Must have!, 31 Dec 2008
I bought a telescope, and after a couple of weeks, it went into a cupboard to gather dust. For the uninitiated, there's an awfull lot of dull stuff in the sky.
Then I was given this for my birthday. Suddenly, it turns out there are a profusion of binary stars that you can see even in a misty urban sky like mine. There are open clusters, globular clusters, nebulae and galaxies, and with the help of this book, you can find lots of them, even with a small telescope (and mine was 3 inches).
The book is precise, easy to understand, and gives ratings out of five for each item, so you can select the ones that seem most spectacular. It also gives more detailed stuff for those with bigger and better telescopes. From being a hidden relic, it's transformed my telescope into something I use all the time, and now I want a better one.
Quite simply, it's a must for anyone buying or even contemplating buying a telescope, and if you know someone who's in the situation I was, hopelessly trawling the skies, trust me, it's the perfect gift.
I gave it five out of five, but it's probably worth seven.

Invaluable night sky reference, 13 Nov 2008
I read somewhere that all telescopes should come with this guide and once you start using it you'll realise why. As I have mostly a south-westerly view of the sky I like to make the most of what I have so I turn to 'Turn Left...' and follow the easy diagrams and text to pick out the best of the constellation I am interested in.
The book gives you diagrams of what you'll see in the viewfinder as well as the telescope and although it can be a bit confusing to the novice when you first start you soon get the hang of star hopping and be delighted when you discover the gems above.
In fact having used this book quite often I find myself hopping around without it on my favourite sights. For example the other night I found the ring nebula in Lyra by remembering the steps and estimating the distance between the stars in the constellation. Sure enough it popped into view.

get someone to buy it for you, 28 Apr 2008
if you are interested in imaging, forget it. there is no info on what the variouse targets can look like when photographed, only how to find them. a companion book on how too image and what to use is recomended.

The Novice Stargazer's Bible, 06 Mar 2008
Ask any amateur astronomer what the first book they would recommend to a novice, and the majority will tell you this very book.

Written in a style that is user friendly yet not patronising, it carefully details the highlights of the night sky (by season), giving ratings for each target. All the information on how to find that elusive nebula or galaxy etc is here, along with realistic sketched views through the scope (and finderscope) from a 'normal' viewing site.

Rather than showing each target as a HST or large observatory scope photograph, leading to frustration from the novice, this book is refreshingly honest at what the back garden stargazer will see.

Along with the catalogue of targets (with excellent descriptions of what you are looking at), there is plenty of information on how to set up scopes, what equipment to use and other general advice needed for the novice/amateur astronomer.

I've yet to see a book that covers amateur observations so well.



All that the novice needs, 22 Nov 2006
Put simply, if a novice astronomer with ANY size of telescope buys only one book to assist them, then this should be it (or at least the most recent version of it should be). I'm actually a fairly experienced amateur astronomer with an appalling inability to navigate my way round the skies - at least I did have until I had this book bought for me. Broken down into seasonal sections with indications of the right conditions to go looking for particular objects, I can't think of anything that could make the task easier (short of someone actually finding the objects for you!). It is such a good book I can forgive it a few typos and some lapses of English grammar.

My advice - buy this book!

Must have!, 31 Dec 2008
I bought a telescope, and after a couple of weeks, it went into a cupboard to gather dust. For the uninitiated, there's an awfull lot of dull stuff in the sky.
Then I was given this for my birthday. Suddenly, it turns out there are a profusion of binary stars that you can see even in a misty urban sky like mine. There are open clusters, globular clusters, nebulae and galaxies, and with the help of this book, you can find lots of them, even with a small telescope (and mine was 3 inches).
The book is precise, easy to understand, and gives ratings out of five for each item, so you can select the ones that seem most spectacular. It also gives more detailed stuff for those with bigger and better telescopes. From being a hidden relic, it's transformed my telescope into something I use all the time, and now I want a better one.
Quite simply, it's a must for anyone buying or even contemplating buying a telescope, and if you know someone who's in the situation I was, hopelessly trawling the skies, trust me, it's the perfect gift.
I gave it five out of five, but it's probably worth seven.

Invaluable night sky reference, 13 Nov 2008
I read somewhere that all telescopes should come with this guide and once you start using it you'll realise why. As I have mostly a south-westerly view of the sky I like to make the most of what I have so I turn to 'Turn Left...' and follow the easy diagrams and text to pick out the best of the constellation I am interested in.
The book gives you diagrams of what you'll see in the viewfinder as well as the telescope and although it can be a bit confusing to the novice when you first start you soon get the hang of star hopping and be delighted when you discover the gems above.
In fact having used this book quite often I find myself hopping around without it on my favourite sights. For example the other night I found the ring nebula in Lyra by remembering the steps and estimating the distance between the stars in the constellation. Sure enough it popped into view.

get someone to buy it for you, 28 Apr 2008
if you are interested in imaging, forget it. there is no info on what the variouse targets can look like when photographed, only how to find them. a companion book on how too image and what to use is recomended.

The Novice Stargazer's Bible, 06 Mar 2008
Ask any amateur astronomer what the first book they would recommend to a novice, and the majority will tell you this very book.

Written in a style that is user friendly yet not patronising, it carefully details the highlights of the night sky (by season), giving ratings for each target. All the information on how to find that elusive nebula or galaxy etc is here, along with realistic sketched views through the scope (and finderscope) from a 'normal' viewing site.

Rather than showing each target as a HST or large observatory scope photograph, leading to frustration from the novice, this book is refreshingly honest at what the back garden stargazer will see.

Along with the catalogue of targets (with excellent descriptions of what you are looking at), there is plenty of information on how to set up scopes, what equipment to use and other general advice needed for the novice/amateur astronomer.

I've yet to see a book that covers amateur observations so well.



All that the novice needs, 22 Nov 2006
Put simply, if a novice astronomer with ANY size of telescope buys only one book to assist them, then this should be it (or at least the most recent version of it should be). I'm actually a fairly experienced amateur astronomer with an appalling inability to navigate my way round the skies - at least I did have until I had this book bought for me. Broken down into seasonal sections with indications of the right conditions to go looking for particular objects, I can't think of anything that could make the task easier (short of someone actually finding the objects for you!). It is such a good book I can forgive it a few typos and some lapses of English grammar.

My advice - buy this book!

a must read before buying a telescope of any kind, 21 May 2008
if you can't decide what to buy, read this book and you'll make a much more informed choice when you do eventually buy something. it is a must read for anyone thinking of buying that first 'scope, or even binoculars. it is full of useful info, and is the best way to avoid making a wrong purchase that i know of, especially if you are not a member of an astronomy club where you can put questions too the members. highly recomended.

If you want to learn to use a telescope,get this book, 04 Mar 2006
If you want to learn constellations, how to use a telescope to the best of it's ability, or you are looking to buy binoculars or a telescope, don't bother with other books, just buy this one. It is very useful for both someone who has never touched a telescope and those who are a little more seasoned.

Essential reading, 19 Mar 2005
An absolutely brilliant book, highly imformative and easy to read, an essential purchase for anyone considering taking up astronomy and extremely useful for the experienced amateur. I cannot recommend this book highly enough.

great stuff, 03 Dec 2003
i would advise any person wanting to buy a telescope(especially the beginner) to read this book before handing over your cash.it will save you alot of money in the long run (& disappointment) & it will tell you exactly what you should be looking for when buying a telescope depending on your interests.well worth it!!!!

To the point, 05 Oct 2002
Written with the beginner in mind this is an excellent book for people about to embark on a new venture - stargazing.
If you own a telescope and find the whole thing perplexing then I am sure this book will help. For me, however, its strength lies in its information aimed at people about to buy thier first instrument. Unbiased, to the point and very well explained it is one of the best starter books I have read in a long time. I feel confident that I now know what it is I am looking for to suit my needs and I can shop armed with all the information I need . Highly recomended

Must have!, 31 Dec 2008
I bought a telescope, and after a couple of weeks, it went into a cupboard to gather dust. For the uninitiated, there's an awfull lot of dull stuff in the sky.
Then I was given this for my birthday. Suddenly, it turns out there are a profusion of binary stars that you can see even in a misty urban sky like mine. There are open clusters, globular clusters, nebulae and galaxies, and with the help of this book, you can find lots of them, even with a small telescope (and mine was 3 inches).
The book is precise, easy to understand, and gives ratings out of five for each item, so you can select the ones that seem most spectacular. It also gives more detailed stuff for those with bigger and better telescopes. From being a hidden relic, it's transformed my telescope into something I use all the time, and now I want a better one.
Quite simply, it's a must for anyone buying or even contemplating buying a telescope, and if you know someone who's in the situation I was, hopelessly trawling the skies, trust me, it's the perfect gift.
I gave it five out of five, but it's probably worth seven.

