a wonderful observer's resource

[Paddy]

During the hours spent escaping the daytime VicSouth heat in the air conditioned dining room, a few of us were delighted to discover "the Night Sky Observer's Guide" volumes 1 & 3 (thanks to Phil from SA who generously left his copy around for us to peruse).

I was so impressed, I ordered it from Bintel on Monday and it arrived in time to play with last night. This is such a good book! Heaps of DSOs organised by constellation with very useful maps for finding them, great descriptions, sketches, photos, indications about how each will be for telescopes of different aperture. The volumes are for spring/summer, Autumn/Winter and Southern Sky. Easy to pick which volume you want for any session.

I had about an hour's observing with it, just binding a few of the many galaxies it lists for Tucanae (not a place that I usualy go galaxy hunting). The maps were so easy to use that I was finding them very quickly and then able to verify what I was seeing. I usually go out with quite an armful of books and atlases, but I get the feeling that I'm just going to need a volume or two of this book at any time.

This is such a great book and I think it will keep me going for many years. I am a very happy fellow.

[Parkwood]

Yep. They contain a lifetimes observational ideas but I tend to scan/photocopy the pages that are relevant to avoid lumbering around with too much baggage.

Do the same with all my charts too and stick them all in an A4 folder for the nights viewing and file them in my Observed folders when I am done.

[tnott]

Yes, these books were fantastic. I'll order the complete set too soon. Very well set out and goes much deeper than other guides I've seen.

I also like how they have ranked the objects in visual impact from one to 5 stars - like movie reviews! It helps when making a quick decision about which ones to hunt down.

I also like the may sketches and B&W photos. No silly Hubble colour shots that give a false impression of what you will see at the eyepiece.:P

This book really helped me to find about 40 objects that I had never seen on the second night of the camp.:thumbsup:

[AdrianF]

A good price......
http://www.dymocks.com.au/ProductDetails/ProductDetail.aspx?R=9780943396897

Adrian

[Paddy]

It is a very good price. It doesn't say which volume, but as its cooper et al, I assume it's volume 3 on the Southern Sky. I think 1 & 2 are Kopple et al.

[tnott]

Just ordered the full set too!

Hope to use it next new moon.

[Enchilada]

Interesting

BinTel wants $A95.

Willimann-Bell (publishers) $US34.95+$US42.80 (postage) × ~1.100 = $A85.52

Yet the US pay $US29.95 ($A32.95)

Thank the Australian Federal Government −10% GST and the rejection of introducing foreign competition. ([B]A disgusting 62% gross margin against the Publisher's price!! (A 37% markup) - 65% @ $A95. (A 39% markup))

NOTE: As to Dymocks, the link below doesn't work!!

[Lismore Bloke]

Thanks for the heads up on those titles Patrick. I was wondering how good they were.

What's the coverage of the southern hemisphere like?

[Paddy]

Well, its excellent, because they commissioned southern hemisphere observers to do the third volume covering all the constellations that they don't see in the wrong hemisphere. One of the authors is Jenni Kaye who has done a lot of good stuff on the Magellanic Clouds. I spent some time with it going through the SMC last week and found it to be very easy to use - more so than my Morel atlases.

I reckon these books are the best thing I've bought since my telescope.

[Lismore Bloke]

Great answer!!!

The only thing wrong with the answer is now I have to find the astro $$$$$$ for these after getting 5 Naglers in the last few months. Wish me luck......

[Paddy]

Yes, 5 naglers represents a considerable investment, but I reckon you'll find a way. At least you won't need volume 2 until well into 2010

[Enchilada]

Patrick,

I will be buying Vol.3 ASAP.

Q. What is the the coverage on the planetary nebulae like. I.e. NGC 3195 in Chamaeleon or He2-434 in Pavo? :thanx:

[Parkwood]

NGC 3195 is covered by 4 observation reports ranging from a 12/14" scope up to 30" scope.

He2-434 has only one observation report. PN's are covered OK but dont expect a great deal of detail unless it is an impressive object.

[Enchilada]

Make that Saturday! I had to wait at home all day for something else to be delivered! Bugger.

