Quote:
Originally Posted by Gem
Hi all!
Can anyone recommend a reasonably priced book on double stars? It can be a book that has other stuff too. I find with DSO, I have been using NGC 2000 but I don't have anything equivalent for double stars. It is hard planning an observing sessions without information on how hard/easy a double star should be... I am a fairly newbie on doubles since I have always concentrated on clusters with the dob over the years.
Any book that gives the SAO numbers with the double would be helpful too!
THANKS! 
(My library to date:
Hartung's
Sky Atlas 2000
NGC 2000
Herald-Bobroff Astroatlas
Astronomy with a small telescope
SKywatching by Levy
The night sky with binoculars by Patrick Moore
The southern sky by Reidy and Wallace) |
Hi Grant,
As others have mentioned the Cambridge Double Star Atlas is excellent and a "must have" for anyone chasing double stars.
The Webb Society Deep Sky Observer's Handbook (Volume 1 edition 2) is entirely devoted to double stars. It is an excellent resource. It has been out of print for many years but copies do crop up from time to time online and in second hand bookshops. When you do find a copy it will likely cost you less than $10. Because of its age (1970's/80's); some of the astrometric data is a bit out of date, but it is still a great resource and an excellent starting point.
http://ebookee.org/Webb-Society-Deep...n_1065489.html
You can also access the Webb Society Double Star Section circulars online. You can download these as PDF's and there is enough in these to keep you occupied for a while
http://www.webbdeepsky.com/dssc/dssc.html
Hartung's also has a fair selection of double stars within each constellation.
Cheers,
John B