusters and How to Observe Them (Astronomers' Observing Guides) [Paperback]

Mark Allison (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: December 15, 2005 | ISBN-10: 1846281903 | ISBN-13: 978-1846281907 | Edition: 1st Edition.

Astronomy enthusiasts will all appreciate the detailed yet easily-assimilated description of star clusters, how they were formed as our Milky Way galaxy, how they evolved, and how they are classified. The latest research has revealed a vast amount of fascinating information about the clusters, along with some spectacular photographs. Modern commercially-made telescopes enable amateur astronomers to see a surprising amount of detail, and to record – using CCD cameras, video, webcams or even film – some remarkably beautiful and detailed images. Contained here also is detailed information on using refractors, reflectors, and, of course, Meade and Celestron’s ubiquitous range of computer-controlled SCT telescopes.

Editorial Reviews

Review

From the reviews: [The] writing style is lucid and eminently friendly, and conveys a virtually contagious enthusiasm for the subject. If, after browsing through this book, you haven't felt the urge to sweep the skies for some of the magnificent star clusters detailed in the text, then you aren't at all interested in viewing the skies. I thoroughly recommend this book. --Peter Grego, in Popular Astronomy, April-June 2006 "Mark Allison is clearly an enthusiast and keen amateur observer of the Deep Sky, and in Star clusters and how to observe them … . His style is friendly and welcoming to the newcomer to the field. … The observing aspect of the book is more successful than the astrophysical which has many interesting things to say … . for the newcomer to star clusters looking for a relatively inexpensive alternative, it may serve." (Nick Hewitt, Journal of the British Astronomical Association, Vol. 116 (4), 2006)

From the Back Cover

Star clusters are among the most spectacular objects for amateur astronomers to observe and image. They represent the beginning, the present and the future of the universe, from sparse open clusters containing only a dozen stars, to giant globular clusters, each replete with a million suns. Part one of this detailed book provides a comprehensive review of star clusters – including open, globular, extragalactic, and even cluster remnants – along with their evolution and physics. Part two is about observing. The larger clusters can be observed through the most basic equipment – normal binoculars or budget telescopes – but Mark Allison talks about instrumentation and accessories, for observers from beginner to expert. Finally there is an observing guide and a comprehensive observing list for a wide range of telescope apertures. This one book provides all you need to observe star clusters, and to understand the many and varied objects that fall under this classification.

Product Details

• Paperback: 224 pages
• Publisher: Springer; 1st Edition. edition (December 15, 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1846281903
• ISBN-13: 978-1846281907
• Product Dimensions: 9.2 x 7 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,619,731 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

24 of 28 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Star Clusters: The Missed Opportunity, May 21, 2006

By 

Donald E. Pensack (Los Angeles) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Star Clusters and How to Observe Them (Astronomers' Observing Guides) (Paperback)

I’m an optimist: I believe Man will wake up to Global Warming before we turn our planet into Venus, that there are some honest politicians, and that proofreading will return to the forefront of book publishing.

Alas, today is not that day. Allison’s book so badly needed a proofreader that a fifth-grade teacher, armed with a red pen, would have run out of ink before getting out of the first couple chapters. I think good writing should not only be engaging, but should be free from obvious grammar and spelling errors—it makes it easier to read for the inexperienced reader, and considerably less distracting for the experienced reader.

Allison’s book has so many errors in grammar, including punctuation and tense, that the book is quite distracting to read.

I admire the intent, though, and I would have grudgingly given a nod to the book were it not for the Fatal Flaw that seems to inhabit so many astronomy-oriented books these days: the inclusion of basic information unnecessary to the text or content of the book.

On point: does a book about the structure, history, and observing of star clusters really need basic information about finders, telescope types, Barlows, diagonals, and filters? If you think it does, because the book might be read by a novice stargazer who is not so familiar with the basics of observing, then why include information on cluster classification systems, stellar spectra, and hard-to-observe faint clusters that are test objects for large dobs? Does the reader who understands the science of stars and their classifications, or to whom the difficult clusters would be interesting challenges, really need a primer on finders and Barlows?

I think not. Perhaps the author didn’t either, but was asked to include this information by the publisher. Whichever is the case, it’s there, but it surely didn’t need to be.

Lastly, there is the “meat” of the book; its catalogue of 109 star clusters, replete with finder charts, photographs, basic data, and observation reports. This is the part of the book that might have, despite the other problems aforementioned, redeemed the book in the eyes of this 43 year veteran of star cluster observing.

It was not to be. I could not believe some of the sky’s most spectacular clusters, such as NGC 7789 in Cassiopeia, were left out, while truly difficult (and somewhat mundane) clusters, such as G1 in the Andromeda Galaxy, were included. If the intent is to inspire people to look at star clusters of all types and sizes, with all levels of difficulty, then a more comprehensive approach is necessary. If you compare this to “Star Clusters” by Archinal and Hynes (pub.Willmann-Bell), or “The Night-Sky Observer’s Guide” by Kepple and Sanner (pub.Willmann-Bell), or “Observing Handbook and Catalogue of Deep-Sky Objects” by Luginbuhl and Skiff (pub.Cambridge Univ.Press), the truly poor nature of this book’s contents becomes glaringly apparent.

I do not recommend this book without a major rewriting and the inclusion of a lot more star clusters. Save your money and get one of the books mentioned—your interest will be far better served.

Don Pensack, Los Angeles, May, 2006.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Rare Breed!, July 17, 2006

By 

Stuart Sharratt - See all my reviews

This review is from: Star Clusters and How to Observe Them (Astronomers' Observing Guides) (Paperback)

Books specifically about Star Clusters are a rare breed (there are 2, Archinal & Hayes book AND this one!) So I ordered this book with bated breath.

I am glad to report that it did not dissapoint. The scientific data is fresh, non-technical and bang up-to-date and covers all types of clusters including remnants, extragalactic clusters and asterisms. The observing guide and object list is thorough and accessible, and unlike most general deep sky books, the content is geared specifically towards star clusters. Would I recommend this book to cluster enthusiasts and beginners? You bet!

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Fascinating and Informative Book, July 3, 2006

By 

J. Morgan (Minn, USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Star Clusters and How to Observe Them (Astronomers' Observing Guides) (Paperback)

I am an amateur living in suburban conditions, so star clusters are ideal targets for my small scope. I found this book invaluable. It gives not only up-to-date information on all aspects of clusters - but in an easy to read format, and no maths in sight. I also found the observing guide and 'hit list' very useful. In my humble opinion, this book is worth every cent.