Touring the Universe through Binoculars: A Complete Astronomer's Guidebook (Wiley Science Editions)
This comprehensive work takes you on a personal tour of the universe using nothing more than a pair of binoculars. More comprehensive than any book currently available, it starts with Earth's nearest neighbor, the moon, and then goes on to explore each planet in the solar system, asteroids, meteors, comets and the sun. Following this, the reader is whisked away into deep space to explore celestial bodies including stars that are known and many sights less familiar. The final chapter includes a detailed atlas of deep-sky objects visible through binoculars. The appendices include guidance on how to buy, care for and maintain astronomical binoculars, tips and hints on using them, and detailed information on several home-made binocular mounts.
Touring the Universe through Binoculars: A Complete Astronomer's Guidebook (Wiley Science Editions) Accessories
 Celestron SkyMaster Giant 15x70 Binoculars w/Tripod Adapter
Binocular Highlights: 99 Celestial Sights for Binocular Users (Sky & Telescope Stargazing)
Sky & Telescope's Pocket Sky Atlas
NightWatch: A Practical Guide to Viewing the Universe
Turn Left at Orion: A Hundred Night Sky Objects to See in a Small Telescope--and How to Find Them
Binocular Stargazing
Star Watch: The Amateur Astronomer's Guide to Finding, Observing, and Learning About over 125 Celestial Objects
Star Ware: The Amateur Astronomer's Guide to Choosing, Buying, and Using Telescopes and Accessories
Celestron Photo / Video Tripod
The Backyard Astronomer's Guide
Touring the Universe through Binoculars: A Complete Astronomer's Guidebook (Wiley Science Editions) Reviews
It excels as a reference list of binocular objects but is not the type of book to excite the interest of those not already so inclined. This consumes half the book and is a complete reference list ordered by constellation with a paragraph description of most. The book is 15 years old and shows it. The author's comments about roof prism binoculars are dated and of course no discussion of image stabilized binoculars. Surprised not to even see discussions of the different ways to hand hold binoculars with illustrations. After wading through 6 chapters with terrible photo reproductions of telescopic (not binocular) views, where many sky objects are described as not suitable for binoculars, we arrive a chapter 7 which is the reference list of binocular objects. This book was a bit of a disappointment after hearing all the glowing reviews. But you will need another reference to find them since there are no maps here.
However; this book is very useful with its tabulated data and constellation-based organisation. It does not have maps so you need an atlas with this book. You cannot find any other complete and well prepared list and data of objects visible in binoculars. The author also groups Messier objects into 4 difficulty groups which is helpful for inexperienced observers. Although there are +1000 objects given in the book, most of them are not explained but rather their basic data like coordinates and magnitude are given. It includes many faint objects that can be seen with ordinary binos under very favourable conditions so the observers with large binoculars can use this book better. This book covers +1000 deep sky objects plus solar system objects for binoculars.
Those new to astronomy may find some of the discussion a little beyond them, at least at this point. This book lists objects that the other books miss entirely (and that the authors probably don't even know exist).But readers should keep in mind that Touring the Universe is really aimed more toward seasoned amateur astronomers. But you will certainly grow into the book if you stick with the hobby. And thanks to the flowing words from the author, that's an enjoyable task.Readers should also be aware that the book does not have any star charts. That means you will need to get either a star atlas like Sky Atlas 2000 or the author's companion CD-ROM (which Amazon does not offer, but Sky Publishing and Orion Telescope Center do). It's great software even without the book. Sure, there are other books on the subject, but Touring the Universe stands apart for its thorough survey of the binocular sky. Touring the Universe Through Binoculars remains the single most authoritative source for people who want to view the night sky with binoculars.
The photos are no help, because they are all long photographic exposures taken through telescopes, nothing like what you actually see through binox. The second problem is that a large percentage of the objects listed are pretty dim and crummy open clusters, and in most cases it is extremely hard to tell whether you are seeing the cluster or not. You have to sort through long lists of 9th-magnitude star clusters to find anything that would really be visible. The first problem with this book is that for the urban or suburban observer with less than giant binoculars, it is too hard to find objects that you will really have any luck with.
It talks about sky objects that are ignored by just about every other book out there, but that are *easily* visible through binoculars. Together, the book and CD are the most complete survey of the binocular sky ever created. (hey, Amazon. If you like binocular observing as much as I do, they make a great team. I have used this book since it first came out almost ten years ago, and have always found it a big help when planning an observing session with my binoculars. hint hint). A great value for the price too.
I ended up buying it right through Harrington's home page. My advice is to buy the book here and get the CD separately. I first looked for it on Amazon.com, but I guess they don't sell it. Guess none of the other binoculars books bothered to really research the topic.But now, the book has gotten even better with the new Touring the Universe Through Binoculars Atlas CD-ROM.
|
