Customer Reviews

Nebulae and How to Observe Them (Astronomers' Observing Guides)

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

 

 

Having spent many years at the eyepiece of a telescope and having used more than a few observing guides it is nice to find one I can recommend. Steve Coe is a longtime visual observer well known in Southern Arizona, and his experience shows in this observing guide. Written in a friendly and approachable style, the guide seems more like conversation from a friend sitting at the next telescope than a formal guidebook.

Steve does not attempt to write a complete guide, more a 'best of' selection that covers not only well know objects, but many lesser know objects that deserve more attention and are worth a visit with your telescope.

I will be including this guide in my kit for use at the telescope, what else can you say.

Andrew

From the very first look I was extremely impressed with this book. The book begins with a good review of equipment (telescopes, eyepieces, filters and usage), observing skills, site selection and a discussion of various types of nebulae. The main part of the book is a description of a selection of nebulae, ordered by season. There is a sensible black and white photograph accompanying each object. The photo shows rather more than you might see through the average amateur scope, but does not raise expectations by showing some technicolor wonder taken through a large telescope. For the most part the pictures are of good quality, some of them of superb quality, but a handful (eg M76) don't make the grade. The descriptions are good with lots of tips on improving what you can see, written in a nice easy style without being too chatty The book concludes with an appendix containing many more objects than those discussed in detail (around 450 by my estimate), including shorthand descriptions in the Dreyer mode (F, S, R gbM,*9 nf for faint, small, round, gradually brighter towards the middle, star of mag 9 north following--there is a key at the bottom of each page, but with practice it becomes easy to understand)

This book, is an excellant introduction or beginners guide to the study of nebulae. Without going into the intricate details, it presents the basics needed to understand the physical processes that enable us to observe nebulae. I recommend this book for the novice.

It is excellent writting, comprehensive, analytical and all subjects well presented and in the appropriate order.