Invaluable night sky reference, 13 Nov 2008
I read somewhere that all telescopes should come with this guide and once you start using it you'll realise why. As I have mostly a south-westerly view of the sky I like to make the most of what I have so I turn to 'Turn Left...' and follow the easy diagrams and text to pick out the best of the constellation I am interested in.
The book gives you diagrams of what you'll see in the viewfinder as well as the telescope and although it can be a bit confusing to the novice when you first start you soon get the hang of star hopping and be delighted when you discover the gems above.
In fact having used this book quite often I find myself hopping around without it on my favourite sights. For example the other night I found the ring nebula in Lyra by remembering the steps and estimating the distance between the stars in the constellation. Sure enough it popped into view.

get someone to buy it for you, 28 Apr 2008
if you are interested in imaging, forget it. there is no info on what the variouse targets can look like when photographed, only how to find them. a companion book on how too image and what to use is recomended.

The Novice Stargazer's Bible, 06 Mar 2008
Ask any amateur astronomer what the first book they would recommend to a novice, and the majority will tell you this very book.

Written in a style that is user friendly yet not patronising, it carefully details the highlights of the night sky (by season), giving ratings for each target. All the information on how to find that elusive nebula or galaxy etc is here, along with realistic sketched views through the scope (and finderscope) from a 'normal' viewing site.

Rather than showing each target as a HST or large observatory scope photograph, leading to frustration from the novice, this book is refreshingly honest at what the back garden stargazer will see.

Along with the catalogue of targets (with excellent descriptions of what you are looking at), there is plenty of information on how to set up scopes, what equipment to use and other general advice needed for the novice/amateur astronomer.

I've yet to see a book that covers amateur observations so well.



All that the novice needs, 22 Nov 2006
Put simply, if a novice astronomer with ANY size of telescope buys only one book to assist them, then this should be it (or at least the most recent version of it should be). I'm actually a fairly experienced amateur astronomer with an appalling inability to navigate my way round the skies - at least I did have until I had this book bought for me. Broken down into seasonal sections with indications of the right conditions to go looking for particular objects, I can't think of anything that could make the task easier (short of someone actually finding the objects for you!). It is such a good book I can forgive it a few typos and some lapses of English grammar.

My advice - buy this book!

a must read before buying a telescope of any kind, 21 May 2008
if you can't decide what to buy, read this book and you'll make a much more informed choice when you do eventually buy something. it is a must read for anyone thinking of buying that first 'scope, or even binoculars. it is full of useful info, and is the best way to avoid making a wrong purchase that i know of, especially if you are not a member of an astronomy club where you can put questions too the members. highly recomended.

If you want to learn to use a telescope,get this book, 04 Mar 2006
If you want to learn constellations, how to use a telescope to the best of it's ability, or you are looking to buy binoculars or a telescope, don't bother with other books, just buy this one. It is very useful for both someone who has never touched a telescope and those who are a little more seasoned.

Essential reading, 19 Mar 2005
An absolutely brilliant book, highly imformative and easy to read, an essential purchase for anyone considering taking up astronomy and extremely useful for the experienced amateur. I cannot recommend this book highly enough.

great stuff, 03 Dec 2003
i would advise any person wanting to buy a telescope(especially the beginner) to read this book before handing over your cash.it will save you alot of money in the long run (& disappointment) & it will tell you exactly what you should be looking for when buying a telescope depending on your interests.well worth it!!!!

To the point, 05 Oct 2002
Written with the beginner in mind this is an excellent book for people about to embark on a new venture - stargazing.
If you own a telescope and find the whole thing perplexing then I am sure this book will help. For me, however, its strength lies in its information aimed at people about to buy thier first instrument. Unbiased, to the point and very well explained it is one of the best starter books I have read in a long time. I feel confident that I now know what it is I am looking for to suit my needs and I can shop armed with all the information I need . Highly recomended

The best guide for buying and using a telescope, 21 Dec 2008
Simply a wonderfully written book. It explains complicated issues with sublime simplicity. I often take a long time to read such books but I finished this in 3 days. I recommend this as your first buy, and it may well remain your last.

Good book for a newbie, 30 Dec 2007
As someone fairly new to astronomy, I found this book excellent. I particularly liked the advice on equipment and techniques because the authors actually say what they use and what they like rather than making bland statements (eg "a good eyepiece is very useful"). The photography is also very good - both the astronomical photos but also those of equipment. The book also covers a wide range of topics.

A must have for all beginners, 05 Feb 2004
I was given a copy of The Backyard Astronomer's Guide (revised Edition) by Terence Dickinson and Alan Dyer, as a birthday gift earlier this year. I've heard much about this book and luckily I now have it.

Having read the book from cover to cover, I have to admit, it lives up to its reputation. It's technical enough not to condescend a semi-pro/expert, but it's balanced and basic enough to help a total beginner get a better grasp of the technology behind a wide variety of telescopes and binoculars. After explaining in the detail the key differences, advantages and disadvantages of all the variants of scopes and binoculars, the book goes on to recommending some of the authors best choices, based in part from personal experience and from industry opinion. The section on filters was especially useful and helped me work out the chief differences between wide band, narrow band, oxygen 3 and hydrogen filters.

The book is very well illustrated and offers practical and insightful tips of how to use your scope/bins and how to best cut down on light pollution, prevent dew build up and cleaning your scope carefully and properly. There is an in-depth chapter dedicated to observing planets, the moon, sun and comets and a significant chapter on deep sky objects. Each chapter mentions the best techniques to use to view each type of object and what atmospheric conditions are best quited for each type of object. There is ample mention of CCD technology and the technical terminology which can and will confuse a total beginner.

Above all, the one most notable feature of this book is it's broad coverage on wide variety of frequently asked questions and the way in which is coherently untangles the techno-bable and mystery behind astronomical instruments and their use. In addition, it puts in the context the ever nagging question, "is big always better". If you're a city slicker, in a light polluted area with a big wallet and think bigger is better, read this book first. You might learn a thing or to. Certainly was an eye opener to me!

This book is a real boon to the beginner and a nice compliment to the experienced astronomer who could find it useful as a quick reference guide in part. There is a supporting web site to the book which has a lot of extra information which the book doesn't include, although this fact of "extra information" is clearly mentioned in the opening pages and you're encouraged to explore further on their site.

Kaustav.

Excellent book to get started in Astronomy, 10 Mar 2002
This book contains a wealth of information. I found it invaluable and still refer to it regularly.

Excellent "newbie" reference, 24 May 1999
After purchasing a telescope and having absolutely no clue on what to do with it, I got this book. I found it to be written with a novice in mind and therefore the explanations weren't too technical. I enjoyed the book immensely.

Must have!, 31 Dec 2008
I bought a telescope, and after a couple of weeks, it went into a cupboard to gather dust. For the uninitiated, there's an awfull lot of dull stuff in the sky.
Then I was given this for my birthday. Suddenly, it turns out there are a profusion of binary stars that you can see even in a misty urban sky like mine. There are open clusters, globular clusters, nebulae and galaxies, and with the help of this book, you can find lots of them, even with a small telescope (and mine was 3 inches).
The book is precise, easy to understand, and gives ratings out of five for each item, so you can select the ones that seem most spectacular. It also gives more detailed stuff for those with bigger and better telescopes. From being a hidden relic, it's transformed my telescope into something I use all the time, and now I want a better one.
Quite simply, it's a must for anyone buying or even contemplating buying a telescope, and if you know someone who's in the situation I was, hopelessly trawling the skies, trust me, it's the perfect gift.
I gave it five out of five, but it's probably worth seven.

Invaluable night sky reference, 13 Nov 2008
I read somewhere that all telescopes should come with this guide and once you start using it you'll realise why. As I have mostly a south-westerly view of the sky I like to make the most of what I have so I turn to 'Turn Left...' and follow the easy diagrams and text to pick out the best of the constellation I am interested in.
The book gives you diagrams of what you'll see in the viewfinder as well as the telescope and although it can be a bit confusing to the novice when you first start you soon get the hang of star hopping and be delighted when you discover the gems above.
In fact having used this book quite often I find myself hopping around without it on my favourite sights. For example the other night I found the ring nebula in Lyra by remembering the steps and estimating the distance between the stars in the constellation. Sure enough it popped into view.

get someone to buy it for you, 28 Apr 2008
if you are interested in imaging, forget it. there is no info on what the variouse targets can look like when photographed, only how to find them. a companion book on how too image and what to use is recomended.

