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Star Ware: The Amateur Astronomer's Guide to Choosing, Buying, and Using Telescopes and Accessories
 
 
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Star Ware: The Amateur Astronomer's Guide to Choosing, Buying, and Using Telescopes and Accessories [Paperback]

Philip S. Harrington (Author)
4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (30 customer reviews)

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Book Description

April 20, 2007 0471750638 978-0471750635 4
Praise for Star Ware

"Star Ware is still a tour de force that any experienced amateur will find invaluable, and which hardware-minded beginners will thoroughly enjoy."

- Robert Burnham, Sky & Telescope magazine

"Star Ware condenses between two covers what would normally take a telescope buyer many months to accumulate."

- John Shibley, Astronomy magazine

Whether you're shopping for your first telescope or your fifth, don't be surprised if you feel overwhelmed by the dazzling array of product choices, bells and whistles, and the literature that describes them all. That's why you need Star Ware.

In this revised and updated Fourth Edition of the essential guide to comparing and selecting sky-watching equipment, award-winning astronomy writer Philip Harrington takes you telescope shopping the easy way. He analyzes and explains today's astronomy market and compares brands and models point by point. Star Ware gives you the confidence you need to buy the telescope and accessories that are right for you and the knowledge to get the most out of your new purchase, with:
*

Extensive, expanded reviews of leading models and accessories-including dozens of new products
*

A clear, step-by-step guide to every aspect of selecting telescopes, binoculars, filters, mounts, lenses, cameras, film, star charts, guides and references, and much more
*

Ten new do-it-yourself projects for building your own astronomical equipment
*

Easy tips on setting up, using, and caring for telescopes and other astronomical equipment
*

Lists of where to find everything astronomical, including Web sites and resources; distributors, dealers, and conventions; and corporate listings for products and services

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Editorial Reviews

Review

"Ein recht nutzlicher Band!"
Der Sternenbote
621/2008-4 --This text refers to the Kindle Edition edition.

From the Back Cover

Praise for Star Ware

"Star Ware is still a tour de force that any experienced amateur will find invaluable, and which hardware-minded beginners will thoroughly enjoy."

— Robert Burnham, Sky & Telescope magazine

"Star Ware condenses between two covers what would normally take a telescope buyer many months to accumulate."

— John Shibley, Astronomy magazine

Whether you're shopping for your first telescope or your fifth, don't be surprised if you feel overwhelmed by the dazzling array of product choices, bells and whistles, and the literature that describes them all. That's why you need Star Ware.

In this revised and updated Fourth Edition of the essential guide to comparing and selecting sky-watching equipment, award-winning astronomy writer Philip Harrington takes you telescope shopping the easy way. He analyzes and explains today's astronomy market and compares brands and models point by point. Star Ware gives you the confidence you need to buy the telescope and accessories that are right for you and the knowledge to get the most out of your new purchase, with:

  • Extensive, expanded reviews of leading models and accessories—including dozens of new products

  • A clear, step-by-step guide to every aspect of selecting telescopes, binoculars, filters, mounts, lenses, cameras, film, star charts, guides and references, and much more

  • Ten new do-it-yourself projects for building your own astronomical equipment

  • Easy tips on setting up, using, and caring for telescopes and other astronomical equipment

  • Lists of where to find everything astronomical, including Web sites and resources; distributors, dealers, and conventions; and corporate listings for products and services


Product Details

  • Paperback: 432 pages
  • Publisher: Wiley; 4 edition (April 20, 2007)
  • Language: English
  • ISBN-10: 0471750638
  • ISBN-13: 978-0471750635
  • Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 7.7 x 0.8 inches
  • Shipping Weight: 1.6 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
  • Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (30 customer reviews)
  • Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #429,381 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

A lifelong amateur astronomer, Phil Harrington was bitten by the "astronomical bug" when he was assigned to watch the total lunar eclipse of April 1968 as a homework assignment. Since then, Phil has spent countless hours touring the universe through telescopes and binoculars. He is a former staff member of New York City's Hayden Planetarium and instructor at the Vanderbilt Planetarium in Centerport, New York.

Phil is an adjunct professor at Suffolk County Community College, Selden, New York, where he teaches courses in stellar and planetary astronomy. He is a founding member of the Westport (CT) Astronomical Society and is also one of the coordinators of the annual Astronomer's Conjunction, held every summer in Northfield, MA.

Phil is also a contributing editor for Astronomy magazine, where he frequently reviews telescopes, binoculars, and other astronomical equipment, as well as authors observing features. Phil has also written the magazine's monthly "Binocular Universe" column (from 2005-2009) as well as a quarterly on-line column on Astronomy.com entitled "Phil Harrington's Challenge Objects." "Binocular Universe" migrated to Cloudynights.com in June 2009. In addition, he has written for Deep Sky and Sky & Telescope magazines.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews
26 of 26 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
For anyone in the market for an astronomical telescope , this book is a tremendous help. Twenty or more years ago there were only a handful of manufacturers that offered astronomical telescopes , but now there is a flood of products for the prospective buyer! Phil Harrington does an excellent job in systematically listing not only the individual products by type , but gives a thumbnail sketch of the manufacturers as well.

