Cosmic Challenge (The Ultimate Observing List for Amateurs) 1st Edition

by Philip S. Harrington (Author)

17 ratings

ISBN-13: 978-1108710756

ISBN-10: 1108710751

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Listing more than 500 sky targets, both near and far, in 187 challenges, this observing guide will test novice astronomers and advanced veterans alike. Its unique mix of Solar System and deep-sky targets will have observers hunting for the Apollo lunar landing sites, searching for satellites orbiting the outermost planets, and exploring hundreds of star clusters, nebulae, distant galaxies, and quasars. Each target object is accompanied by a rating indicating how difficult the object is to find, an in-depth visual description, an illustration showing how the object realistically looks, and a detailed finder chart to help you find each challenge quickly and effectively. This guide introduces objects often overlooked in other observing guides and challenges are provided for the naked eye, through binoculars, to the largest backyard telescopes. This paperback edition has updated charts and data tables to challenge observers for many years to come.

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Editorial Reviews

Review

Review of Hardback: 'Philip S. Harrington is one of the rare individuals who knows the sky and can write about it in an engaging manner. Cosmic Challenge features nearly 200 celestial hunts that will challenge you no matter how many days or years you've logged looking through a telescope. In writing this book, Harrington has produced a work of enduring value, one that should be on every observer's shelf.' Michael E. Bakich, Senior Editor, Astronomy magazine

Review of Hardback: 'From noted astronomy writer Phil Harrington comes this welcome one-of-a-kind guidebook. Harrington provides page after page of observing challenges that encourage the reader to test his or her observing skills with naked eye, binocular, or telescope. With its blend of clear, descriptive narrative and detailed finder charts, this book is a pleasure to use. Cosmic Challenge belongs on the bookshelf of every serious amateur astronomer.' Glenn Chaple, contributing writer, Astronomy magazine

Review of Hardback: 'Phil Harrington is a well-known astronomy writer and has published a lot of material about deep sky observing. Cosmic Challenge is his latest and probably best work to date … All-in-all this is an excellent observing guide, with something for everyone whether you observe with your unaided eyes or you have a 20 inch light bucket. It's both very readable and a proper observing guide suitable for use during an observing session. Highly recommended.' FJAstronomy.com

Review of Hardback: '… an excellent addition to the collection of deep-sky books and should be on every amateur's bookshelf.' The Observatory

Review of Hardback: '… an interesting and attractive book that will keep most purchasers happy and which may, eventually, become very popular indeed.' Astronomy Now

Book Description

Presents an updated paperback edition of Harrington's well-received challenges for amateur astronomers of all levels from novice to veteran observer.

Publisher : Cambridge University Press; 1st edition (April 1, 2019)
Language : English
Paperback : 478 pages
ISBN-10 : 1108710751
ISBN-13 : 978-1108710756
Item Weight : 2.31 pounds
Dimensions : 7.4 x 0.9 x 9.7 inches

Best Sellers Rank: #1,048,520 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #819 in Astronomy & Astrophysics
- #2,325 in Astronomy (Books)

Customer Reviews:
17 ratings

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Top reviews from the United States

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J. Jones

Great Book, Bad Binding

Reviewed in the United States on June 30, 2011

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I love this book, but I had to return it twice to Amazon. Pages 1 thru 18 fell out of both books they sent. Cambridge University Press is a good publisher, but they totally botched the binding of these books this time. I'm very disappointed. I love this book, but should I give it only one star just for the bad binding?

This would be a disservice to Phil Harrington's great effort. Am I reviewing the Seller, the Publisher, or the Author here? I should give it five stars for Phil's excellent work, and call the defects exceptions to the rule for Cambridge University Press. They have the all-time most successful astronomy book ever, in durability and otherwise in my opinion, 'Observing Handbook and Catalog of Deep Sky Objects'. A book that has lasted 20 years without losing a page, I have two copies. I only take one into the field, and it has gotten cold, gotten hot, and gotten wet!

The first 'Cosmic Challenge' book I ordered from Amazon, the section from the black title page to page 18 fell right out. The replacement, the same section came loose and fell out after lying open on the table for about an hour (can't blame QC for that). This was very surprising to me. I find it highly unlikely that I got the only two defective copies out of the whole lot. I hope Amazon investigates and looks into this problem quickly.

ANYWAYYY, this book is highly recommended. It's not only a ready reference for very relevant 'facts and factoids', from the naked-eye to extremely! deep space objects, familiar and not so familiar, but has this 'information-in-one-place' aspect that I find extremely useful. I noticed this when I paged thru it, and when I sat down and read, I found in-depth and authoritative information about some familiar objects that isn't anywhere else, and information on some obscure objects that is presently scattered about and would have to be hunted down and gathered together. This is a big book (almost 500 pages), lots of fun, interesting reading on lots of objects from Pleiades to Palomars. Phil has done an excellent job of choosing which objects to include, their history, why they are a challenge, and how to best meet those challenges to best observe each object.