The Novice Stargazer's Bible, 06 Mar 2008
Ask any amateur astronomer what the first book they would recommend to a novice, and the majority will tell you this very book.

Written in a style that is user friendly yet not patronising, it carefully details the highlights of the night sky (by season), giving ratings for each target. All the information on how to find that elusive nebula or galaxy etc is here, along with realistic sketched views through the scope (and finderscope) from a 'normal' viewing site.

Rather than showing each target as a HST or large observatory scope photograph, leading to frustration from the novice, this book is refreshingly honest at what the back garden stargazer will see.

Along with the catalogue of targets (with excellent descriptions of what you are looking at), there is plenty of information on how to set up scopes, what equipment to use and other general advice needed for the novice/amateur astronomer.

I've yet to see a book that covers amateur observations so well.



All that the novice needs, 22 Nov 2006
Put simply, if a novice astronomer with ANY size of telescope buys only one book to assist them, then this should be it (or at least the most recent version of it should be). I'm actually a fairly experienced amateur astronomer with an appalling inability to navigate my way round the skies - at least I did have until I had this book bought for me. Broken down into seasonal sections with indications of the right conditions to go looking for particular objects, I can't think of anything that could make the task easier (short of someone actually finding the objects for you!). It is such a good book I can forgive it a few typos and some lapses of English grammar.

My advice - buy this book!

a must read before buying a telescope of any kind, 21 May 2008
if you can't decide what to buy, read this book and you'll make a much more informed choice when you do eventually buy something. it is a must read for anyone thinking of buying that first 'scope, or even binoculars. it is full of useful info, and is the best way to avoid making a wrong purchase that i know of, especially if you are not a member of an astronomy club where you can put questions too the members. highly recomended.

If you want to learn to use a telescope,get this book, 04 Mar 2006
If you want to learn constellations, how to use a telescope to the best of it's ability, or you are looking to buy binoculars or a telescope, don't bother with other books, just buy this one. It is very useful for both someone who has never touched a telescope and those who are a little more seasoned.

Essential reading, 19 Mar 2005
An absolutely brilliant book, highly imformative and easy to read, an essential purchase for anyone considering taking up astronomy and extremely useful for the experienced amateur. I cannot recommend this book highly enough.

great stuff, 03 Dec 2003
i would advise any person wanting to buy a telescope(especially the beginner) to read this book before handing over your cash.it will save you alot of money in the long run (& disappointment) & it will tell you exactly what you should be looking for when buying a telescope depending on your interests.well worth it!!!!

To the point, 05 Oct 2002
Written with the beginner in mind this is an excellent book for people about to embark on a new venture - stargazing.
If you own a telescope and find the whole thing perplexing then I am sure this book will help. For me, however, its strength lies in its information aimed at people about to buy thier first instrument. Unbiased, to the point and very well explained it is one of the best starter books I have read in a long time. I feel confident that I now know what it is I am looking for to suit my needs and I can shop armed with all the information I need . Highly recomended

The best guide for buying and using a telescope, 21 Dec 2008
Simply a wonderfully written book. It explains complicated issues with sublime simplicity. I often take a long time to read such books but I finished this in 3 days. I recommend this as your first buy, and it may well remain your last.

Good book for a newbie, 30 Dec 2007
As someone fairly new to astronomy, I found this book excellent. I particularly liked the advice on equipment and techniques because the authors actually say what they use and what they like rather than making bland statements (eg "a good eyepiece is very useful"). The photography is also very good - both the astronomical photos but also those of equipment. The book also covers a wide range of topics.

A must have for all beginners, 05 Feb 2004
I was given a copy of The Backyard Astronomer's Guide (revised Edition) by Terence Dickinson and Alan Dyer, as a birthday gift earlier this year. I've heard much about this book and luckily I now have it.

Having read the book from cover to cover, I have to admit, it lives up to its reputation. It's technical enough not to condescend a semi-pro/expert, but it's balanced and basic enough to help a total beginner get a better grasp of the technology behind a wide variety of telescopes and binoculars. After explaining in the detail the key differences, advantages and disadvantages of all the variants of scopes and binoculars, the book goes on to recommending some of the authors best choices, based in part from personal experience and from industry opinion. The section on filters was especially useful and helped me work out the chief differences between wide band, narrow band, oxygen 3 and hydrogen filters.

The book is very well illustrated and offers practical and insightful tips of how to use your scope/bins and how to best cut down on light pollution, prevent dew build up and cleaning your scope carefully and properly. There is an in-depth chapter dedicated to observing planets, the moon, sun and comets and a significant chapter on deep sky objects. Each chapter mentions the best techniques to use to view each type of object and what atmospheric conditions are best quited for each type of object. There is ample mention of CCD technology and the technical terminology which can and will confuse a total beginner.

Above all, the one most notable feature of this book is it's broad coverage on wide variety of frequently asked questions and the way in which is coherently untangles the techno-bable and mystery behind astronomical instruments and their use. In addition, it puts in the context the ever nagging question, "is big always better". If you're a city slicker, in a light polluted area with a big wallet and think bigger is better, read this book first. You might learn a thing or to. Certainly was an eye opener to me!

This book is a real boon to the beginner and a nice compliment to the experienced astronomer who could find it useful as a quick reference guide in part. There is a supporting web site to the book which has a lot of extra information which the book doesn't include, although this fact of "extra information" is clearly mentioned in the opening pages and you're encouraged to explore further on their site.

Kaustav.

Excellent book to get started in Astronomy, 10 Mar 2002
This book contains a wealth of information. I found it invaluable and still refer to it regularly.

Excellent "newbie" reference, 24 May 1999
After purchasing a telescope and having absolutely no clue on what to do with it, I got this book. I found it to be written with a novice in mind and therefore the explanations weren't too technical. I enjoyed the book immensely.

excellent reference for those starting out, 20 Feb 2008
Great starting point for anyone interested in starting up with astrophotography. This book starts off (as you'd expect) with the basics - what to look for in a telescope, then moves onto sections on how to take photos with everything from a digital compact, a webcam(!), a dSLR then finally an astronomical CCD camera.
Each section is further broken down into the same subsections: what kind of photos you can take with the particular type of camera, pros and cons of using it, buying tips, how to take the photos and finally how to process them.

This book is packed with excellent reference photos, and covers the basics of astrophotography in a lot of detail, and finishes off with an extensive list of links to appropriate software, astronomy links, camera and telescope manufacturers, and books. A must-buy for anyone considering taking photos of the night sky. Be warned though, once you've read it, you'll be outside on many a cold night!

Must have!, 31 Dec 2008
I bought a telescope, and after a couple of weeks, it went into a cupboard to gather dust. For the uninitiated, there's an awfull lot of dull stuff in the sky.
Then I was given this for my birthday. Suddenly, it turns out there are a profusion of binary stars that you can see even in a misty urban sky like mine. There are open clusters, globular clusters, nebulae and galaxies, and with the help of this book, you can find lots of them, even with a small telescope (and mine was 3 inches).
The book is precise, easy to understand, and gives ratings out of five for each item, so you can select the ones that seem most spectacular. It also gives more detailed stuff for those with bigger and better telescopes. From being a hidden relic, it's transformed my telescope into something I use all the time, and now I want a better one.
Quite simply, it's a must for anyone buying or even contemplating buying a telescope, and if you know someone who's in the situation I was, hopelessly trawling the skies, trust me, it's the perfect gift.
I gave it five out of five, but it's probably worth seven.

Invaluable night sky reference, 13 Nov 2008
I read somewhere that all telescopes should come with this guide and once you start using it you'll realise why. As I have mostly a south-westerly view of the sky I like to make the most of what I have so I turn to 'Turn Left...' and follow the easy diagrams and text to pick out the best of the constellation I am interested in.
The book gives you diagrams of what you'll see in the viewfinder as well as the telescope and although it can be a bit confusing to the novice when you first start you soon get the hang of star hopping and be delighted when you discover the gems above.
In fact having used this book quite often I find myself hopping around without it on my favourite sights. For example the other night I found the ring nebula in Lyra by remembering the steps and estimating the distance between the stars in the constellation. Sure enough it popped into view.

get someone to buy it for you, 28 Apr 2008
if you are interested in imaging, forget it. there is no info on what the variouse targets can look like when photographed, only how to find them. a companion book on how too image and what to use is recomended.

The Novice Stargazer's Bible, 06 Mar 2008
Ask any amateur astronomer what the first book they would recommend to a novice, and the majority will tell you this very book.

