Objects in the Heavens [Spiral-bound]

Peter Birren (Author), Naoyuki Kurita (Photographer)

Book Description

Publication Date: July 12, 2002

Objects in the Sky brings together all the list and all the objects of mag 10 or less in a form that's convenient for use at-the-scope. Pocket-size astronomy field guide features all known deep-sky objects to Magnitude 10 for telescope and binocular observation. All types of galaxies, clusters and nebulae were culled from every available catalog, organized and cross-referenced for ease of use at the viewing site. Object-oriented maps include special symbols to aid in identifying objects, stars, double stars and asterisms. Simple enough for the beginner; detailed for the advanced.
The digest-sized, spiral bound 5th Edition features 717 mag-10 or brighter deep-sky objects (not including 74 at >mag-10.5) viewable from the northern hemisphere, all with 1.2011 location data. Those objects of mag 7 and brighter - 189 ''city'' objects - are specially highlighted in the lists and in the 70 maps. Astronomical details are in ''expanded shorthand'' and set large for reading by flashlight. Newly included is a 7-page section of daily viewing of the Moon, 160 double/multiple stars and  brief constellation grouping stories to present a bigger picture. These stories have proven helpful teaching the sky to kids of all ages.
This multi-purpose guide is most convenient at the viewing site instead of carrying larger, bulkier books and computers, or as a companion to the larger sky atlases when planning a night's viewing. It's compact size makes it ideal for camping, hiking or in the car.
Objects in the Heavens - by Peter Birren
Fifth Edition available after January 1, 2011
128 pages; black coil; laminated covers; 5.5'' x 8.5''
US $24.95; 128 pages; ISBN: 978-1-55369-662-9

Editorial Reviews

Review

This book is your "quick and dirty" way to sit at the telescope and easily move from one object to the next. There are many nights where this is the only reference I bring to the telescope.

Chris Ragaisis
--Chris Ragaisis on Cloudy Nights

I always thought that Pocket Sky Atlas was a great book, but it is an atlas, not an observing guide. If I want to know what NGC1023 is, for example, I'd need to look it up in another reference. You solved that problem.
--Alvin Huey, astronomy author

The mag 10 approach adds many objects to my viewing lists even though I use an 18" Dob as my primary viewing scope. Thanks for the effort which went into developing it.
--Bob Polcyn, amateur astronomer

From the Back Cover

OITH helps you get more out of your telescope and enjoy the deep sky more completely.

Every known galaxy, cluster and nebula - down to magnitude 10 and viewable from the northern hemisphere - is finally in one place, mapped and formatted for convenient at-the-scope use.

Viewing list, fieldbook, notebook, reference and sketchbook. Informative for the beginner. Detailed for the advanced. Magnitude 10 to -40° declination; gradually brighter objects to -45°; RA/Dec 1.2011.

NEW! Lunar targets and locations.

Spend more time viewing, less time searching.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Spiral-bound: 128 pages
• Publisher: Trafford Publishing; 3rd edition (July 12, 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 155369662X
• ISBN-13: 978-1553696629
• Product Dimensions: 8.3 x 5.7 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 6.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #257,357 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Peter Birren is an award winning graphic designer, amateur astronomer and hang glider pilot. While in the USAF, he saw the 1966 Leonid meteor shower but it wasn't until 2001 that he began learning more about astronomy in earnest and started a basic viewing list. The list acquired a life of its own and developed into a full-fledged book. As a wise man once said, "If you want to learn about something, write a book about it." And so Peter has now completed work on the 5th Edition of Objects in the Heavens.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

14 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Handy book to have at the telescope, June 18, 2003

By 

George Reynolds (Virginia Beach, VA (USA)) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Objects in the Heavens (Spiral-bound)

Peter Birren's _Objects in the Heavens_ is a compact little spiral-bound book and observer's log, jam-packed with information on deep-sky objects which can be seen with binoculars and small telescopes. Organized by constellation, the left-side page lists the objects, their NGC (or other) numbers, type (e.g. galaxy, open cluster, double star, etc.), location (RA and dec), brightness, distance, and a bit of description. The right-side page shows a sketch of where they are in the constellation and has plenty of room for observation notes. It is a very handy book to have at the telescope.

I have found that _O*I*T*H_ goes hand-in-hand with the Astronomical League's "Urban List" of celestial objects visible in modestly light-polluted areas. I keep the book with my standard stargazing tools; my log book, planisphere, and star chart.

In the front of the book are convenient notes and information. Several pages list the Messier objects, an index to the NGC objects, the schedule of recurring meteor showers, basic telescope types and uses, and other helpful info for the novice or even the experienced stargazer.

I have corresponded with the author, and found Peter Birren to be a personable, likeable guy with a desire to share his knowledge of the sky with others. I recommend this little observer's guide to any amateur astronomer or budding stargazer.

Added 10/23/2003:
After having used the Second Edition of O*I*T*H for five months or so, I find that I use it constantly, not only in search of the "Urban List" objects, but also to find some of the most pleasing and fascinating objects in the night sky. This 2nd edition is much more accurate in its charts and descriptions than the first edition. It is a very convenient, concentrated package of information and notes to use at the telescope at night.

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars No better way to search the sky, April 7, 2004

By 

peter a nutini (Elmhurst, Il) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Objects in the Heavens (Spiral-bound)

I've been an amateur stargazer since childhood and always wanted something I could toss in my gear bag that would help me locate the bright galaxies and clusters without thumbing through some inappropriate textbook. This small, keenly focused, spiral bound guide works perfect under dark skies. All the important objects are listed with critical, if not extensive, descriptive information in easy to read format. It's a perfect companion to the full sky charts we find in the astro mags and the big sky atlas charts that permit us to narrow in on the obscure stuff. I've bought copies for friends and we all agree, it's as important as anything we carry with us when going out to look at the stars. A great binocular companion, it's filled with a good deal of additional star gazing information as well. The author did a lot of work here and produced a terrific product at a fair price.

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An ideal combination of field book, notebook, and reference work for student and amateur astronomers, January 11, 2006

By 

Midwest Book Review (Oregon, WI USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Objects in the Heavens (Spiral-bound)

Now in a newly updated and expanded third edition, Peter Birren's Objects In The Heavens is an ideal combination of field book, notebook, and reference work for student and amateur astronomers engaged in "real-world" viewing of the night sky. This new edition is enhanced with numerous objects not shown in the major atlases (including the Sky Atlas 2000) and offers a complete list of all known objects to a mag10 level of observation. Also new to this substantive addition is the inclusion of star group stories that help bring together larger portions of the night sky in truly memorable ways. 144 double stars are listed and mapped in order to provide useful targets for those nights when deep-sky observation is less than optimum. Spiral-bound to permit this exceptionally practical reference and guide to be laid out flat, special symbols are employed to aid in identifying particular objects, stars, double stars, and asterism. An ideal and enthusiastically recommended reference for novice astronomers, Objects In The Heaven's is sufficiently detailed to be of immense value for even the most experienced explorers of the night sky, and an ideal curriculum supplement reference and resource for introductory astronomy classes for highschool and college level students.