The author leaves the final decisions in the hands of the readers , but after reading this little paperback , the reader is an informed buyer! This is not a field where mistakes are cheap. This book will save you some real $$$ if you pay attention. It did me!

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20 of 20 people found the following review helpful
Brilliant trilogy January 30, 2005
Format:Paperback
This has got to be the best and most comprehensive book on everything to do with astronomical equipment. Reading all three editions not only fully equips you with the knowledge on which scope (or binoculars) is best for your needs, but also serves as a "historical" overview of scopes from the past. What I especially liked about the book is that it has exhaustive reviews of scopes and they are split into different categories and brand names (yup brand names and makes are mentioned in the book). Also has a homemade astronomer section that is very useful. Plus, in the 1st and 2nd edition, there is a section on observing (with eyepiece impression sketches). I was disappointed that this section was left out in the third edition but then this spawned Phil's other book "Starwatch". Highly recommended!!!!!!!!!
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14 of 14 people found the following review helpful
By A Customer
Format:Paperback
Looking for a friend to help guide you when buying your first telescope, binoculars, or some new eyepieces and accessories. Phil Harrington, acting vicariously through Star Ware, is that friend. The author, who also writes equipment reviews for Astronomy magazine, exhaustively examines the current astronomical marketplace and discusses the pros and cons of just about everything an amateur astronomer could want and purchase.

The book also features ten new make-at-home projects, including two observatories, a simple digital imager that is light enough to use with *any* telescope, a pair of binocular mounts, an observing chair, and more.

Further, the author's extensive web site ... is regularly updated with the latest news on telescopes and astro-equipment.

I highly recommend Star Ware for all amateur astronomers who are interested in learning about and purchasing the best equipment.

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Was this review helpful to you?
Most Recent Customer Reviews
Thinking of buying a telescope? Read this first.
As a newcomer to astronomy, I have read 'Nightwatch', 'Turn Left at Orion', and this book. 'Nightwatch' provides some good advice on buying your first telescope. Read more
Published 1 month ago by G. Berger
Great guide to buying astronomical equipment
I happen to own all four editions of this book, and I refuse to let go of the previously "outdated" editions, mostly because they contain information on manufacturers that are now... Read more
Published 14 months ago by William A. Llano
Kindle edition outdated.
I'm greatly disappointed that the Kindle version of this book is the Third Edition, some eight years out of date. Read more
Published 17 months ago by missionblvd
Way out of date and wrong on many things
First of all this book BADLY needs to be updated! There have been many advances in ameteur astronomy equipment in the last few years that this book doesn't even mention. Read more
Published 17 months ago by Greg Powers
The first decent guide
This is pleasurable reading. As a coffee table flick through it stacks well above the rest. As a beginners guide to astonomy equipment, its purchase, and its correct use in all... Read more
Published 21 months ago by Johnno
Helpful telesope guidance
This book makes a nice complement to Rod Molise's book, "Chosing and Using a New CAT." Philip Harrington is less devoted to the catadioptric solution to telescope design, but the... Read more
Published 23 months ago by John Redmond
Good reference material
Very detailed, exhaustive. Gets the novice (me) off the starting block and into the action. A book can only do so much, however. Read more
Published on February 6, 2010 by Rich
Where Every Beginner Should Start!
10-15 years ago a book like this really wouldn't even be needed but things are very different today. Read more
Published on January 21, 2010 by OrangeCrush
Star Ware: The Amateur Astronomer's Guide to Choosing, Buying, and...
Harrington's whole Star Ware series is a must read for anyone getting into the astronomy hobby.
Published on August 6, 2009 by Anthony H. Kaczmarek
Required Reading
Very good book and probably required if you are a newbie looking for something to get you going in the right direction. Read more
Published on March 18, 2009 by BlueBerry
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Inside This Book (learn more)
Key Phrases - Statistically Improbable Phrases (SIPs): (learn more)
upper cage assembly, unity finder, prime optic, compensator lens, multicoated optics, observational articles, digital setting circles, collimation tools, secondary mirror holder, periodic error correction, catadioptric instruments, equatorial table, star diagonal, optical tube assembly, apochromatic refractors, binocular mounts, residual chromatic aberration, diopter focus, truss poles, spider mount, dew shields, equatorial mount, right ascension axis, achromatic refractor, equatorial platforms
Key Phrases - Capitalized Phrases (CAPs): (learn more)
Tele Vue, Advanced Series, Star Ware, Starlight Xpress, Sky Instruments, Meade Instruments, Nagler Type, William Optics, Celestron International, Orion Nebula, Thousand Oaks, Universal Astronomics, United States, Guan Sheng Optical, Quantity Item, Milky Way, Sky Publishing, Far East, North America, Orion Shorty-Plus, Andromeda Galaxy, Celestron Ultima, Classical Cassegrain, Jim's Mobile, Star Beam
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Why not the 4th edition for the Kindle version? 1 Nov 26, 2010
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