Written in a style that is user friendly yet not patronising, it carefully details the highlights of the night sky (by season), giving ratings for each target. All the information on how to find that elusive nebula or galaxy etc is here, along with realistic sketched views through the scope (and finderscope) from a 'normal' viewing site.

Rather than showing each target as a HST or large observatory scope photograph, leading to frustration from the novice, this book is refreshingly honest at what the back garden stargazer will see.

Along with the catalogue of targets (with excellent descriptions of what you are looking at), there is plenty of information on how to set up scopes, what equipment to use and other general advice needed for the novice/amateur astronomer.

I've yet to see a book that covers amateur observations so well.



All that the novice needs, 22 Nov 2006
Put simply, if a novice astronomer with ANY size of telescope buys only one book to assist them, then this should be it (or at least the most recent version of it should be). I'm actually a fairly experienced amateur astronomer with an appalling inability to navigate my way round the skies - at least I did have until I had this book bought for me. Broken down into seasonal sections with indications of the right conditions to go looking for particular objects, I can't think of anything that could make the task easier (short of someone actually finding the objects for you!). It is such a good book I can forgive it a few typos and some lapses of English grammar.

My advice - buy this book!

a must read before buying a telescope of any kind, 21 May 2008
if you can't decide what to buy, read this book and you'll make a much more informed choice when you do eventually buy something. it is a must read for anyone thinking of buying that first 'scope, or even binoculars. it is full of useful info, and is the best way to avoid making a wrong purchase that i know of, especially if you are not a member of an astronomy club where you can put questions too the members. highly recomended.

If you want to learn to use a telescope,get this book, 04 Mar 2006
If you want to learn constellations, how to use a telescope to the best of it's ability, or you are looking to buy binoculars or a telescope, don't bother with other books, just buy this one. It is very useful for both someone who has never touched a telescope and those who are a little more seasoned.

Essential reading, 19 Mar 2005
An absolutely brilliant book, highly imformative and easy to read, an essential purchase for anyone considering taking up astronomy and extremely useful for the experienced amateur. I cannot recommend this book highly enough.

great stuff, 03 Dec 2003
i would advise any person wanting to buy a telescope(especially the beginner) to read this book before handing over your cash.it will save you alot of money in the long run (& disappointment) & it will tell you exactly what you should be looking for when buying a telescope depending on your interests.well worth it!!!!

To the point, 05 Oct 2002
Written with the beginner in mind this is an excellent book for people about to embark on a new venture - stargazing.
If you own a telescope and find the whole thing perplexing then I am sure this book will help. For me, however, its strength lies in its information aimed at people about to buy thier first instrument. Unbiased, to the point and very well explained it is one of the best starter books I have read in a long time. I feel confident that I now know what it is I am looking for to suit my needs and I can shop armed with all the information I need . Highly recomended

The best guide for buying and using a telescope, 21 Dec 2008
Simply a wonderfully written book. It explains complicated issues with sublime simplicity. I often take a long time to read such books but I finished this in 3 days. I recommend this as your first buy, and it may well remain your last.

Good book for a newbie, 30 Dec 2007
As someone fairly new to astronomy, I found this book excellent. I particularly liked the advice on equipment and techniques because the authors actually say what they use and what they like rather than making bland statements (eg "a good eyepiece is very useful"). The photography is also very good - both the astronomical photos but also those of equipment. The book also covers a wide range of topics.

A must have for all beginners, 05 Feb 2004
I was given a copy of The Backyard Astronomer's Guide (revised Edition) by Terence Dickinson and Alan Dyer, as a birthday gift earlier this year. I've heard much about this book and luckily I now have it.

Having read the book from cover to cover, I have to admit, it lives up to its reputation. It's technical enough not to condescend a semi-pro/expert, but it's balanced and basic enough to help a total beginner get a better grasp of the technology behind a wide variety of telescopes and binoculars. After explaining in the detail the key differences, advantages and disadvantages of all the variants of scopes and binoculars, the book goes on to recommending some of the authors best choices, based in part from personal experience and from industry opinion. The section on filters was especially useful and helped me work out the chief differences between wide band, narrow band, oxygen 3 and hydrogen filters.

The book is very well illustrated and offers practical and insightful tips of how to use your scope/bins and how to best cut down on light pollution, prevent dew build up and cleaning your scope carefully and properly. There is an in-depth chapter dedicated to observing planets, the moon, sun and comets and a significant chapter on deep sky objects. Each chapter mentions the best techniques to use to view each type of object and what atmospheric conditions are best quited for each type of object. There is ample mention of CCD technology and the technical terminology which can and will confuse a total beginner.

Above all, the one most notable feature of this book is it's broad coverage on wide variety of frequently asked questions and the way in which is coherently untangles the techno-bable and mystery behind astronomical instruments and their use. In addition, it puts in the context the ever nagging question, "is big always better". If you're a city slicker, in a light polluted area with a big wallet and think bigger is better, read this book first. You might learn a thing or to. Certainly was an eye opener to me!

This book is a real boon to the beginner and a nice compliment to the experienced astronomer who could find it useful as a quick reference guide in part. There is a supporting web site to the book which has a lot of extra information which the book doesn't include, although this fact of "extra information" is clearly mentioned in the opening pages and you're encouraged to explore further on their site.

Kaustav.

Excellent book to get started in Astronomy, 10 Mar 2002
This book contains a wealth of information. I found it invaluable and still refer to it regularly.

Excellent "newbie" reference, 24 May 1999
After purchasing a telescope and having absolutely no clue on what to do with it, I got this book. I found it to be written with a novice in mind and therefore the explanations weren't too technical. I enjoyed the book immensely.

excellent reference for those starting out, 20 Feb 2008
Great starting point for anyone interested in starting up with astrophotography. This book starts off (as you'd expect) with the basics - what to look for in a telescope, then moves onto sections on how to take photos with everything from a digital compact, a webcam(!), a dSLR then finally an astronomical CCD camera.
Each section is further broken down into the same subsections: what kind of photos you can take with the particular type of camera, pros and cons of using it, buying tips, how to take the photos and finally how to process them.

This book is packed with excellent reference photos, and covers the basics of astrophotography in a lot of detail, and finishes off with an extensive list of links to appropriate software, astronomy links, camera and telescope manufacturers, and books. A must-buy for anyone considering taking photos of the night sky. Be warned though, once you've read it, you'll be outside on many a cold night!

The most productive half-hour in my garden, ever!, 15 Jan 2007
For years I've gazed up at the stars and wondered how I could start to find out about the constellations; if only I'd known about this book I'd have had my answer.

It's brilliant, half an hour in the back garden and I'd found the Big Dipper, Polaris, the Little Dipper, Cassiopeia, and several others. Similarly, for ten years I'd seen a series of three stars in the sky and wondered what they were, now I know; the belt of Orion!

Simple steps, clear diagrams, measuring techniques, everything that you need to start is here. If you want to get to know the night sky, you could do no better than start here.

buy it, 03 Feb 2005
If your like I was - unable to make out pictures shown in constellations and require a giant to help you join the dots up in the sky to actually see images - then get this book. It easily points out the shapes and shows you how to find your way around the sky at night. The legends are great and is always useful to impress ppl with.

Does what it says on the tin, 10 Feb 2003
Either take a look and then go out for a walk, go out for a walk come home and look up what you were looking at, or stick your nose right out the window and look, this book is a fine read, and shows you how to hop from star to star, and it also tells you a little about the legends and myths of the stars.

Well worth the money and ideal as a "dippy in" book too.

Get hold of the book and take a walk this night itself!, 27 Jun 2001
I chanced upon this book when looking for a present for my son's eighth birhtday in April. Since then we can hardly take our eyes off the night-skies. I have looked at many such books but this is the best of them all for an introduction, especially for children. The illustrations are superbly done and the difficult task of orienting oneself properly with respect to the skies and the map is indicated by simply putting a silhouette drawing at the bottom of the page; I find this a very innovative technique. The text accompanying the illustrations is precise and easy to follow for children. The legends are given in just the right amount, thankfully leaving out some of the violent ones and this makes it a wholesome introduction of the night sky for children. The choice of colour schemes is simple and beautiful. The great quality of the book is that once you open the pages the book recedes into the background and you will see only the brilliant star lit sky.

