Rating: 
Summary: One of the best beginner books
Review: I got a beginner's telescope from Celestron (the FirstScope 114) as a gift, and was anxious to begin using it. I picked up a few books on beginning astronomy (but not NightWatch) and set to work using it. After fiddling with the telescope to align it correctly, and trying to use the star charts in the books I bought, I gave up. I had friend visitng from out of town who wanted to try the telescope again, so we dragged out the scope and the books and couldn't get anywhere once again.Later, I received NightWatch as a gift, and its made a world of difference. The scheme for finding stars and other objects is much simpler than in other texts. Rather than use the celestial coordinate system (based on right ascension, R.A., and declination, Dec.), which requires that you align your telescope correctly, NightWatch uses a few key stars and constellations as pointers, and shows how to use your fingers and hand to measure celestial distances. From the reference points, you can easily navigate througout the sky. If you don't already have a telescope, this is also a good book to purchase, as it has a discussion of different kinds of telescopes and their tradeoffs. NightWatch also has good information on using binoculars, which makes it easy to get started without plunking down much money, since most people own a pair. Bottom line: Of the 4 beginner's books I have, NightWatch is by far the best.
Rating:
Summary: An excellent book for new astronomers.
Review: For the money you can't go wrong this is an excellent book for people just starting out in astronomy or who need a better understanding of the night sky and where to locate things. This book is packed full of info. and nice color photographs to go along with the many things you can see in a small telescope. I wouldnt really suggest this book though to those who allready know how to locate things and have a good understanding of astronomy. For the new person though theres tons of night time sky charts with details of nebulas and everything else in that part of the sky. Theres an excellent part that shows you how to measure the distances between stars & constellations to locate those harder to find subjects!! An excelent book that deserves a 5 star review. I forgot to mention that it's spiral bound so this makes it easy to lay flat and keep on a certain page. And don't forget take your time with the book to learn things the night sky isnt going anywhere!
Rating: 
Summary: Good but not great.
Review: This is another one of Terence Dickinsons "backyard astronomy" books that is somewhat better than others of this particular "genre", but suffers by a somewhat superficial treatment of the practical aspects of the subject. The primary reason I purchased the book was for the 20 very good star charts contained. It was not until I started using these charts that I realized that many important Messier objects were not included! Although the pictures are wonderful , and very attractive , I buy books of this type for information--not to "sell me" on being an amateur astronomer. I don't need "cheerleading". There are other books available that offer somewhat more information than this one--so 4 stars (more like 3.5 stars).
Rating:
Summary: A very good beginner's book...
Review: I own several books on observational astronomy, but this is one of them I frequently turn to for help. This has been recommended as the first book to get introduced to astronomy and I would strongly agree with that. Perhaps, the most useful aspect of the book is its available in spiral bind. It makes so easy to navigate the pages and keep it spread around during observation. The second useful aspect, especially for the beginners, is the charts of constellations. I own the SkyAtlas 2000.0, but the info in it is sometimes overwhelming. But Nightwatch displays the brighest objects of deepsky in easy charts and also gives quick info (light years, magnitude, is it good for binocs etc) right below the object. When my friends visit my back-yard, this book is helpful in locating the star and also give them quick funda about it. In fact just binocs and this book are enough to spend a dark sky night. This book along with Backyard Astronomers (by same author) will probably be a complete beginners library. (Backyard Astronomers gives more details about telescopes).
Rating:
Summary: Strongly Recommended For the Beginner
Review: A few months ago someone gave me a telescope for my birthday. I was eager to use it but felt I could get more out of it if I understood what I was pointing at in the night sky. In my quest for knowledge in this area I stumbled upon "NightWatch: a practical guide to the viewing the universe." It gave me a quick and thorough understanding of backyard astronomy field in a simple and easy to understand language free of all the technical jargon you may find in other sources (not that these are bad in themselves). I strongly recommend this book for the amateur astronomer, especially before going out to purchase a telescope or binoculars. The book gives some hefty and misery saving advise on equipment, its use and what to watch out for. To be honest, even wished the person who purchased the telescope had read this before doing so.
Rating:
Summary: Outstanding Guide for Amateur Astronomers!
