#41  
Old 23-04-2016, 03:02 PM
ausastronomer (John Bambury)
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1984 approx? book review by Professor Colin Keay on Hartungs. (not sure where from)
1984 Soft Cover version second printing of the First Edition
1995 Second Edition

Cheers,
John B
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  #42  
Old 26-04-2016, 07:12 AM
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speach (Simon)
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Why is it so dear, is it that good?
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  #43  
Old 26-04-2016, 07:29 AM
Kunama
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Why is it so dear, is it that good?
It is not always so expensive, my copy was bought off eBay for $102 including postage and appeared to have never been opened.
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  #44  
Old 26-04-2016, 11:42 AM
raymo
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Matt, how long ago, which edition, and AU$ or US$?

Simon, the second edition[which is what I have]is the only amateur level book that I am aware of that contains so much data pertaining to the Southern Hemisphere in one place. The 37 page table of telescopic objects in order of Right Ascension is invaluable. I use my copy more than any other book.
raymo
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  #45  
Old 26-04-2016, 12:35 PM
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astroron (Ron)
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Why is it so dear, is it that good?
In a word "Yes"
There are other reasons as well.
Supply and demand, not a lot around that people
want to sell.
while people are willing to pay large sums of money for it it will be
expensive.
Out of print and very little chance of it being reprinted.

As the title says

Hartung's "Astronomical Objects for Southern Telescopes"

It is a book for southern telescope observers which no other single book
offers the quality of information as far as I am aware.
Cheers
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  #46  
Old 26-04-2016, 01:20 PM
Kunama
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Matt, how long ago, which edition, and AU$ or US$?

Simon, the second edition[which is what I have]is the only amateur level book that I am aware of that contains so much data pertaining to the Southern Hemisphere in one place. The 37 page table of telescopic objects in order of Right Ascension is invaluable. I use my copy more than any other book.
raymo
May 2015, eBay, AUD, 1995 second edition, unused/unmarked, price sticker on back $79.95

My dearly beloved found it!
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  #47  
Old 26-04-2016, 01:42 PM
raymo
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Stick to it like glue Matt, I haven't seen it anywhere near that price on Amazon for ages; in fact when I looked the other day, they didn't have
a copy at any price.
raymo
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  #48  
Old 29-04-2016, 05:03 PM
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speach (Simon)
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Stick to it like glue Matt, I haven't seen it anywhere near that price on Amazon for ages; in fact when I looked the other day, they didn't have
a copy at any price.
raymo
Well I hope it's as good as you say, as I've just bought a new copy
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  #49  
Old 29-04-2016, 08:42 PM
raymo
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Where did you find it Simon?
raymo
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  #50  
Old 30-04-2016, 07:58 AM
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speach (Simon)
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Where did you find it Simon?
raymo
Amazon
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  #51  
Old 02-05-2016, 03:32 PM
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Domol (Domenic)
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I have the second edition which I brought at Borders in the early naughties (2000's)! It has been my Bible! After all these years I've nearly observed every object listed, and there's over 1000, and I'm ready to start over again!!.

Every visual observer should have one!
Why can't they publish a e-book version ???
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  #52  
Old 11-05-2016, 01:54 PM
gary
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A hard sell

A few years ago at the IceInSpace Astrocamp, Andrew Murrell arrived
with a box of astronomy books to sell at the swap meet.

One of the books included a mint copy of the second edition of Hartungs.

When the second edition was published, Andrew and David Frew were
friends at the time. Andrew told me that one day David arrived from the
printers carrying cartons of the first run of books hot off the press.

David opened a carton and handed Andrew a book. Essentially the first
one to be distributed.

The book he had brought to the swap meet was that very first one David
had handed to him. Andrew had subsequently picked up another copy
which he had used in the field.

Anyway we are there in the covered area at Lostock and a guy moseys
up and starts browsing the books. "Is this one any good?", he asks,
picking up the Hartungs. Andrew has a price tag on it of only a
few dollars and Andrew calmly informs him that it is an excellent guide
to observe with.

However this chap doesn't seem convinced.

I chirp in and explain how the book is divided into chapters devoted to
each constellation observable from the southern hemisphere and that
each of these makes for an excellent observing list for a night's viewing.
In short, it is a really fabulous book.

He still does not look convinced.

Andrew was a salesman by profession and by now both us are starting
to wonder why this pitch is not moving this book at such a dirt cheap price.

However, a few more soft words from Andrew and the guy pulls out a few
bucks and the deal is done.

The buyer could probably have that book appraised on the amateur
astronomy equivalent of the Antiques Roadshow today and be amazed
what some second hand book stores are asking for it at the moment.
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  #53  
Old 11-05-2016, 02:23 PM
gary
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A practical reason for the utility of the revised edition

It should also be noted that the first edition of Hartungs publishes
co-ordinate positions in terms of the B1950.0 co-ordinate system
whereas the revised second edition by Malin and Frew uses J2000.0
co-ordinates.

This is an important practical point if relying on the co-ordinates in the
book.