Must have!, 31 Dec 2008
I bought a telescope, and after a couple of weeks, it went into a cupboard to gather dust. For the uninitiated, there's an awfull lot of dull stuff in the sky.
Then I was given this for my birthday. Suddenly, it turns out there are a profusion of binary stars that you can see even in a misty urban sky like mine. There are open clusters, globular clusters, nebulae and galaxies, and with the help of this book, you can find lots of them, even with a small telescope (and mine was 3 inches).
The book is precise, easy to understand, and gives ratings out of five for each item, so you can select the ones that seem most spectacular. It also gives more detailed stuff for those with bigger and better telescopes. From being a hidden relic, it's transformed my telescope into something I use all the time, and now I want a better one.
Quite simply, it's a must for anyone buying or even contemplating buying a telescope, and if you know someone who's in the situation I was, hopelessly trawling the skies, trust me, it's the perfect gift.
I gave it five out of five, but it's probably worth seven.

Invaluable night sky reference, 13 Nov 2008
I read somewhere that all telescopes should come with this guide and once you start using it you'll realise why. As I have mostly a south-westerly view of the sky I like to make the most of what I have so I turn to 'Turn Left...' and follow the easy diagrams and text to pick out the best of the constellation I am interested in.
The book gives you diagrams of what you'll see in the viewfinder as well as the telescope and although it can be a bit confusing to the novice when you first start you soon get the hang of star hopping and be delighted when you discover the gems above.
In fact having used this book quite often I find myself hopping around without it on my favourite sights. For example the other night I found the ring nebula in Lyra by remembering the steps and estimating the distance between the stars in the constellation. Sure enough it popped into view.

get someone to buy it for you, 28 Apr 2008
if you are interested in imaging, forget it. there is no info on what the variouse targets can look like when photographed, only how to find them. a companion book on how too image and what to use is recomended.

The Novice Stargazer's Bible, 06 Mar 2008
Ask any amateur astronomer what the first book they would recommend to a novice, and the majority will tell you this very book.

Written in a style that is user friendly yet not patronising, it carefully details the highlights of the night sky (by season), giving ratings for each target. All the information on how to find that elusive nebula or galaxy etc is here, along with realistic sketched views through the scope (and finderscope) from a 'normal' viewing site.

Rather than showing each target as a HST or large observatory scope photograph, leading to frustration from the novice, this book is refreshingly honest at what the back garden stargazer will see.

Along with the catalogue of targets (with excellent descriptions of what you are looking at), there is plenty of information on how to set up scopes, what equipment to use and other general advice needed for the novice/amateur astronomer.

I've yet to see a book that covers amateur observations so well.



All that the novice needs, 22 Nov 2006
Put simply, if a novice astronomer with ANY size of telescope buys only one book to assist them, then this should be it (or at least the most recent version of it should be). I'm actually a fairly experienced amateur astronomer with an appalling inability to navigate my way round the skies - at least I did have until I had this book bought for me. Broken down into seasonal sections with indications of the right conditions to go looking for particular objects, I can't think of anything that could make the task easier (short of someone actually finding the objects for you!). It is such a good book I can forgive it a few typos and some lapses of English grammar.

My advice - buy this book!

a must read before buying a telescope of any kind, 21 May 2008
if you can't decide what to buy, read this book and you'll make a much more informed choice when you do eventually buy something. it is a must read for anyone thinking of buying that first 'scope, or even binoculars. it is full of useful info, and is the best way to avoid making a wrong purchase that i know of, especially if you are not a member of an astronomy club where you can put questions too the members. highly recomended.

If you want to learn to use a telescope,get this book, 04 Mar 2006
If you want to learn constellations, how to use a telescope to the best of it's ability, or you are looking to buy binoculars or a telescope, don't bother with other books, just buy this one. It is very useful for both someone who has never touched a telescope and those who are a little more seasoned.

Essential reading, 19 Mar 2005
An absolutely brilliant book, highly imformative and easy to read, an essential purchase for anyone considering taking up astronomy and extremely useful for the experienced amateur. I cannot recommend this book highly enough.

great stuff, 03 Dec 2003
i would advise any person wanting to buy a telescope(especially the beginner) to read this book before handing over your cash.it will save you alot of money in the long run (& disappointment) & it will tell you exactly what you should be looking for when buying a telescope depending on your interests.well worth it!!!!

To the point, 05 Oct 2002
Written with the beginner in mind this is an excellent book for people about to embark on a new venture - stargazing.
If you own a telescope and find the whole thing perplexing then I am sure this book will help. For me, however, its strength lies in its information aimed at people about to buy thier first instrument. Unbiased, to the point and very well explained it is one of the best starter books I have read in a long time. I feel confident that I now know what it is I am looking for to suit my needs and I can shop armed with all the information I need . Highly recomended

The best guide for buying and using a telescope, 21 Dec 2008
Simply a wonderfully written book. It explains complicated issues with sublime simplicity. I often take a long time to read such books but I finished this in 3 days. I recommend this as your first buy, and it may well remain your last.

Good book for a newbie, 30 Dec 2007
As someone fairly new to astronomy, I found this book excellent. I particularly liked the advice on equipment and techniques because the authors actually say what they use and what they like rather than making bland statements (eg "a good eyepiece is very useful"). The photography is also very good - both the astronomical photos but also those of equipment. The book also covers a wide range of topics.

A must have for all beginners, 05 Feb 2004
I was given a copy of The Backyard Astronomer's Guide (revised Edition) by Terence Dickinson and Alan Dyer, as a birthday gift earlier this year. I've heard much about this book and luckily I now have it.

Having read the book from cover to cover, I have to admit, it lives up to its reputation. It's technical enough not to condescend a semi-pro/expert, but it's balanced and basic enough to help a total beginner get a better grasp of the technology behind a wide variety of telescopes and binoculars. After explaining in the detail the key differences, advantages and disadvantages of all the variants of scopes and binoculars, the book goes on to recommending some of the authors best choices, based in part from personal experience and from industry opinion. The section on filters was especially useful and helped me work out the chief differences between wide band, narrow band, oxygen 3 and hydrogen filters.

The book is very well illustrated and offers practical and insightful tips of how to use your scope/bins and how to best cut down on light pollution, prevent dew build up and cleaning your scope carefully and properly. There is an in-depth chapter dedicated to observing planets, the moon, sun and comets and a significant chapter on deep sky objects. Each chapter mentions the best techniques to use to view each type of object and what atmospheric conditions are best quited for each type of object. There is ample mention of CCD technology and the technical terminology which can and will confuse a total beginner.

Above all, the one most notable feature of this book is it's broad coverage on wide variety of frequently asked questions and the way in which is coherently untangles the techno-bable and mystery behind astronomical instruments and their use. In addition, it puts in the context the ever nagging question, "is big always better". If you're a city slicker, in a light polluted area with a big wallet and think bigger is better, read this book first. You might learn a thing or to. Certainly was an eye opener to me!

This book is a real boon to the beginner and a nice compliment to the experienced astronomer who could find it useful as a quick reference guide in part. There is a supporting web site to the book which has a lot of extra information which the book doesn't include, although this fact of "extra information" is clearly mentioned in the opening pages and you're encouraged to explore further on their site.

Kaustav.

Excellent book to get started in Astronomy, 10 Mar 2002
This book contains a wealth of information. I found it invaluable and still refer to it regularly.

Excellent "newbie" reference, 24 May 1999
After purchasing a telescope and having absolutely no clue on what to do with it, I got this book. I found it to be written with a novice in mind and therefore the explanations weren't too technical. I enjoyed the book immensely.

excellent reference for those starting out, 20 Feb 2008
Great starting point for anyone interested in starting up with astrophotography. This book starts off (as you'd expect) with the basics - what to look for in a telescope, then moves onto sections on how to take photos with everything from a digital compact, a webcam(!), a dSLR then finally an astronomical CCD camera.
Each section is further broken down into the same subsections: what kind of photos you can take with the particular type of camera, pros and cons of using it, buying tips, how to take the photos and finally how to process them.

This book is packed with excellent reference photos, and covers the basics of astrophotography in a lot of detail, and finishes off with an extensive list of links to appropriate software, astronomy links, camera and telescope manufacturers, and books. A must-buy for anyone considering taking photos of the night sky. Be warned though, once you've read it, you'll be outside on many a cold night!

The most productive half-hour in my garden, ever!, 15 Jan 2007
For years I've gazed up at the stars and wondered how I could start to find out about the constellations; if only I'd known about this book I'd have had my answer.

It's brilliant, half an hour in the back garden and I'd found the Big Dipper, Polaris, the Little Dipper, Cassiopeia, and several others. Similarly, for ten years I'd seen a series of three stars in the sky and wondered what they were, now I know; the belt of Orion!