[dannat]

i don;t see it listed at dymocks..does someone have the ISBN?

[mithrandir]

The Night Sky Observer's Guide : Vol. 1
ISBN-10: 0943396581
ISBN-13: 978-0943396583

The Night Sky Observer's Guide : Vol. 2
ISBN-10: 0943396603
ISBN-13: 978-0943396606

The Night Sky Observer's Guide : Vol. 3
ISBN-10: 0943396891
ISBN-13: 978-0943396897

[Enchilada]

Thanks. All I need to know. I'll probably buy it today! .

[Enchilada]

Make that Saturday! I had to wait at home all day for something else to be delivered! Bugger.

[Enchilada]

Is this new publication the first to cover the entire southern hemisphere?

[astro744]

A list of constellations covered by each volume and background to how Volume 3 came about can be found at:

http://www.willbell.com/HANDBOOK/nitesky.htm

[erick]

Indeed! The attached is from the Foreword. :)

(I wonder where "New Zeeland" is? :doh: :D )

[mithrandir]

<pedant starts scanning erick's posts for typos/>

[kinetic]

Certainly sounds like a great resource, thanks for the heads up.:thumbsup:
One more pedant, Jenni is from Lobethal, not Loberthal!:doh:

[erick]

:D won't take long to find several, I am sure! :rolleyes:

[Paddy]

Yes, but Eric's posts are not put out by a publishing company. But perhaps they should - a new book of eric's helpful tips for newcomers.:)

[erick]

Tip # 1 - buy all Eric's second-hand stuff for an exceedingly generous price, plus postage :D

[Paddy]

:lol:

[mithrandir]

I'm not suggesting you suffer from the disease Eric, but the "you're" vs "your" and "there" vs "their" errors drive me mad.

[Liz]

Woohoo - Volume 1 has just arrived - bought from US (Adorama) for total of $48 (inclu delivery) .... Volume 2 also on the way for a similiar price : )
Argo Navis arrived today too ..... now have to wait for another month or 2 for wet season to rack off ;)
Bought new scope 2-3 weeks ago, and still havent used it :sadeyes:

[Rokketboy]

I was just about to say, get them from the US. It is so much cheaper. Its unfortunate that you can get a book for half or less than what it costs here, shipped in from overseas.
Better World Books, Amazon, Book Depository(free worldwide shipping) are all good options.
I have used this site on occasion to compare prices http://www.booko.com.au/
Comes in handy and references some stores I had never come across.

[Liz]

Hey Jared, that Book Depository site is amazing - ordered 4 books there last week, inclu 1 astronomy site. Dont know how they can do it for the price :shrug:
Will check out the sites you have there - love books ;)

...oh, there is a US Depository site too, I have been using the UK one ... US one is cheaper again!!

[Rokketboy]

Yeah the 2 Book Depositorys are usually fairly close. The US is cheaper on many but the UK is cheaper on others. Both are Awesomesauce!:thumbsup:

[Ian Cooper]

Paddy,

just a comment in reference to your 18-11-2009 post. The four seasons that determine the first two volumes of "NSOG," are for the northern hemisphere where the main market is for these books. Vol's I & II were developed from a magazine format where keen observers sent in observations of many objects. This grew to a stage where it was suggested that these observations should be slightly standardized and formatted into a set of books with George (Bob) Kepple and Glenn Sanner as the lead authors. The other contributors are shown in the back of Vol I.

Vol III, The Southern Sky was an after thought, and although smaller in size because it covers less sky area (roughly from 40 degrees south to the SCP) I think personally that it has most of the best stuff anyway (time for a bit of southern hemisphere bias for a change).

Many N.H. observers are buying Vol III to prepare for a trip down here to see for themselves what we tend to take for granted. Having done that they can then go home and cry as they realize just how poor their sky really is!

Cheers

Coops

[Liz]

I now have the 3 of the Night Sky Observers Guide - havent had a big chance to check out properly - not good obseroing on FNQ in Summer. A quick flick thru shoes some amazing detail on all constellations!! All bought from Amazon for about $50 each ;)