Synopses & Reviews
A superb guidebook described in Bookwatch as "the home astronomer's 'bible,'" Turn Left at Orion provides all the information beginning amateur astronomers need to observe the Moon, the planets and a whole host of celestial objects. Large format diagrams show these objects exactly as they appear in a small telescope and for each object there is information on the current state of our astronomical knowledge. Revised and updated, this new edition contains a chapter with ten new spreads describing spectacular deep sky objects visible from the southern hemisphere, and tips on observing the upcoming transits of Venus. It also discusses Dobsonian telescopes, with hints on using personal computers and the Internet as aids for planning an observing session. Also new to this edition are redrawn "Guidepost" figures at the beginning of each season chapter that allow readers to visualize a three-dimensional view of the sky's dome; redesigned seasonal object layouts that provide more space for the naked-eye charts; a new spread on double stars near Boötes has been added to Spring, replacing the "Shrinking Double" spread; and a unique "When and Where to Look" table has been added to the last page, among other new features. Unlike many guides to the night sky, this book is specifically written for observers using small telescopes. Clear and easy to use, this fascinating book will appeal to skywatchers of all ages and backgrounds. No previous knowledge of astronomy is needed.
Review
"Should be packaged with every first telescope. It's nearly as perfect as such a book can be." Sky and Telescope
Review
"[A]n excellent book for small telescope users...As the resurgence in small telescopes continues, this book will be of use to all users of such instruments. Since many of the objects covered in Turn Left at Orion can be seen from light-polluted skies, this book is a valuable asset even if you live in a large urban area." Deep Sky
Review
"Wonderful...it is one of those books about which you say, 'If only I had something like this when I was a beginner.'" Journal of the Astronomical Society of the Pacific
Synopsis
Turn Left at Orion is a guidebook for beginning amateur astronomers. The Moon, planets and nearly a hundred deep sky objects, visible in the Northern hemisphere, are shown exactly as they appear in a small telescope (50-75 mm, or 2-3 inches aperture). The book provides all the information you need to find these, and other objects, in the night sky. There are plenty of maps to get you located, and the large format drawings accurately depict what you can expect to see. For each object there is information on the current state of our astronomical knowledge. Unlike many guides to the night sky, this one is specifically written for observers using small telescopes. No previous knowledge of astronomy is needed, and since the descriptions are non-technical, sky-watchers of all ages and backgrounds can enjoy and profit from this book. In the revised edition of this successful book, first published in 1989, the authors have brought information on the planets and eclipses up to date and extended the tables to the year AD 2006.
Synopsis
This guidebook is for the beginning astronomer who has access to a small telescope. The language is non-technical and suitable for all ages and backgrounds. There are maps to find a hundred objects in the night sky, and realistic drawings showing what they look like. In the revised edition of this successful book, first published in 1989, the authors have brought information on the planets and eclipses up to date and extended the tables to the year AD 2006.
Synopsis
A guidebook to the night sky, for the use with a small telescope.
Synopsis
A guidebook for beginning amateur astronomers, specifically written for observers using small telescopes. It contains all the information needed to find over a hundred celestial objects in both the northern and southern hemisphere, and contains accurate diagrams showing how these objects will appear in a small telescope.
About the Author
Guy Consolmagno is a Jesuit brother at the Specola Vaticana (Vatican Observatory) dividing his time between Tucson, Arizona and Castel Gandolfo, Italy. He studied the origin and evolution of moons and asteroids in our solar system. His telescope is a 3.5" catadioptic.Dan M. Davis is a professor of geophysics in the Department of Earth and Space Sciences at the State University of New York at Stony Brook. His research concerns the formation of mountain belts on Earth. Most of his observations for this book were made with a 2.5" refractor.
Table of Contents
1. How do you get to Albireo?; 2. How to use this book; 3. The Moon; 4. The planets; 5. Seasonal objects: Winter; 6. Seasonal objects: Spring; 7. Seasonal objects: Summer; 8. Seasonal objects: Autumn; 9. Southern hemisphere objects; 10. How to run a telescope; 11. Where do we go from here?; Glossary; Tables; Index; Acknowledgements.