Customer Reviews

Field Guide to Deep-Sky Objects

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

 

 

This is a useful addition to my growing library. However, the item arrangement takes some getting used to and anyone purchasing this book should read the introductory text in each chapter to better understand how Inglis has organized this volume before using it in the field. His text is very readable and the explanations useful for anyone who doesn't want to get immersed in a lot of technical detail.

One drawback for me is that Inglis mixes Northern and Southern Hemisphere objects in his lists. I intend to add some sort of notation to indicate this. Adding the common name of the constellation in which the object is located would be another worthy addition for those of us who are truly "amateurs".

If Inglis ever revises this book, I would humbly suggest that the chapters be arranged in halves -- one for northern hemisphere objects and one for the southern hemisphere.

Another feature of this book that could be either an advantage or a disadvantage (depending on one's perspective) is that grouping similar objects (eg. variable stars) together makes it really difficult to use this volume in the field if you want to observe many different types of objects. On the other hand, I have never done any field observation that consisted of looking at only one type of object (to compare and contrast etc.) and this book has motivated me to try this technique.

This is one book which I will make sure is with me when I am with my telescope at a dark site. Organized by type of object and month(s) of best viewing, this book is an indispensible guide to the various deep sky objects visible, with their locations and which day they transit the meridian at midnight. Objects are grouped as stars, clusters, nebulae, galaxies, and faint/far away/invisible. This text goes beyond the Messier objects and has objects from various sources with descriptions as they would appear in most amatuer telescopes or binoculars.

This book does seem to be targeted at Northern hemisphere observers, as I do not believe any of the objects listed are south of 42 deg S, with the exception of stars.

I'll make this quick... I'm an ATM and an avid astro-buff.. I've always wondered what I *should* be seeing. This book clears up many questions and puts forth a practical collection of data describing what to expect to see with moderate telescopes up to 10 inches (dia) or so. - excellent format and very well organized - great detail - gives human description of objects in text - no false impressions by giving fancy color photos - feels like reading my own notes. If you like the title... you will like this book. Definetely a guide worth having!

I have never read an astronomical book that contains so much duplicated information. Many facts appear several times in different places in the book for reasons that are far from clear. Tighter editing might have reduced the page count by 10 or 15% without lowering the value of the book.