Simple steps, clear diagrams, measuring techniques, everything that you need to start is here. If you want to get to know the night sky, you could do no better than start here.

buy it, 03 Feb 2005
If your like I was - unable to make out pictures shown in constellations and require a giant to help you join the dots up in the sky to actually see images - then get this book. It easily points out the shapes and shows you how to find your way around the sky at night. The legends are great and is always useful to impress ppl with.

Does what it says on the tin, 10 Feb 2003
Either take a look and then go out for a walk, go out for a walk come home and look up what you were looking at, or stick your nose right out the window and look, this book is a fine read, and shows you how to hop from star to star, and it also tells you a little about the legends and myths of the stars.

Well worth the money and ideal as a "dippy in" book too.

Get hold of the book and take a walk this night itself!, 27 Jun 2001
I chanced upon this book when looking for a present for my son's eighth birhtday in April. Since then we can hardly take our eyes off the night-skies. I have looked at many such books but this is the best of them all for an introduction, especially for children. The illustrations are superbly done and the difficult task of orienting oneself properly with respect to the skies and the map is indicated by simply putting a silhouette drawing at the bottom of the page; I find this a very innovative technique. The text accompanying the illustrations is precise and easy to follow for children. The legends are given in just the right amount, thankfully leaving out some of the violent ones and this makes it a wholesome introduction of the night sky for children. The choice of colour schemes is simple and beautiful. The great quality of the book is that once you open the pages the book recedes into the background and you will see only the brilliant star lit sky.

So Simple, Even I Can Find What I'm Looking For!, 13 May 2004
I am one of those people who has trouble finding specific constellations, and is never quite sure whether I'm looking at Jupiter or Venus. I carry around little scraps of paper from the newspaper so I can figure out which planets are visible . . . but have a hard time reading the scraps in the dark.

With this book, I can see when and where each planet will appear through 2012. I can also get all the help I need to know what constellations are up there now, and which ones will be present when.

As a result, I can finally introduce the starry heavens in an appropriate way to younger people. I already know a lot about astronomy, but the night sky was beyond me. No longer! Whew!

Although my four children did not get much help with the heavens from me, the grandchildren will receive great benefits from this resource.

Even if you are good at identifying objects in the night sky, this book will be a valuable, convenient reference for you.

Enjoy the lore that our ancestors appreciated by seeing new aspects of the night-time sky!

A Robust Guide For Stargazers, 16 Sep 2003
This is a classic Dorling Kindersley handbook:solid,glossy and very durable. You can thumb this to your hearts content and it will still keep its shape. A double-page spread is given to each planet with lots of facts and figures presented in a clear and colourful format. All 88 constellations are described in detail with the major items of interest to be found in each one. Sky-guides are provided for every month of the year as well.

There are some useful photographs of the constellations and the various astronomical objects they contain but I found some of these difficult to make out. Perhaps things are clearer in the field.

A well designed book that really does pack a lot in and the array of facts alone will please the astral trainspotters no end. The celestial hemispheres on the inside of the front and back covers are a nice finishing touch to an aesthetically pleasing as well as informative guide.

Must have!, 31 Dec 2008
I bought a telescope, and after a couple of weeks, it went into a cupboard to gather dust. For the uninitiated, there's an awfull lot of dull stuff in the sky.
Then I was given this for my birthday. Suddenly, it turns out there are a profusion of binary stars that you can see even in a misty urban sky like mine. There are open clusters, globular clusters, nebulae and galaxies, and with the help of this book, you can find lots of them, even with a small telescope (and mine was 3 inches).
The book is precise, easy to understand, and gives ratings out of five for each item, so you can select the ones that seem most spectacular. It also gives more detailed stuff for those with bigger and better telescopes. From being a hidden relic, it's transformed my telescope into something I use all the time, and now I want a better one.
Quite simply, it's a must for anyone buying or even contemplating buying a telescope, and if you know someone who's in the situation I was, hopelessly trawling the skies, trust me, it's the perfect gift.
I gave it five out of five, but it's probably worth seven.

Invaluable night sky reference, 13 Nov 2008
I read somewhere that all telescopes should come with this guide and once you start using it you'll realise why. As I have mostly a south-westerly view of the sky I like to make the most of what I have so I turn to 'Turn Left...' and follow the easy diagrams and text to pick out the best of the constellation I am interested in.
The book gives you diagrams of what you'll see in the viewfinder as well as the telescope and although it can be a bit confusing to the novice when you first start you soon get the hang of star hopping and be delighted when you discover the gems above.
In fact having used this book quite often I find myself hopping around without it on my favourite sights. For example the other night I found the ring nebula in Lyra by remembering the steps and estimating the distance between the stars in the constellation. Sure enough it popped into view.

get someone to buy it for you, 28 Apr 2008
if you are interested in imaging, forget it. there is no info on what the variouse targets can look like when photographed, only how to find them. a companion book on how too image and what to use is recomended.

The Novice Stargazer's Bible, 06 Mar 2008
Ask any amateur astronomer what the first book they would recommend to a novice, and the majority will tell you this very book.

Written in a style that is user friendly yet not patronising, it carefully details the highlights of the night sky (by season), giving ratings for each target. All the information on how to find that elusive nebula or galaxy etc is here, along with realistic sketched views through the scope (and finderscope) from a 'normal' viewing site.

Rather than showing each target as a HST or large observatory scope photograph, leading to frustration from the novice, this book is refreshingly honest at what the back garden stargazer will see.

Along with the catalogue of targets (with excellent descriptions of what you are looking at), there is plenty of information on how to set up scopes, what equipment to use and other general advice needed for the novice/amateur astronomer.

I've yet to see a book that covers amateur observations so well.



All that the novice needs, 22 Nov 2006
Put simply, if a novice astronomer with ANY size of telescope buys only one book to assist them, then this should be it (or at least the most recent version of it should be). I'm actually a fairly experienced amateur astronomer with an appalling inability to navigate my way round the skies - at least I did have until I had this book bought for me. Broken down into seasonal sections with indications of the right conditions to go looking for particular objects, I can't think of anything that could make the task easier (short of someone actually finding the objects for you!). It is such a good book I can forgive it a few typos and some lapses of English grammar.

My advice - buy this book!

a must read before buying a telescope of any kind, 21 May 2008
if you can't decide what to buy, read this book and you'll make a much more informed choice when you do eventually buy something. it is a must read for anyone thinking of buying that first 'scope, or even binoculars. it is full of useful info, and is the best way to avoid making a wrong purchase that i know of, especially if you are not a member of an astronomy club where you can put questions too the members. highly recomended.

If you want to learn to use a telescope,get this book, 04 Mar 2006
If you want to learn constellations, how to use a telescope to the best of it's ability, or you are looking to buy binoculars or a telescope, don't bother with other books, just buy this one. It is very useful for both someone who has never touched a telescope and those who are a little more seasoned.

Essential reading, 19 Mar 2005
An absolutely brilliant book, highly imformative and easy to read, an essential purchase for anyone considering taking up astronomy and extremely useful for the experienced amateur. I cannot recommend this book highly enough.

great stuff, 03 Dec 2003
i would advise any person wanting to buy a telescope(especially the beginner) to read this book before handing over your cash.it will save you alot of money in the long run (& disappointment) & it will tell you exactly what you should be looking for when buying a telescope depending on your interests.well worth it!!!!

To the point, 05 Oct 2002
Written with the beginner in mind this is an excellent book for people about to embark on a new venture - stargazing.
If you own a telescope and find the whole thing perplexing then I am sure this book will help. For me, however, its strength lies in its information aimed at people about to buy thier first instrument. Unbiased, to the point and very well explained it is one of the best starter books I have read in a long time. I feel confident that I now know what it is I am looking for to suit my needs and I can shop armed with all the information I need . Highly recomended

The best guide for buying and using a telescope, 21 Dec 2008
Simply a wonderfully written book. It explains complicated issues with sublime simplicity. I often take a long time to read such books but I finished this in 3 days. I recommend this as your first buy, and it may well remain your last.

Good book for a newbie, 30 Dec 2007
As someone fairly new to astronomy, I found this book excellent. I particularly liked the advice on equipment and techniques because the authors actually say what they use and what they like rather than making bland statements (eg "a good eyepiece is very useful"). The photography is also very good - both the astronomical photos but also those of equipment. The book also covers a wide range of topics.

A must have for all beginners, 05 Feb 2004
I was given a copy of The Backyard Astronomer's Guide (revised Edition) by Terence Dickinson and Alan Dyer, as a birthday gift earlier this year. I've heard much about this book and luckily I now have it.