6 people found this helpful

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Richard Sanderson

Cosmic "Tour de Force"

Reviewed in the United States on July 3, 2011

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Everybody loves a challenge, and stargazers are no exception. With today's huge Dobsonian telescopes and CCD cameras, technology has blurred the boundary lines between amateur and professional observers. Indeed, today's most advanced stargazers are glimpsing objects that their counterparts of a few decades ago had never even heard of ("What the heck is Terzan 7?"). But not everyone owns a giant telescope and Philip Harrington recognizes this in his latest book, "Cosmic Challenge," which provides a wonderful collection of challenges that will test the skills of celestial observers using ALL levels of instrumentation.

Harrington's book is attractive and very well organized. Following an introductory chapter about equipment and observing tips, he divides his cosmic challenges into categories based on instrument size, from naked-eye and binoculars to telescopes ranging from small to "monster" scopes. Each challenge object includes a difficulty rating. Harrington's finder charts are very useful and his portrayals of the objects themselves are extremely realistic. For example, one of my favorite targets is the Whirlpool Galaxy, and his depiction of this object in the "Medium-scope challenges" chapter is dead-on: two very dim blobs of light with slightly brighter nuclei and the slightest hint of spiral arms. That's exactly how I see it in my 8-inch.

Harrington's challenges, which number over 500 targets, include all types of deep-sky objects. Many of them have been overlooked in other observing guides. He also features double and multiple stars, as well as lunar and planetary observations. Some of the challenges are even suitable for city-dwellers.

"Cosmic Challenge" is the latest in a long line of exceptional books written by Phil Harrington and in my opinion, this work is his "tour de force." I have no doubt that this book will be an indispensible resource for serious observers for decades to come.

10 people found this helpful

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A well conceived observing guide!

Reviewed in the United States on October 21, 2011

Verified Purchase

Phil Harrington simply continues on a roll with this, his latest effort in an observational astronomy observing guide. I haven't yet had an opportunity to use his book at the eyepiece, but I've read a large number of the descriptions therein.

It's very nice, since not everyone has a "monster" telescope, and there is a wide variety and range of relative difficulty included. Prior to buying this volume, I have already observed quite a few of the objects included. I particularly like the very "informational" approach taken by the author, and clarifies to a great degree what the average person can expect to see (or...not see!).

Strong points: Wide range of objects to observe; good descriptive information.

Weak points: Only one complaint on my part, and that is a bit more "finding" information would be useful

Overall, very few "warts" to complain about. Well worth the price and a fun read, to boot!

4 people found this helpful

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LivingNDixie

Outstanding

Reviewed in the United States on October 11, 2012

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I don't want to spoil the contents of this book for a future reader, but I will say this... if you are serious about amateur astronomy BUY THIS BOOK!!!

Okay about the book. The book is divided into different sections and the challenges are laid out depending on what kind of equipment one is using. Everything from the unaided eye to large telescopes is included.

Also there is a bonus section on double stars in the back of the book.

In short this is probably one of the best books on my bookshelf and I see it getting lots of use... the author knocked it out of the park with this one.

4 people found this helpful

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Kindle Customer

I enjoyed it greatly

Reviewed in the United States on November 14, 2013

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Well, I'm prejudiced. I love Harrington's style. But I think you will like this book. Plenty in it for those of us who have binos and small telescopes and/or are observing (regrettably ) in light polluted urban backyards.

5 people found this helpful

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Thomas M. Trusock

Five Stars

Reviewed in the United States on August 14, 2017

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Absolutely excellent book. Great addition to my library. Thanks Phil!

One person found this helpful

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Top reviews from other countries

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iRead

Very well written and illustrated.

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on May 27, 2014

Verified Purchase

I bought this book for two reasons; to get ideas on what else to observe- giving more perspective to my many Star Atlases and second I enjoy Harrington's writing style and his approach to amateur astronomy.

In nutshell, the chapters collect a group of targets based on the telescope aperture size. If you have 12" + telescope, then you'll make the most of this book. For apertures less than 12" there are still plenty of gems to point your telescope at.

It's a beautiful and well presented book that can serve you well for years to come. Highly recommended.

One person found this helpful

iosilverroy

challenges gallour

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on February 5, 2014

Verified Purchase

if your into having fun with astronomy then this is the book to own.plus there is so much info at the begining. brill

Fernando

Un gran libro para marcarnos retos.

Reviewed in Spain on December 12, 2015

Verified Purchase

El contenido del libro es esencialmente eso, un conjunto de retos observacionales para los aficionados con telescopios de diferentes aberturas e incluso a simple vista.
Los objetos escogidos se clasifican en función de diferentes aberturas, y no son fáciles si se desean observar con éstas, dependerá eso sí, del cielo y nuestra agudeza visual. Por eso se define como "Challenge", retos que nos obligarán a esforzarnos un poco más delante del ocular. Además añade recursos y trucos para facilitar la observación.
En el primer capítulo es especialmente interesante sobretodo en el apartado de como incrementar nuestra capacidad de observación.
El autor es un referente y este libro es una compra que seguro que no deja indiferente.
Por mi parte una muy buena compra de la que he quedado muy satisfecho.

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Paul

Must have

Reviewed in Germany on December 10, 2020

Verified Purchase

Great book and must have for every astromaniac with telescope. A loot of objects from small telescopes to big apertures. There is also some challenges for naked eyes or binoculars. Hard cover edition is well made. Book includes astro sketches which help you recognize object in the night sky. Definitely worth buying!