Well done, Paddy! I support your review 100% I have found this set of guides to be a great step up from the more basic guides I commenced with. I see them being useful for years for me.
There is only one thing missing - a high level index of constellations that covers all three volumes. So I made up my own and [UPDATE - have added it to next post]. It has eight columns and I have mine laminated into a double-sided 21cm x 23cm sheet.
The columns are:-
* Constellation # from 1 to 88, eg. 67
* Abbreviation, eg. PsA
* Name, eg. Pices Austrinus
* Genitive, eg. Pices Austrini
* English Name, eg. The Southern Fish
* Alpha Star name (if there is one), eg. Fomalhaut
* Volume, eg. 1
* Page, eg. 333
and two further entries giving volume and page number for the two Magellanic clouds.
Great review Paddy. Not that I needed it as I have already splashed the cash on 2 of the volumes. Having watched Paddy use his copies to great effect at a couple of Snake Valley camps, I can only back up what he writes.
I have just ordered Vol.3 The Southern Skies- from Powells.
I'll slowly build up the other volumes - they wanted postage on each
additional book so it would have worked out a bit expensive.
Oooh, I can't wait to get it, I'm so excited! I just love observing books.
Yikes, the postage cost me nearly as much as the book ($18.99 + Book $37.50= $56.49). But it's still good value- converted, it worked out to $54.50.
Think I bought mine from the US at quite good prices, but was a bit disappointed in the section on Crux. Lots of info on each constellation, but didnt mention the little carbon star ESB 365 (DY Crucis/Ruby Crucis).
This is quite a bright carbon star/variable and easy to see, so was surprised at this ommission. If the information is there, then its well hidden.
Dont use the set of books at all actually .... but then, I do have a lot of astronomy books, and just favour a few when observing.
These books are maybe suited to very experienced observer searching for mag 14 galaxies etc ..... alas, I havent seen a star/constellation for about 6 months, so do not count myself as such.
Am sure these are a great set of books, but just dont suit me at the moment, maybe down the track, when I spend much more time under the night sky.
I have just ordered Vol.3 The Southern Skies- from Powells.
I'll slowly build up the other volumes - they wanted postage on each
additional book so it would have worked out a bit expensive.
Oooh, I can't wait to get it, I'm so excited! I just love observing books.
.
Just found my receipt in the back of the book, and bought it at Powells too.
See how you like Suzy. As you know, I also LOVE observing books, but this one isnt a favourite, but you may love it.
You will find that, if you like Volume 3, you'll eventually have to buy Volumes 1 and 2 which include many constellations that are readily accessible for us. Vol 3 is really for the far south constellations (well, as far as the North Americans and Europeans are concerned). I use them to construct observing lists. They have photos or sketches of most objects so that you can compare what you are seeing through the eyepiece. But what am I doing, Paddy has already described all this!
Eric from what you said, I'm going back to change my order to Volume 2. I hope they will accept the change (I only ordered a few hours ago and they should still be in beddy byes none the wiser) .
Volume 3 didn't have Sagittarius or Scorpio and seems to have a lot more to offer me than Volume 3. I wished I'd seen the constellation listing on Vol.3 before I'd ordered.
Oh gosh, I do hope I'm up to at least the beginning skills for this book, otherwise I'll have to work my way up to it.
Thanks Eric, but I re-visited the link you gave for Willmann Bell Inc book store and the constellations listings for each volume are given further down the page. I just didn't read it well enough.
I figured I'd be better off with Volume 2 as we are now getting into the season for this book.
Bintel usually have copies. The left six all came from there.
Gee that looks exactly like part of my bookshelf.
A fantastic set of books, and not just for the visual user. I have found them very useful as a quick reference when researching for objects to image. I also use then as a guide when deciding on camera/scope combinations based on the information presented in the volumes.
How does this one compare with a book like Hartung's? Hartung's is one of my favourite books! It is always good to have a book written for the size scope you use. I found Hartung's (in the days when I was using a 10 inch dob) really useful.
I haven't used Hartung's, but had a friend's copy of Burnham's on long loan at the same time as I started using the Night Sky Observer's Guide. There were many objects for which Burnham's had more detail, but I personally found the Night Sky Observer's Guide easier to use partly due to layout, the size of the book (ie larger format), the way the charts fit so well with the notes, the sketches and photographs etc.
I just got delivery of my book today (Vol.2 Spring & Summer)! Such a big book- about the size of an encyclopedia.
I love this book- I wish there was an emoticon doing cartwheels!!
I like how the charts are broken up into what you can see visually in the sky and then another chart for the finder scope. Love how at the beginning of each constellation it gives a listing of interesting objects/stars/binocular targets, and lots of sketches of what to expect to see out of the fov of an eyepiece. And really really like how it doesn't waste half of the book explaining about planets, moons, eyepieces, yadda yadda yadda. Just get's straight to the point of observing. Also like the listing of what the object looks through different size scopes, though it gets rubbed in to ones face a bit when you read down to what he says about looking through a 16" on M104 for instance, quote "magnificent!" blah blah (all the details we 10"-ers miss out on and get teased with. And it's actually good when he says "faint" in scopes of 14" or 16" I know not to bother trying to pick it up in my 10". It certainly gives me great guidance to what's do-able for the equipment I have.
It is a pretty intensive book and will be a good companion to my other observing books, which each in their own way provide me with different assistance.
For example:
(Hartungs for a quick go to reference and to get his report)
"The Messier Objects" by Stephen James O'Meara. This book teaches me how to observe, he really makes me think and to look harder. Very easy to comprehend.
"Stars and Planets" by Ian Ridpath & Wil Tirion. My absolute right hand at the scope, could never be without it. Easy glance of map on one page, and on the other page a listing of all the objects/spectral types of stars/astrophysics (how distant object is, magnitude etc). If I find something I don't know what it is- this book will quickly tell me. Shiny pages (which handles dampness outside well) and small enough to handle on my lap at the scope.
so it would have worked out a bit expensive.
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