Having read the book from cover to cover, I have to admit, it lives up to its reputation. It's technical enough not to condescend a semi-pro/expert, but it's balanced and basic enough to help a total beginner get a better grasp of the technology behind a wide variety of telescopes and binoculars. After explaining in the detail the key differences, advantages and disadvantages of all the variants of scopes and binoculars, the book goes on to recommending some of the authors best choices, based in part from personal experience and from industry opinion. The section on filters was especially useful and helped me work out the chief differences between wide band, narrow band, oxygen 3 and hydrogen filters.

The book is very well illustrated and offers practical and insightful tips of how to use your scope/bins and how to best cut down on light pollution, prevent dew build up and cleaning your scope carefully and properly. There is an in-depth chapter dedicated to observing planets, the moon, sun and comets and a significant chapter on deep sky objects. Each chapter mentions the best techniques to use to view each type of object and what atmospheric conditions are best quited for each type of object. There is ample mention of CCD technology and the technical terminology which can and will confuse a total beginner.

Above all, the one most notable feature of this book is it's broad coverage on wide variety of frequently asked questions and the way in which is coherently untangles the techno-bable and mystery behind astronomical instruments and their use. In addition, it puts in the context the ever nagging question, "is big always better". If you're a city slicker, in a light polluted area with a big wallet and think bigger is better, read this book first. You might learn a thing or to. Certainly was an eye opener to me!

This book is a real boon to the beginner and a nice compliment to the experienced astronomer who could find it useful as a quick reference guide in part. There is a supporting web site to the book which has a lot of extra information which the book doesn't include, although this fact of "extra information" is clearly mentioned in the opening pages and you're encouraged to explore further on their site.

Kaustav.

Excellent book to get started in Astronomy, 10 Mar 2002
This book contains a wealth of information. I found it invaluable and still refer to it regularly.

Excellent "newbie" reference, 24 May 1999
After purchasing a telescope and having absolutely no clue on what to do with it, I got this book. I found it to be written with a novice in mind and therefore the explanations weren't too technical. I enjoyed the book immensely.

excellent reference for those starting out, 20 Feb 2008
Great starting point for anyone interested in starting up with astrophotography. This book starts off (as you'd expect) with the basics - what to look for in a telescope, then moves onto sections on how to take photos with everything from a digital compact, a webcam(!), a dSLR then finally an astronomical CCD camera.
Each section is further broken down into the same subsections: what kind of photos you can take with the particular type of camera, pros and cons of using it, buying tips, how to take the photos and finally how to process them.

This book is packed with excellent reference photos, and covers the basics of astrophotography in a lot of detail, and finishes off with an extensive list of links to appropriate software, astronomy links, camera and telescope manufacturers, and books. A must-buy for anyone considering taking photos of the night sky. Be warned though, once you've read it, you'll be outside on many a cold night!

The most productive half-hour in my garden, ever!, 15 Jan 2007
For years I've gazed up at the stars and wondered how I could start to find out about the constellations; if only I'd known about this book I'd have had my answer.

It's brilliant, half an hour in the back garden and I'd found the Big Dipper, Polaris, the Little Dipper, Cassiopeia, and several others. Similarly, for ten years I'd seen a series of three stars in the sky and wondered what they were, now I know; the belt of Orion!

Simple steps, clear diagrams, measuring techniques, everything that you need to start is here. If you want to get to know the night sky, you could do no better than start here.

buy it, 03 Feb 2005
If your like I was - unable to make out pictures shown in constellations and require a giant to help you join the dots up in the sky to actually see images - then get this book. It easily points out the shapes and shows you how to find your way around the sky at night. The legends are great and is always useful to impress ppl with.

Does what it says on the tin, 10 Feb 2003
Either take a look and then go out for a walk, go out for a walk come home and look up what you were looking at, or stick your nose right out the window and look, this book is a fine read, and shows you how to hop from star to star, and it also tells you a little about the legends and myths of the stars.

Well worth the money and ideal as a "dippy in" book too.

Get hold of the book and take a walk this night itself!, 27 Jun 2001
I chanced upon this book when looking for a present for my son's eighth birhtday in April. Since then we can hardly take our eyes off the night-skies. I have looked at many such books but this is the best of them all for an introduction, especially for children. The illustrations are superbly done and the difficult task of orienting oneself properly with respect to the skies and the map is indicated by simply putting a silhouette drawing at the bottom of the page; I find this a very innovative technique. The text accompanying the illustrations is precise and easy to follow for children. The legends are given in just the right amount, thankfully leaving out some of the violent ones and this makes it a wholesome introduction of the night sky for children. The choice of colour schemes is simple and beautiful. The great quality of the book is that once you open the pages the book recedes into the background and you will see only the brilliant star lit sky.

So Simple, Even I Can Find What I'm Looking For!, 13 May 2004
I am one of those people who has trouble finding specific constellations, and is never quite sure whether I'm looking at Jupiter or Venus. I carry around little scraps of paper from the newspaper so I can figure out which planets are visible . . . but have a hard time reading the scraps in the dark.

With this book, I can see when and where each planet will appear through 2012. I can also get all the help I need to know what constellations are up there now, and which ones will be present when.

As a result, I can finally introduce the starry heavens in an appropriate way to younger people. I already know a lot about astronomy, but the night sky was beyond me. No longer! Whew!

Although my four children did not get much help with the heavens from me, the grandchildren will receive great benefits from this resource.

Even if you are good at identifying objects in the night sky, this book will be a valuable, convenient reference for you.

Enjoy the lore that our ancestors appreciated by seeing new aspects of the night-time sky!

A Robust Guide For Stargazers, 16 Sep 2003
This is a classic Dorling Kindersley handbook:solid,glossy and very durable. You can thumb this to your hearts content and it will still keep its shape. A double-page spread is given to each planet with lots of facts and figures presented in a clear and colourful format. All 88 constellations are described in detail with the major items of interest to be found in each one. Sky-guides are provided for every month of the year as well.

There are some useful photographs of the constellations and the various astronomical objects they contain but I found some of these difficult to make out. Perhaps things are clearer in the field.

A well designed book that really does pack a lot in and the array of facts alone will please the astral trainspotters no end. The celestial hemispheres on the inside of the front and back covers are a nice finishing touch to an aesthetically pleasing as well as informative guide.

Top-notch science book and a good intro to heavyweight cosmological topics, 08 Aug 2008
I really enjoyed reading this book, and have just started reading it again. I'm a big fan of Jim Al-Khalili's work, and the attempts he makes to explain seriously heavy cosmological ideas to everyday people.

What I think he does extremely well in this book is to help you build a difficult-to-understand concept in your mind, without a single mind-bending equation. This is all the more amazing, given that a sizeable portion of the information contained in this book is based on theory rather than proven fact.

The only thing that didn't work for me in this book was the attempts at humour. I really like the conversational style, as it really aids your understanding of the information, but the jokey comments remind me of seminars I've been to in the past where the listeners laugh at the speaker's jokes just to be kind and save embarrassment.

But anyway, apart from that, the book is faultless and it thoroughly deserves five stars. I would suggest reading it, even if you aren't interested in this subject. I think it would also work really well as an audiobook too.

An excellent read, not too technical and humorous to boot, 18 Feb 2008
I thought this book was excellent. I've been fascinated by this subject for years and have attempted (and failed) to read Hawking, Einstein et al because I just found them too complicated and too filled with equations to make sense. I have 2 hons degrees so I don't think I am that stupid (I hope not!) but I just found Hawking and the like to be unreadable- their concepts are not explained in laymans terms and unless you are an expert in quantum mechanics its like wading through treacle. This book, however, was perfect for a dunce(!) like me and the author gave practical examples and diagrams for most of the complicated concepts such as how black holes work and the concept of time. The style of writing is also very accessible and smattered with the author's own personal thoughts and witty observations which I liked as it made it seem more like we were having a conversation rather than him talking at me about subjects that i don;t understand. For example, in the time travel section he uses the film "The Terminator" to illustrate the time travel paradox which having seen the film, was really helpful and I actually understood what he was saying (yay!).

The book inevitable throws up more questions that answers but this is the nature of cosmology and science in general I think. There are some fascinating insights into the possibility of time travel and the fact that according to the laws of gravity, it is technically possible and I was blown away by the idea of Planck time (a measurement of time that is so small, there are more planck units in a single second than there are seconds since the universe began). The concept of infinity was also brilliantly explained and it made me realise that the universe in which we live is more mysterious and unfathomable than I ever realised possible. An excellent book which makes this subject understandable. I actually feel more intelligent having read it!!

