Stephen James O'Meara's Observing the Night Sky with Binoculars: A Simple Guide to the Heavens [Paperback]

Stephen James O'Meara (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: October 27, 2008

Month by month, star by star, object by object, Stephen James O'Meara takes readers on a celestial journey to many of the most prominent stars and constellations visible from mid-northern latitudes. Filled with interesting anecdotes about the stars and constellations and their intriguing histories, this book is both a useful guide for amateur astronomers, and a great first-time reference for those just starting out. After describing a constellation's mythology, readers are guided in locating and identifying its brightest stars in the sky, as well as any other bright targets of interest - colorful stars, double or multiple stars, star clusters and asterisms, nebulae, galaxies, variable stars, and more. This book will help beginning stargazers become familiar with the stars and constellations visible from their backyards, and explore the brightest and best stars, nebulae, and clusters visible through inexpensive, handheld binoculars. To listen to an EarthSky Podcast interview with Steve O'Meara on exploring the solar system with binoculars, visit http://earthsky.org/space/stephen-omeara-skywatching-with-binoculars. About Steve O'Meara: Stephen James O'Meara, award-winning visual observer, is columnist and contributing editor for Astronomy magazine and former Eye on the Sky columnist for Sky & Telescope. He is the recipient of the prestigious Caroline Herschel Award, the Lone Stargazer Award, as well as the Omega Centauri Award for "his efforts in advancing astronomy through observation, writing, and promotion, and for sharing his love of the sky." The International Astronomical Union named asteroid 3637 O'Meara in his honor. As the first to sight Halley's Comet on its return in 1985, his remarkable skills continually reset the standard of quality for other visual observers. For more exciting titles by O'Meara, please visit http://cambridge.org/us/astronomy/omeara/.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"The mythology and history of the stars and other objects are explained in engaging narrative, and the reader is left feeling as though they have truly learned about what they have seen. ...ideal for those who want to know more about astronomical objects easily seen with binoculars." - David Bowley, Astronomy Now

"The chapters cover all the major binocular deep-sky objects well, but unlike most such guides, the author devotes even more space to star patterns and individual stars. On the whole, I find this refreshing. ... As always, O'Meara's writing is lively, quirky, and infused with his personality." - Tony Flanders, Sky & Telescope

"[O'Meara] lends depth and richness to the observing experience. His skilled observations and side jaunts to obscure targets give both novice and seasoned skygazers fresh vistas to seek and explore." - Sky & Telescope on Deep-Sky Companions: The Caldwell Objects

"Finding your way around the thousands of stars scattered across the night sky is pretty daunting when you're new to astronomy. So a good guide to what you're looking at is crucial to building your foundation as a budding astronomer. [This book] will certainly help you along the way. [O'Meara] relates his invaluable experience as an astronomer, revealing the unique stories and secrets each constellation has to offer, bringing them right down to Earth. O'Meara's writing inspires and his passion and enthusiasm for observing leaps off the pages. ... Armed with O'Meara's book and a pair of binoculars, you'll be hunting for your next mythical beast or hero with no trouble at all." - Vincent Whiteman, Sky at Night Magazine

"...simple star charts and pictures of nebulae allow the book to double as a valuable supplement to the many free star charts or "planispheres" available online." - Physics World

"[This book] will have you comfortably cruising the night's starry sphere in no time with its straightforward techniques and handy mnemonics. - Mark Mortimer, Universe Today

"Whenever Stephen O'Meara comes out with a new book, it's almost an automatic purchase for many amateur astronomers. There's nobody who loves the sky (day and night) and its phenomena more than Stephen, and there's nobody who does a better job describing what he sees in the sky and helping us experience some of the enjoyment that he has." - Bill Pellerin, GuideStar

"...an engaging introduction ... O'Meara, a veteran contributor to Astronomy and Sky and Telescope, brings breadth of knowledge, outstanding skills, and a personal voice. Stargazers of all levels can learn from an observer's hard-won wisdom and ability to see with the mind's eye. Those in the field will appreciate the book's cumulative approach, organization by season, and portable format. ... Recommended." - CHOICE

"There's nobody who loves the sky (day and night) and its phenomena more than Stephen, and there's nobody who does a better job describing what he sees in the sky and helping us experience some of the enjoyment that he has." - GuideStar

Book Description

This useful guide for amateur astronomers takes readers on a celestial journey to many of the most prominent stars and constellations visible from mid-northern latitudes. A great first-time reference, this book will help beginning stargazers become familiar with the stars and constellations visible from their backyards through inexpensive, handheld binoculars.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 168 pages
• Publisher: Cambridge University Press (October 27, 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0521721709
• ISBN-13: 978-0521721707
• Product Dimensions: 11.6 x 8.3 x 0.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #545,928 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

19 of 25 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Don't waste your money, March 1, 2009

By 

C. Lisowy - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Stephen James O'Meara's Observing the Night Sky with Binoculars: A Simple Guide to the Heavens (Paperback)

I bought this book hoping to have a guide to see what can be seen through binoculars. The author has very few objects and there is just too much written about the history than where to find the object. The charts are really bad ( raster images ) and illustrations are from huge 10 meter telescope that you will never see in binoculars. I own 3 other fine books from O"Mera and this one is a disaster. The best part of this book is the cover.

6 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An excellent instruction guide to enjoying the wonders of the heavens from backyards to mountain tops, December 9, 2008

By 

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

This review is from: Stephen James O'Meara's Observing the Night Sky with Binoculars: A Simple Guide to the Heavens (Paperback)

Throughout recorded time, and judging by such pre-historical sites as Stonehenge, the night sky with its wheeling starry canopy has been an enduring source of interest for ground level human observation. Even in this modern age of astronomical observatories and Hubble Space Telescopes, there is a great deal of pleasure to be taken from simply observing the ever changing night sky through the various seasons of the year with a simple pair of binoculars. That's where Stephen James O'Meara's "Observing The Night Sky With Binoculars: A Simple Guide To The Heavens" comes in. Especially appropriate and recommended for novice stargazers, "Observing The Night Sky With Binoculars" features informative anecdotes about the stars and constellations, guides the beginning stargazer in locating and identifying the brightest stars in each constellation, colorful stars, double or multiple stars, star clusters and asterisms, nebulae, galaxies, variable stars, and so much more. Profusely illustrated with black-and-white images, "Observing The Night Sky With Binoculars" is specifically recommended to amateur astronomers as an excellent instruction guide to enjoying the wonders of the heavens from backyards to mountain tops.

4 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars ALL MEDIA REVIEW, December 28, 2008

By 

Media Reviews - See all my reviews

This review is from: Stephen James O'Meara's Observing the Night Sky with Binoculars: A Simple Guide to the Heavens (Paperback)

Hands down the best backyard star gazing book ever written! Before you buy a telescope you MUST! read Stephen James O'Meara's Observing the Night Sky with Binoculars book. O'Meara writes in hard-to-put-down fascinating prose and you will learn everything you need to know to observe and appreciate the night sky, stars and constellations. You will not find a better beginners book anywhere. Grab this book, grab a pair of binoculars,go out tonight and begin to appreciate what the night sky has to offer. A must read!