As most readers will be aware, due to a complex series of wobbles
in the Earth's axis of rotation, the apparent position of stars and
other celestial objects will appear to shift over the years in a RA/Dec sense.
The Earth's poles precess like a wobble in a spinning top.

It comes as a surprise to many enthusiasts how significant the rate
of precession is.

It shifts at about 50.3 arc seconds a year - about the diameter of Jupiter.

So going between the B1950.0 Epoch to J2000.0 is about 2515 arc seconds,
which is equivalent to 41.9 arc minutes. Depending upon how extended the
target object is, that can make quite a difference in reliably
locating and identifying it through 'blind pointing', if one relies
on the B1950.0 RA/Dec co-ordinates alone.

Interested readers might like to know what is the significance of the 'B' and 'J' prefixes.

The 'B' stands for Besselian, named after Wilhelm Bessel, and the
"Besselian epochs" such as B1950.0 were based on the tropical year
(i.e. a solar year) in 1900, the reference being when the Sun's
longitude was 280 degrees toward the beginning of the year.

The 'J' stands for Julian and such epochs are based on a year
being exactly 365.25 days long.

An additional subtlety is the fact that the J2000.0 system uses a revised
reference frame, known as FK5, which in 1974 replaced the previous
system known as FK4. For example, FK5 takes into account the orbital
motion of stars around the Galactic center - a very tiny difference -
but nevertheless arose as knowledge of the Galaxy grew.

These days astronomers have adopted a revised reference frame known
as the International Celestial Reference Frame (ICRF), which is the
realization of the IAU International Celestial Reference System (ICRS).
This has superseded the J2000.0 co-ordinate system.

However, in practical terms, the difference between J2000.0 co-ordinates and
ICRF co-ordinates are minuscule, by design, and for amateur observers
they can be thought of as equivalent.

There will never be a J2050.0 epoch. The IAU resolved in the year 2000
that all co-ordinates from now on will be with respect the ICRF.

Best Regards

Gary Kopff
Managing Director
Wildcard Innovations Pty. Ltd.
20 Kilmory Place, Mount Kuring-Gai
NSW. 2080. Australia
Phone +61-2-9457-9049
Fax +61-2-9457-9593
sales@wildcard-innovations.com.au
http://www.wildcard-innovations.com.au
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  #54  
Old 12-05-2016, 10:37 AM
PeterM
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Hey Gary,
I still have the text file I made up of Hartungs (revised) Deep Sky objects for input into Argo Navis. Here it is if anyone wants it.
Im still looking for a V1 Hartungs as the bookstore I thought had it (as was noted earlier) couldn't find it when I ordered it.
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  #55  
Old 12-05-2016, 11:33 AM
gary
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Hey Gary,
I still have the text file I made up of Hartungs (revised) Deep Sky objects for input into Argo Navis. Here it is if anyone wants it.
Im still looking for a V1 Hartungs as the bookstore I thought had it (as was noted earlier) couldn't find it when I ordered it.
Thanks Peter,

Your Hartungs Argo Navis object file contribution and a couple of other
Hartung spread sheets are also available in the Files->User Catalogs
section of the Argo Navis User's Group.

I've used your list myself and I know it has provided enjoyment to many
other Argo Navis users as well. The comments are fabulous. Thank you once again.

Best Regards

Gary Kopff
Managing Director
Wildcard Innovations Pty. Ltd.
20 Kilmory Place
Mount Kuring-Gai NSW 2080
Australia
Phone +61-2-9457-9049
Fax +61-2-9457-9593
sales@wildcard-innovations.com.au
http://www.wildcard-innovations.com.au
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  #56  
Old 14-05-2016, 03:10 PM
inertia8 (Australia)
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I walked thru a house today prior to an auction and low and behold there was an old saxon newt in the corner of a bedroom and a perfect 1995 copy of hartungs on the bookshelf... The house sold to someone else but I'm putting in an offer to the estate for the book... Fingers crossed.
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  #57  
Old 14-05-2016, 11:26 PM
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Stonius (Markus)
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It's not quite the same as having a copy in your hot little hand, but the second edition is available in electronic format on Google Books

Edit - apologies - it's only a preview with certain chunks unavailable. I wonder if that means there is an electronic version that could be made available if enough people requested it?

Markus
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  #58  
Old 15-05-2016, 08:42 AM
StuTodd
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Quote:
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I walked thru a house today prior to an auction and low and behold there was an old saxon newt in the corner of a bedroom and a perfect 1995 copy of hartungs on the bookshelf... The house sold to someone else but I'm putting in an offer to the estate for the book... Fingers crossed.
Great stuff and good luck with that!
My OP asked about the best accidental book find, think you top the list so far.


Stu
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  #59  
Old 16-05-2016, 01:56 PM
inertia8 (Australia)
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According to the agent the current occupier of the property was the astronomer not the owner, hence I'm still likely to be on the hunt.
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  #60  
Old 31-05-2016, 04:32 PM
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speach (Simon)
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Well mine arrived today from the States, new book never been opened and it is the 1968 edition. Iv'e already learnt something from it.
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