ausastronomer
22-04-2016, 09:45 AM
Hi all,
I just wanted to make people aware of the recent release of the first 3 volumes of this really excellent resource, for Deep Sky Observers and for imagers.
Annals of the Deep Sky by Jeff Kanipe and Dennis Webb. (http://www.willbell.com/HANDBOOK/Annals.html) Webb & Kanipe also co authored The Arp Atlas of Peculiar Galaxies: A Chronicle and Observer's Guide, which is also an excellent resource for visual observers with medium to large telescopes and for imagers.
I was fortunate enough to have recently been given the first 3 volumes by some Americans who visited us for OZSKY 2016. When the series is completed it will comprise about 21 or 22 volumes in total. At present only the first 3 volumes have been released. Each volume covers about 4 constellations in alphabetical order and contains about 320 pages of meat with about 80 pages devoted to each constellation. It does not list as many targets in each constellation as say the Night Sky Observers Guide but it goes into a lot more detail on the targets it covers, with finder charts and a detailed commentary on the astrophysics behind each particular target. I really like it, because it closely aligns visual & imaging astronomy and the relevant astrophysics and I like understanding the science behind these targets. The books contain the most recent astrophysical data available.
Just about all of the targets included in the first 3 volumes can be observed in a medium aperture telescope (10") under good skies.
Each volume costs about $US 25 and I am guessing they will release 1 or 2 volumes every couple of months. You can subscribe to a notification list on the Willman Bell website. You may be able to source it cheaper from other sources. I will continue to provide further feedback as I acquire each new volume.
Cheers,
John B
I just wanted to make people aware of the recent release of the first 3 volumes of this really excellent resource, for Deep Sky Observers and for imagers.
Annals of the Deep Sky by Jeff Kanipe and Dennis Webb. (http://www.willbell.com/HANDBOOK/Annals.html) Webb & Kanipe also co authored The Arp Atlas of Peculiar Galaxies: A Chronicle and Observer's Guide, which is also an excellent resource for visual observers with medium to large telescopes and for imagers.
I was fortunate enough to have recently been given the first 3 volumes by some Americans who visited us for OZSKY 2016. When the series is completed it will comprise about 21 or 22 volumes in total. At present only the first 3 volumes have been released. Each volume covers about 4 constellations in alphabetical order and contains about 320 pages of meat with about 80 pages devoted to each constellation. It does not list as many targets in each constellation as say the Night Sky Observers Guide but it goes into a lot more detail on the targets it covers, with finder charts and a detailed commentary on the astrophysics behind each particular target. I really like it, because it closely aligns visual & imaging astronomy and the relevant astrophysics and I like understanding the science behind these targets. The books contain the most recent astrophysical data available.
Just about all of the targets included in the first 3 volumes can be observed in a medium aperture telescope (10") under good skies.
Each volume costs about $US 25 and I am guessing they will release 1 or 2 volumes every couple of months. You can subscribe to a notification list on the Willman Bell website. You may be able to source it cheaper from other sources. I will continue to provide further feedback as I acquire each new volume.
Cheers,
John B