Atlas of the Messier Objects: Highlights of the Deep Sky (Hardcover)

~ Ronald Stoyan (Author), Stefan Binnewies (Author), Susanne Friedrich (Author), Klaus-Peter Schroeder (Translator)
Key Phrases: History Astropl

Editorial Reviews

Review

'I received your book and must say that it is absolutely beautiful! You have created an amazing review of the Messier objects. Congratulations on a breathtaking publication!' - Phil Harrington, author of Star Ware and Touring the Universe through Binoculars

'Ronald Stoyan's Atlas of the Messier Objects should be required reading for amateur astronomers. Its impressive content, textually and visually, makes it a definitive work on the catalog and its objects. Extensive discussions of the catalog's formulation, history, and meaning precede a stunning gallery of all the objects along with nearly exhaustive historical, astrophysical, and observational discussions for each object. Numerous high-quality photographs and eyepiece drawings accompany the text. This book should be on the shelf of every observer, and deserves wide distribution in the United States market.' - David Eicher, Editor-in-Chief, Astronomy

'Atlas of the Messier Objects is more comprehensive, detailed, and beautiful than any other book showcasing the objects cataloged by Charles Messier. The art of observing is practiced as much with the mind as with the eye, and this book gathers into one volume diverse aspects that both enrich the experience and serve as a valuable reference. No other book does such a masterful job of gathering all that is fascinating about the Messier objects and weaving it into a book that is both so enlightening and handsome.' - Susan French, author of Celestial Sampler: 60 Small-scope Tours for Starlit Nights

'Everything a book should be. Beautifully published on excellent paper and very comprehensive. Certainly the most comprehensive book on the Messier objects that has been written to date.' - Stewart Moore, Director, Deep Sky section, British Astronomical Association

"Not another book about Messier's catalog' you might think. This would be completely wrong as you have never seen one like this. Simply put, this is EXTREMELY complete! Why have you never seen a book like this? Well, imagine the result merging books such as The Messier Album from Mallas & Kreimer, The Messier Objects by O'Meara, Messier's Nebulae and Star Clusters by Glyn Jones. 'A glorious chaotic mess' would you argue? Certainly not. The authors have put all this together in good shape, with a very clear presentation in order to produce an innovative book, easy to read or just to browse." - Yann Pothier, Editor of French Deep Sky Observer's magazine Ciel Extreme

"The subtitle of this book is 'Highlights Of The Deep Sky', but it might as well be 'Everything you want to know about Messier and his catalogue' because it is amazingly comprehensive. The full-plate photographs are truly magnificent. There are also excellent drawings made by Stoyan ... this book is worth every penny--and more. There have been many Messier books, but in my view this is the best I have ever seen." - Sir Patrick Moore, Sky at Night Magazine

"It would probably be worth buying the book just for the pictures alone, but this masterful volume is a must for any astronomer. If this book doesn't make you want to get out there and observe the wonderful Messier objects then nothing will." - Mark Armstrong, Astronomy Now

"This atlas should be in the library of any astronomer, amateur or professional, and any library with scientific collections." - Mark A. Wilson, American Reference Books Annual

"There are several good books that cover Charles Messier's famous catalog of Deep Sky objects, but none are as beautiful or comprehensive as this spectacular volume from Cambridge University Press. ... Ronald Stoyan and his colleagues are to be congratulated for putting together a most beautiful and helpful volume on Messier and his catalog, one that all Deep Sky enthusiasts will wish to own, and which is unlikely to be surpassed for many years." - Nick Hewitt, Journal of the British Astronomical Association

Product Description

• Simply THE most comprehensive guide to the Messier Objects ever published

• Combines detailed historical, astrophysical, statistical and observing information for each object with stunning astrophotos and telescope sketches

• Reproduces the text of Messier's famous catalog, along with biographies of Messier and his contemporaries

• Compares modern views with historical sketches from Lord Rosse, John Herschel and other illustrious figures

The 110 star clusters, nebulae and galaxies of Messier's famous catalog are among the most popular of all the deep sky objects and are beautiful targets for amateur observers of all abilities. This stunning new atlas presents a complete and lively account of all of the Messier objects. Details for each object include a thoroughly researched history of its discovery, historical observations and anecdotes, the latest scientific data detailing its astrophysical findings, and descriptions for observers to view the objects, be it with the naked eye or a large telescope. This atlas has some of the world's finest color astrophotos, labeled photos pointing to hidden details and neighboring objects, as well as historical sketches by well-known figures alongside new deep sky drawings. Quite simply, this is THE most far-reaching and beautiful reference on the Messier objects there has ever been, and one that no observer should be without!