Fascinating book, accessible to all., 09 Jan 2005
To someone (like myself) who has little or no knowledge of physics, this book is a REAL eye-opener. It is incredibly exciting, and has a deal of humour to boot.

Some parts DO require concentration to get your head around, and I must admit on one or two occasions being slightly lost. Thankfully though 99% of the book was quite easy to follow.

Primarily the book is focused on giving the reader an overview of Einstein's Theories of Relativity, and in particular how these could be applicable to time travel.

My only slight criticism is that the author does seem to concentrate on building/using time machines from a practical viewpoint, as though the reader is a Sc-Fi fan.

Before reading it I thought the universe was born billions of years ago with the Big Bang, and that I was at a certain point in time, and it would carry on ad infinitum after I die. Not necessarily so according to modern physics!

A very small sample of amazing information that I learned was:

Time could start running backwards if the Universe stops expanding and starts contracting.
Time slows down the quicker you go (near the speed of light time almost stops, or speeds up to infinity depending on your viewpoint).
Gravity doesn't pull objects, but bends space itself so objects 'fall' into it.
Gravity bends time and slows it down. Very heavy gravitation can almost stop time.
That the 'present' depends on where you are in space (and your speed), and that all future & past events may co-exist.

The book also touches on Quantum Mechanics, which is even weirder i.e. particles appearing from nowhere and being in 2 places at the same time.

Fantastic, 08 Aug 2002
I find myself coming back to this book over and over again. Everytime you read it you learn something new. The author's writing style is informal, and he explains the various concepts in the book very clearly, with lots of examples and occasional diagrams. Overall, an absoluetly fascinating book to go along with A Brief History of Time.

An absolutely excellent book, 16 Aug 2001
A brilliantly written book for both scientists and non-scientists alike. Unlike most science texts, this one is gripping and informative, written in a clear easy style. Superb.

Must have!, 31 Dec 2008
I bought a telescope, and after a couple of weeks, it went into a cupboard to gather dust. For the uninitiated, there's an awfull lot of dull stuff in the sky.
Then I was given this for my birthday. Suddenly, it turns out there are a profusion of binary stars that you can see even in a misty urban sky like mine. There are open clusters, globular clusters, nebulae and galaxies, and with the help of this book, you can find lots of them, even with a small telescope (and mine was 3 inches).
The book is precise, easy to understand, and gives ratings out of five for each item, so you can select the ones that seem most spectacular. It also gives more detailed stuff for those with bigger and better telescopes. From being a hidden relic, it's transformed my telescope into something I use all the time, and now I want a better one.
Quite simply, it's a must for anyone buying or even contemplating buying a telescope, and if you know someone who's in the situation I was, hopelessly trawling the skies, trust me, it's the perfect gift.
I gave it five out of five, but it's probably worth seven.

Invaluable night sky reference, 13 Nov 2008
I read somewhere that all telescopes should come with this guide and once you start using it you'll realise why. As I have mostly a south-westerly view of the sky I like to make the most of what I have so I turn to 'Turn Left...' and follow the easy diagrams and text to pick out the best of the constellation I am interested in.
The book gives you diagrams of what you'll see in the viewfinder as well as the telescope and although it can be a bit confusing to the novice when you first start you soon get the hang of star hopping and be delighted when you discover the gems above.
In fact having used this book quite often I find myself hopping around without it on my favourite sights. For example the other night I found the ring nebula in Lyra by remembering the steps and estimating the distance between the stars in the constellation. Sure enough it popped into view.

get someone to buy it for you, 28 Apr 2008
if you are interested in imaging, forget it. there is no info on what the variouse targets can look like when photographed, only how to find them. a companion book on how too image and what to use is recomended.

The Novice Stargazer's Bible, 06 Mar 2008
Ask any amateur astronomer what the first book they would recommend to a novice, and the majority will tell you this very book.

Written in a style that is user friendly yet not patronising, it carefully details the highlights of the night sky (by season), giving ratings for each target. All the information on how to find that elusive nebula or galaxy etc is here, along with realistic sketched views through the scope (and finderscope) from a 'normal' viewing site.

Rather than showing each target as a HST or large observatory scope photograph, leading to frustration from the novice, this book is refreshingly honest at what the back garden stargazer will see.

Along with the catalogue of targets (with excellent descriptions of what you are looking at), there is plenty of information on how to set up scopes, what equipment to use and other general advice needed for the novice/amateur astronomer.

I've yet to see a book that covers amateur observations so well.



All that the novice needs, 22 Nov 2006
Put simply, if a novice astronomer with ANY size of telescope buys only one book to assist them, then this should be it (or at least the most recent version of it should be). I'm actually a fairly experienced amateur astronomer with an appalling inability to navigate my way round the skies - at least I did have until I had this book bought for me. Broken down into seasonal sections with indications of the right conditions to go looking for particular objects, I can't think of anything that could make the task easier (short of someone actually finding the objects for you!). It is such a good book I can forgive it a few typos and some lapses of English grammar.

My advice - buy this book!

a must read before buying a telescope of any kind, 21 May 2008
if you can't decide what to buy, read this book and you'll make a much more informed choice when you do eventually buy something. it is a must read for anyone thinking of buying that first 'scope, or even binoculars. it is full of useful info, and is the best way to avoid making a wrong purchase that i know of, especially if you are not a member of an astronomy club where you can put questions too the members. highly recomended.

If you want to learn to use a telescope,get this book, 04 Mar 2006
If you want to learn constellations, how to use a telescope to the best of it's ability, or you are looking to buy binoculars or a telescope, don't bother with other books, just buy this one. It is very useful for both someone who has never touched a telescope and those who are a little more seasoned.

Essential reading, 19 Mar 2005
An absolutely brilliant book, highly imformative and easy to read, an essential purchase for anyone considering taking up astronomy and extremely useful for the experienced amateur. I cannot recommend this book highly enough.

great stuff, 03 Dec 2003
i would advise any person wanting to buy a telescope(especially the beginner) to read this book before handing over your cash.it will save you alot of money in the long run (& disappointment) & it will tell you exactly what you should be looking for when buying a telescope depending on your interests.well worth it!!!!

To the point, 05 Oct 2002
Written with the beginner in mind this is an excellent book for people about to embark on a new venture - stargazing.
If you own a telescope and find the whole thing perplexing then I am sure this book will help. For me, however, its strength lies in its information aimed at people about to buy thier first instrument. Unbiased, to the point and very well explained it is one of the best starter books I have read in a long time. I feel confident that I now know what it is I am looking for to suit my needs and I can shop armed with all the information I need . Highly recomended

The best guide for buying and using a telescope, 21 Dec 2008
Simply a wonderfully written book. It explains complicated issues with sublime simplicity. I often take a long time to read such books but I finished this in 3 days. I recommend this as your first buy, and it may well remain your last.

Good book for a newbie, 30 Dec 2007
As someone fairly new to astronomy, I found this book excellent. I particularly liked the advice on equipment and techniques because the authors actually say what they use and what they like rather than making bland statements (eg "a good eyepiece is very useful"). The photography is also very good - both the astronomical photos but also those of equipment. The book also covers a wide range of topics.

A must have for all beginners, 05 Feb 2004
I was given a copy of The Backyard Astronomer's Guide (revised Edition) by Terence Dickinson and Alan Dyer, as a birthday gift earlier this year. I've heard much about this book and luckily I now have it.

Having read the book from cover to cover, I have to admit, it lives up to its reputation. It's technical enough not to condescend a semi-pro/expert, but it's balanced and basic enough to help a total beginner get a better grasp of the technology behind a wide variety of telescopes and binoculars. After explaining in the detail the key differences, advantages and disadvantages of all the variants of scopes and binoculars, the book goes on to recommending some of the authors best choices, based in part from personal experience and from industry opinion. The section on filters was especially useful and helped me work out the chief differences between wide band, narrow band, oxygen 3 and hydrogen filters.

The book is very well illustrated and offers practical and insightful tips of how to use your scope/bins and how to best cut down on light pollution, prevent dew build up and cleaning your scope carefully and properly. There is an in-depth chapter dedicated to observing planets, the moon, sun and comets and a significant chapter on deep sky objects. Each chapter mentions the best techniques to use to view each type of object and what atmospheric conditions are best quited for each type of object. There is ample mention of CCD technology and the technical terminology which can and will confuse a total beginner.

Above all, the one most notable feature of this book is it's broad coverage on wide variety of frequently asked questions and the way in which is coherently untangles the techno-bable and mystery behind astronomical instruments and their use. In addition, it puts in the context the ever nagging question, "is big always better". If you're a cit