Rating: 
Summary: Impressive and imformative
Review: I was discouraged at an early age by the books on practical, observational astronomy for the amateur. Most of them contained star charts that were a mass of confusion, and the printed information was hardly any more helpful. When a friend and I decided to take a beginning observational astronomy course, I was doubtful, but Dickinson's volume is much more lucidly written and his charts are designed for the beginner. I was able to find the planets Venus, Mars and Jupitor on a casual night time walk with my Great Dane and was absolutely thrilled. Just as told, the planets were clearly visible despite the city lights. Although I have been able to identify the big dipper since childhood, finding other named heavenly bodies was something I hadn't believed myself capable until trying it with this book. Both my friend and I have enjoyed the experience. She says she wishes she'd known about it when her "kids" were still kids! Speaking of which, the book also has VERY important information for the prospective purchaser of a telescope, a must read especially for those looking to buy a gift for the amateur astronomer in their family. This would make a fun family book for those who enjoy doing special things with the kids.
Rating:
Summary: Beautiful, practical ...
Review: This book was recommended to me by an avid backyard astronomer when I mentioned I was interested in learning more about astronomy. I was absolutely delighted with this book. The photos are beautiful, the diagrams are excellent. It makes star/planet identification easy, gives guidance on buying a telescope, has a nice introductory chapter on the universe, putting everything in perspective. The writing is clear, straightforward, understandable. I am extremely pleased with my purchase, as I feel that this single book contains everything I really want to know at this time. I would recommend it to anyone who wants an interesting, comprehensible introduction to the night sky.
Rating:
Summary: Best of the lot
Review: If I could only buy 1 book on skywatching, this one would be my choice. Great reff. book; Beautiful pictures; Fantastic skymaps. Get the spiral bound copy. Much easier to use than a hardback book.
Rating: 
Summary: Almost flawless...
Review: Dickinson does an excellent job of covering all the bases for the amatuer astronomer. The most worthwhile aspect of the entire book are the 20 annotated and detailed maps of the sky as seen from the northern hemisphere. They are absolutely indespensable when viewing the sky and allow one to find otherwise easily missed stellar sights. I have two complaints about this book, one minor and the other major. The minor complaint is that his moon map would benefit from more detail, as I quickly exhausted the list of named and detailed features it held and imagine many have as well. My major complaint and only real reservation I have about this book is that the author is very biased in favor of large and expensive telescopes and makes the argument that only such instruments can provide quality views of the stars. The truth is that such instruments are beyond the financial reach of 95% of amatuers. I own a 4 and 1/2 inch newtonian reflector and separately purchased a handful of quality plossl eyepieces and have made detailed observations of most of the planets as well as many nebulae and other objects. I spent a total of about $300-400. Had I listened to the advice of the author and not bought a scope in this range I would have missed out on years of quality viewing. It would have been more helpful if he had mentioned which of the low-cost scopes were worth buying (as some are) instead of dismissing all models below $500.
Rating:
Summary: Great Primer
Review: A wonderful, clearly written, well-organized introduction to amatuer astronomy. As a new-comer (at an old age) to this field, I was intimidated by much of what I was reading when it comes to learning about the heavens and the tools to do so. This book makes it all accessible and includes some very straightforward and understandable starcharts. I'm not sure how the information about telescopes will stay up-to-date but it was perfect for me. I'm still finding my way with binoculars, but this introductory book to backyard starhgazing was (and continues to be) essential for me.
Rating:
Summary: !Great book!, but lacking in scientific info
Review: This is an extraordiary book for some one just starting out in astronomy. {I wish I had owned it when I began} It is very well written, and easy to understand. But it only focuses on the observational part of astronomy, if you are looking for a book that gives detailed information on the science of astronomy then this book is not for you.
Rating:
Summary: Five Stars for My Purposes, but...
Review: Excellent, wonderful, etc... I agree with the reviews except for the statement that this book is for the beginner. Advanced beginner, maybe, but not the raw recruit. This is also an excellent reference for the more advanced amateur astronomer. The charts are the best in the business! Unfortunately, I only know of two really good books for the neophyte -- one out of print and outdated and the other British, also outdated. So, for the newcomer, this is the best available.
Rating:
Summary: Best book for beginers as well as more advanced astronomers!
Review: This book covers everything from how to choose a telescope, to cosmology, as well as 20 handy star charts. It shows techniques for finding constalations, and the star charts are great for orienting yourself to the sky. I would however, recomend buying a more detailed star atlas (such as Sky Atalas 2000.0 by Wil Tirion), if you plan on doing more advanced observing.
Rating:
Summary: Comprehensive tutorial for budding backyard astronomers
Review: This is perhaps the most important book you'll need to get started if you feel you're one of those people who have suddenly been captured by astronomy. The book sets out to answer all those questions that will inevitably flood your mind and does so in a way that is very easy to understand, complemented by a touch of inspiring poetry. It never gets too technical, yet the amazing wealth of information in there is never compromised. Topic coverage is very broad and the depth of information I find is very satisfying. Chapters include the structure of the universe, stargazing, a detailed guide to selecting and purchasing equipment, the stars, the planets, the moon and sun, solar and lunar eclipses, comets, meteors, auroras and even how to photograph the night sky. The book is further enriched by an abundance of backgrounders, star charts, tables, breathtaking images and excellent diagrams explaining things like measuring degrees with your hand and how to use the constellations to find other stars. Important stars and constellations are treated like individual personalities as a lot of the associated data such as distances are put into perspective. Nightwatch is a clearly focused book. Rich in information, and down to earth with its content, it will satisfy the budding backyard astronomer's need to appreciate what's out there and how to enjoy it.
Rating:
Summary: Excellent Resource for Viewing with a Small Telescope
Review: I've made very good use of this book using my small backyard telescope. The red coloration of objects too small to be seen by small telescopes is very effective.
|
