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Originally Posted by Suzy
Thankyou for that Michael. I have previewed and read what few reviews I could find, but they are all American sources. They are expensive books $70 -$100, so wanted a bit more input before I jumped in.
I'm basically after a book that will give me as many objects as possible applicable for our skies, and that will help to guide me to find things, explain interesting info on each object, a picture for each one, and some tips in deep sky observing in general.
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Hi Suzy,
I doubt whether you could find a better (value for money) book on the Messier objects than the "Atlas of the Messier Objects - Highlights of the Deep Sky" by Ronald Stoyan - published by Cambridge. I picked up a copy last year from Bintel (I think) for $80. It is a superb production with, for each object, typically a page or two of text covering the history, astrophysics and observation details. And then there is at least one large colour and/or B&W picture of each one. The book runs to over 350 pages and also includes a generous account of Messier himself, and a copy of his own oberservations. Plus there is more on his telescopes, what latitudes the objects are visible from, and suggested photographic techniques for each one.
So, after reading up on each one prior to (or even after) observing it, you "connect" with it quite differently to just ticking it off a list.
Chris