Southern Hemisphere Books

[MPS]

Hi all
Does anyone use or know of any book that can be used as an ' observe and tick style? Birdwatchers use a method called twitching......is there a backyard star gazing version? I thought it would be a bit of fun slowly ticking off objects that can be seen from the southern skies.
Cheers

[Outcast]

Atlas of the Southern Night Sky would probably fulfill your purpose I suspect...

[glend]

Yes. Deep Sky Companions: Southern Gems by O'Meara. It contains a rear section to tick off most common 120 Southern Sky objects, and allows for date observed, location, telescope and mag details, Seeing and Transparency, and other Notes. The front of the book, over 400 pages, contains detailed write ups, including great photos and drawings, as well as star hopping maps, on all the major Southern Sky objects. I carried it with me to my dark site for years.

It used to be available from Bintel but I can't see it in their books now, but it is still available from Dymocks and Booktopia online.

https://www.dymocks.com.au/book/deep-sky-companions-southern-gems-by-stephen-james-omeara-9781107015012?utm_source=googleps&gclid=EAIaIQobChMI8dbijKqw4gIV1iMrC h1bXgdhEAQYAiABEgIHCfD_BwE

[gaseous]

+1 for this book - it's a cracker. O'Meara must have the best eyes in the history of human sight if his recorded observations are anything to go by, but it's a well detailed book.

[Startrek]

Atlas of the Southern Night Sky is an excellent book for beginner and intermediate alike
As an observer or imager “photos” talk a thousand words and this book is full of them with a brief description and not too much Astro technical data
It’s a shame they could cram another 50 night sky objects into this book
It’s the first reference book I look at before heading outdoors
👍👍

[MPS]

Hi all
Thanks for the replies. I've had a good look at both books you have recommended and decided to go with the deep sky companion southern gems. With the tick off list and copious info sounds like a good place to start! :thanx:

[gaseous]

Not sure it matters to you, but the Deep Sky Companions photos and diagrams are all black and white, no colour.

[MPS]

It's no issue for me as that's all I'll.see through the scope.

Thanks

[Averton]

Matthew, glad you asked this question as we had never heard of the OMeara book. From our quick research of the book it does look really interesting - worth following up on. Thanks.
Clare & Peter

[MPS]

Hi Clare and Peter
Thanks. I guess I want to make my viewing a bit more meaningful, interesting and structured. I've always liked ' collecting/ classifying. I actually ended up ordering both. But I've found it tricky to find a good southern book. O' Meara writes a lot of books like this. Was pretty expensive 72 buck's but worth it I hope!
Cheers
Mat

[Averton]

Another "list person" here, the OMeara book really appeals to me. It would be interesting to hear your review or opinion of the book when it arrives.
Clare

[JeniSkunk]

Another list person here, as well.
I've been doing what I can to match what I've been seeing through my scope, to what's displayed in Stellarium and Sky Safari, and record that in the notebook app in my Android tablet. The list system in the O'Mera book would make it easier to ID what I have seen so far, and haven't yet seen.

[glend]

The way the list in Southern Gems works:
For each of the objects covered in detail in the book, and their NGC or other catalog reference, there is a corresponding space in the observation list at the back, for you to note your own observation details.. as mentioned before in an earlier post. There is also space for you to write in other objects beyond the 120 covered in detail.
Also if you do an internet search there are various observation list forms that are available for downloading. I used one for several years, thinking I would make up my own observation book of my experiences.
In my experience, you start out highly motivated about tracking all this stuff, and down the track it falls away, mainly because your busy observing, socialising, etc and can't be bothered at the time, and think you will catch up later. But you don't, or at least I didn't. It does take some discipline to complete an observation report at the time, imho.
In any case, the Southern Gem book is a great reference of the Southern Sky.

[gaseous]

I bought a USB drive off eBay for about $11 and it also does voice recording, which makes it easy to record observations without the need for pen and paper in the dark. You sound a bit loopy mumbling to yourself, but it makes life a lot easier if you're keen to keep a record of your observing sessions.

[jamespierce]

The Night Sky Observers Guide... Volume 3 covers the southern sky... Volume 4 (just released) is all milky way (though further north).

[MPS]

Hi Jenifur
Yes I didn't know I was list person until I read this! But I do like a good organised list!

[MPS]

Hi Clare
After I get it and have a road test I will post on this thread. I have read quite a bit now etc etc. But I seem to look at the same targets when I go out. Most apps that have ' tonight's best ' lists don't change that much. And I've found it difficult to actually Google what we can see from Oz. The 2 books should arrive by next Wednesday.
Cheers
Mat

[Averton]

Looking forward to that Mat. Thanks.
Clare

[JeniSkunk]

Thanks for that suggestion.
I still have my old Creative Labs MuVo TX FM 256 (https://www.whathifi.com/creative/73pd051100003/overview), 256mb MP3 player, which can do voice recording. I'm now glad I never threw it away, in favour of the current, far higher capacity USB drives.

[Jethro777]

One that I love is “Deep Sky Companions” Southern Gems.
It is really well illustrated is interested, features some underrated objects and has black and white pictures of what you will actually see.

[MichaelSW]

Matthew,

G'day.

There is a list of 110 Bright Deep-Sky Objects south of -20 declination posted by Glenc (Star Hopper) at http://www.iceinspace.com.au/forum/showthread.php?t=125725

Cheers.

[MPS]

Hi
Thanks a lot for that! It's been cold and cloudy for 3 days now.............So still no start on it.

[MPS]

Well both books finally arrived and I am very very happy with them both. I have to say' Atlas of the Southern Sky 5th edt by Massey and Quirk is pretty amazing. I would class it as a all you need to know stand alone island book. The maps are great and it covers pretty much every aspect of astronomy that you could ask for, it's also has a month th by month to look at/ view list. The best thing is that its all for the Southern Hemisphere . It breaks the maps up into constellations in alphabetical order. So you pick your constellation and go from there with all lists of what to see.

Southern Gems by O' Meara is equally as good in it's own way. The detailed explanations, info, history, and how too is fantastic. And what I was originally after........lists of objects to tick off. And his lists are really good. There are 120 objects to find listed individually every 2 to 3 pages. At the end of the book it has a field note section to keep track of what you find. All pics are black and white which is fine. Many of the objects from clusters, galaxies and nebulae I have not heard of as all my books so far have been mainly northern hemisphere orientated and I'm also a beginner. This book will come on every field trip I do now ,and allows me to plan, learn and observe systematically. It's also great for both goto and star hopping as the maps are cut down a bit so you just see the meat and veg of the celestial sign posts. He writes with passion and flair....Like prose.

Anyway these two books will keep me going for years!

Cheers Mat

[Averton]

Hi Mat, Thanks for the book reviews. They both sound great but I do like the sound of the cut down maps for star hopping. Star hopping is always a bit of a challenge but also fun. Enjoy ticking off your list:)
Clare