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 370 pages
• Publisher: Cambridge University Press (October 27, 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0521895545
• ISBN-13: 978-0521895545
• Product Dimensions: 12.3 x 10.3 x 1.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 5.1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #266,838 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Brilliant book!, April 19, 2009

By	P. Beach (Auckland, N.Z.) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

I received this book today and it's everything the hype says it is. Hard-cover, beautiful, and complete. Everything is here, the comprehensive history, Messier's own notes, drawings and stunning pictures, all the basic facts about each object, a map of the full sky showing the location of all 110 objects, etc, etc. When I saw the photos of Messier's observatory at Hotel de Cluny in Paris, I realised with some dismay that I had been there without realising it's connection to Messier (It's now the Museum of the Middle Ages)! The book contains much more than just information about the 110 objects. For example the diagrams on the spectral types of stars and stellar evolution are superb. This book is so complete, if you want just one book on the Messier objects this is it. Very strongly recommended.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Really good, November 17, 2008

By	dad_of_tutu (Vancouver, British Columbia Canada) - See all my reviews

How comprehensive?
*4 catalogs from Hevelius, De Cheseaux, Lacaille, Bode and, mini-bios of many famed observers before, at and after Messier's time, so how they influenced Messier, how Messier's catalog evolved into what we see today. Glad to learn European point of view(this book was originally published in German, 2006).
*A complete copy of Messier's catalog(in English).
*Historical observations of each object.
*Stoyan gave his descriptions on each object through an ARRAY of optical aids-a 10x50, a 4.7-inch refractor and 14-inch, 20-inch reflectors, when appropriate naked-eye, 8x30, 20x100...
*Astrophysical data is the latest; findings from Chinese, Japanese, Korean astronomers are mentioned.

How beautiful?
*Charts? Some remind me of the charts in The Night Sky Observer's Guide, but in color!
*Pictures? Most are 30min. to 1 hour exposures(so beautiful some amateurs may think they are in the same league as NASA's) through some light buckets, taken by amateur astrophotographers while Hubble images are basically used to zoom in on particularly interesting spots.
*Drawings? Imagine yourself watching 7 drawings done by 8 19th-century observers and 4 by Stoyan(4.7-inch refractor, 14-inch Newtonian, 20-inch Cassegrain) just on Orion Nebula!

Practical info?
*Detailed info about all pictures is given-aperture, used focal length, camera, exposure time, site...; with drawings, aperture, magnification, date, site...
*Recommendations for visual observation like filters; for photography, focal lengths.
*Messier Marathon.

Lackluster objects like M40 get the least-one full-page treatment(because of this volume's larger size still much space is left for the text) while Orion Nebula gets 11 pages, Andromeda Galaxy gets 9, Ring Nebula gets 8, Pleiades gets 7...

Overall, the aesthetic and the quality recall Dickinson's NightWatch&The Backyard Astronomer's Guide.

4.0 out of 5 stars Creative, passionate, and fresh look at the old time favourites "The Messier Objects", November 3, 2009

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

Amazon Verified Purchase

Few books come along and address a subject that has been previously extensively covered and manage to make an impression; well this is on of them. If you have never heard of the "Messier Objects", if you are getting to know the "Messier Objects", or you have had enough of them and accumulated a few books on the subject, is this book for you? Well, Absolutely YES!

Experience the Messier Objects in whole new way, starting with the history of "Charles Messier" the comet hunter [if I may call him that], old Paris, historical publications from the archives, and of course the 110 Messier Objects. The book reads like a little adventure of astronomical history which is quiet enjoyable and refreshing, its not a mere list and co-ordinates but a passion building exercise that gets you eager to read about each fascinating object and go find it for your self and relive the moment. Nothing feels as wonderful and exhilarating than being able to relive history and view it with you own eye(s) or telescope.

How about the objects? Each "Messier Object" gets it moment of glory with little "Bullet Notes" about its Coordinates, Constellation Magnitude and few others; but then comes the "History", "Astrophysics" and "Observation" and some nice drawing of how the object visually looks and a Good Quality Image.

So is this the ultimate book? There is still space for improvement, let take for example my favourite object "M16 - Eagle Nebula", I would expect a Map showing the Constellation Serpents with the key stars and Co-ordinates and the location of the Eagle Nebula highlighted clearly. The included map is too small and may not be practical for locating objects, but rather to give you a broad idea where its located. It would be nice to have a little "Eyepiece" view at different magnifications of how the Nebula will look for the Amateur observer using an average telescope on a typical night, but that is missing. Oh, the drawing of the Nebula is good and gives you a clear idea of how the object will eventually look once you locate it, and the High Quality Images are superb, but I would argue that we all have a nice Star Atlas that shows all of these objects and a few books on how to locate and zoom in on a specific object using its co-ordinates, GOTO or proximity to other stars and objects.

I love the book; and I'm torn between giving it 4 or 5 stars. I guess I got so hooked on this book that I want other books to have the same quality as this book does while keeping the door open for improvements.

Hand in hand with a Sky Atlas you have a historical adventure ahead of you!! Enjoy!!