Saturn and How to Observe It (Astronomers' Observing Guides) [Paperback]

Julius Benton (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: December 8, 2005 | ISBN-10: 1852338873 | ISBN-13: 978-1852338879 | Edition: 1st Edition.

Modern comprehensive review of the formation, astronomy, and structure of Saturn and its ring system, and observing techniques for amateurs Very latest detailed theories and physical descriptions How to observe and image the Saturn, its moon and ring, using a variety of telescope apertures and magnifications

Editorial Reviews

Review

From the reviews: "Julious L. Benton … is probably one of the most experienced and dedicated visual observer of the ‘Lord of the Rings’ … . His book is not only a very well researched compendium where almost all the current information … on Saturn and his satellites can be found but also a rich source of observational advice. What usually has to be searched in several books is given here … . In summary, this richly illustrated book is a goldmine of information … ." (Dr. Claudio Abaecherli, Astroinfo - online, December, 2006) "Benton, a seasoned observer of Saturn – and yes, it shows in this book – walks the reader through a bang-up-to-date account of the Solar System’s second largest world. … this text is superbly illustrated with high quality colour and black and white pictures. That makes it an absolute ‘must have’ for the Saturn enthusiast and I wholeheartedly agree." (Nell English, Astronomy Now, 2006) "Julius Benton has directed the ALPO (Association of Lunar and Planetary Observers) Saturn Section since 1971, and his enthusiasm for observing the ringed planet is evident upon every page. This book begins with 46 pages of background detail about Saturn, and 38 pages of useful telescope data. … it will serve as a solid background for planetary work in general. … This book will be of most value to the new planet-watcher." (Richard McKim, The Observatory, Vol. 126 (1194), 2006) "Saturn and how to observe it would seem long overdue, and with the Cassini mission to explore the Saturn system well underway, also most timely. … Saturn and how to observe it is neatly split into several chapters, each dealing with a specific aspect of Saturn. … The reader is then given generally sound advice on choice of telescopes. … Benton’s contribution must be welcomed … ." (David Graham, Journal of the British Astronomical Association, Vol. 116 (3), 2006)

From the Back Cover

Saturn is the second largest planet in the solar system, and the only one with a spectacular ring system easily visible from Earth. Julius Benton's Saturn and How to Observe It provides a compendium of the latest information, amateur and professional images of Saturn. These images are followed by advice on how to observe Saturn using a variety of telescope apertures, color filters and magnifications. This text is a goldmine of information for all levels of amateur observers, from the beginner to the highly experienced. Brought to life by crisp color photographs, Saturn and How to Observe It is a modern comprehensive review of Saturn as a planet and its magnificent ring system. The book includes some of the latest detailed theories and physical descriptions of Saturn and its satellites. The techniques for observing Saturn are outlined in this book, giving the reader a thorough explanation of what they are viewing.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 192 pages
• Publisher: Springer; 1st Edition. edition (December 8, 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1852338873
• ISBN-13: 978-1852338879
• Product Dimensions: 9.2 x 7 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #869,624 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Julius's book on how to observe the Jewel of the Night "Saturn"!, September 2, 2009

By 

Busy Bee "Smiley" (Perth, Australia) - See all my reviews

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This review is from: Saturn and How to Observe It (Astronomers' Observing Guides) (Paperback)

Saturn was the 3rd object I tried to view after the moon and the stars. I have always been fascinated by the planet and those rings; but nothing could have prepared me for the first time I viewed it with the Telescope; it was a moment that I will never forget. Suspended out there in the darkness of space was a Jewel that even with my Small 76mm Reflector Telescope was a breath taking scene. I was hooked for ever in its beauty; which is way I wanted to know more about viewing and observing this planet and looked for a book on the subject.

I have mixed feeling about this book. The technical content is Wonderful, Saturn's history, and the Rings, Oh those rings; full details about them, Saturn's atmospheric bands and key satellites are discussed in the most intricate details. Diagrams and some nice colour pictures help put the dots on the i's in some instances but are lacking in others. As an example, some of the rings pictures are in Black and White and do not clearly mark the edges and thus leaves it to interpretation of the text or a sketch on the following pages to show their boundary. Some of the technical material may be overkill for an amateur who is not versed with the technical lingo and aspects of astronomy.

The review of the equipment, eyepieces and the filters is good and relevant to Saturn rather than being there just to fill in papers, but they need a bit more organization specifically the filters usage table and a major update on the equipment on general and specifically astrophotography and imaging equipment as the book was written [according to the author] in 2003 even though it was published in Dec. 2005.

The Observation Notes and how to make your observations count is truly valuable and will help organize and make your observations more meaningful and reliable and maybe give you the chance to contribute to the science evolving around this superb planet and others.

Pros:

*Very Good coverage of Saturn's features.

*Helpful forms on how to record your observations.

*Some very good colour images.

*Helpful but outdated equipment review.

Cons:

*Needs an update as it was written in 2003.

*The style is not easy to comprehend, too technical and even boring sometimes.

*Needs a bit of organizing.

*Loose the BW images and have more detailed Colour Images and Diagrams.

*Update the Astrophotography and Imaging chapter and equipment.

My score is in between 3 & 4 stars.