Review: Terence Dickinson's "Nightwatch" is a practical all-around guide to amateur astronomy. Spiralbound for outdoor and easier use, and packed with colorful pictures, charts and skymaps, the book gives the reader all the help needed to become a first class amateur astronomer. Wonderfully written with chapters on the Sun, the moon, the planets and the motions of the sky, the constellations and the stars, comets, meteors, eclipses and auroras, stargazing equipment and photographing the nightsky this revised and updated edition is expanded for use through the year 2010, and contains also a chapter on resources covering astronomy magazines, books, software, clubs, conventions and useful websites as well as information on observatories and leading manufacturers of astronomical telescopes and binoculars. An acomplished astronomer himself and the author of 14 books, with "Nightwatch" Dickinson has crafted one of the best astronomy field guides available today. A superb book!
Rating:
Summary: Astronomy 101 a truly great book
Review: It just gets better and better all the time. Night Watch Third Addition, is jammed packed with information, that an aspiring astronomer can't live without especially if your just getting started, be he/she 11 or 75 years of age. I can't rant and rave enough about this book and how it has helped so many people discover the Night Sky. When a new comer comes to our club or viewing session and asks for a book that will help them to learn more, it is "Night Watch" that is always recommended to him or her. The book talks plainly and easily to the new beginner, helps them to imagine and realise the size and depths of the universe, offer's tidbits of information on telescopes, what to look for what not to look for. Star charts expertly detailed and easily read, offering all kinds of celestrial targets to shoot for. The charts are done in such a way as not to confuse the user with thousands of stars (such as found in the more involved star atlas, these come later), the charts offer targets not only for the telescope but for the binoculars as well. For those of you who do not own a telescope YET! By far this is probably one of the best purchases you'll ever make. This book without a doubt won't be sitting on the bookshelf collecting dust, rather it will be in your lap while you search the night skys!... Enjoy the book!
Rating:
Summary: Good but not great.
Review: This is another one of Terence Dickinsons "backyard astronomy" books that is somewhat better than others of this particular "genre", but suffers by a somewhat superficial treatment of the practical aspects of the subject. The primary reason I purchased the book was for the 20 very good star charts contained. It was not until I started using these charts that I realized that many important Messier objects were not included! Although the pictures are wonderful , and very attractive , I buy books of this type for information--not to "sell me" on being an amateur astronomer. I don't need "cheerleading". There are other books available that offer somewhat more information than this one--so 4 stars (more like 3.5 stars).
Rating:
Summary: Perfect starter to the Astronomer's world
Review: This book is greatly build up and covers every major aspect of Astronomy . In an understandable way and very plastic with supportive pictures you get to understand cohesions and basics about our solar system, the galaxies and the whole universe.
It puts emphasize on the star constellations and features great maps to navigate the sky. The ringbinding helps a lot to work with it in the field. And the paper is high quality and will take a lot of use.
This makes a great gift for anyone who is intersted in nature or wants to explore the night sky.
This is the absolute BEST BUY to start with!!! Nothing else.
Rating:
Summary: Excellent book for budding astronomers
Review: I cannot praise this book enough.Within minutes of "pre-reading" it, I repacked the telescope I had just purchased,and am sending it back.Why? Because Mr. Dickinson explained, in perfectly understandable terms,why that particular telescope was the wrong choice for me.The section on "trash telescopes" was very informative.I also now have a real respect for binoculars..and may purchase a good quality pair,based on Mr.D.'s comments about proper binoculars for viewing the nightsky.They will be a good stepping-stone on my way to purchasing the best telescope for me. I have always dreamed of being a backyard astronomer,but never had enough time to pursue the hobby.Now that I am retired,the first thing I crossed off my "to-do" list was the telescope purchase.It was an impulse buy,I am ashamed to say,and if it hadn't been for the excellent advice from Mr.D,I would have wasted a few hundred bucks on something that would ultimately cause me frustration.
So...if you are thinking of getting into amateur astronomy,look no further than this wonderful,well-thought out,easy to understand,and beautifully presented book.I will now purchase the right equipment I need to really get into my long-desired hobby.
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