Rating: 
Summary: A Sky Tour with Knowlegeable Friends
Review: In his introduction, Guy Consolmagno recalls how his friend Dan introduced him to the night skies one evening with a "tour" consisting of simple directions. "Find Orion, now look to the left ..." Guy was leaving for Africa soon -- a land of dark, starry night skies, and he regretted that he couldn't take Dan with him. Well, years later, Dan and Guy have distilled that experience into this classic and wonderful book. Guy couldn't take Dan along, but you can take both of them -- now professional astronomers -- with you as your guides. Reading this book is like having them there, pointing out popular and favorite objects in the sky. They do everything but reach out and point the telescope for you. In fact, they do better than that: they show you, in the clearest, simplest way, how to do it yourself. They show you how to find nebulae, clusters, double stars and other interesting objects, and then they explain what you are looking at. It really does feel like they are there, giving advice as you tour the showpieces of the Northern night sky. The book's only real "fault" -- if you can call it that -- is that it is written from the point of view of observers living in the Northern hemisphere. One can only hope that Southern observers have an equally good introductory book. Read, observe, and enjoy!
Rating:
Summary: A Sky Tour with Knowlegeable Friends
Review: In his introduction, Guy Consolmagno recalls how his friend Dan introduced him to the night skies one evening with a "tour" consisting of simple directions. "Find Orion, now look to the left ..." Guy was leaving for Africa soon -- a land of dark, starry night skies, and he regretted that he couldn't take Dan with him. Well, years later, Dan and Guy have distilled that experience into this classic and wonderful book. Guy couldn't take Dan along, but you can take both of them -- now professional astronomers -- with you as your guides. Reading this book is like having them there, pointing out popular and favorite objects in the sky. They do everything but reach out and point the telescope for you. In fact, they do better than that: they show you, in the clearest, simplest way, how to do it yourself. They show you how to find nebulae, clusters, double stars and other interesting objects, and then they explain what you are looking at. It really does feel like they are there, giving advice as you tour the showpieces of the Northern night sky. The book's only real "fault" -- if you can call it that -- is that it is written from the point of view of observers living in the Northern hemisphere. One can only hope that Southern observers have an equally good introductory book. Read, observe, and enjoy!
Rating:
Summary: A highly effective work, for beginners and teachers.
Review: In the Belmont Society, Turn Left at Orion is one of those enduring staples that eventually becomes an icon of eminent preservation. It's been handed down through the membership as a benchmark of highly valued works, which we've long ago earmarked for its educational value. Back on the lecture circuit some years ago, this was one of those books we always recommended as "required reading" for the beginner, along with (among others) Sagan's Cosmos, and The Backyard Astronomer's Guide by Dickinson. Each became tremendously popular for different reasons, and each could hold its own as a reference for different levels of interest. Over the years the "List" has grown to include six books, and although none have been added in recent times, a few have come very close (i.e. - O'Meara's Messier Objects deserves Honorable Mention). As a result, Turn Left at Orion remains after all these years, one of the six essential works, which we regard as required reading by the beginning amateur astronomer. Though not part of my personal collection until recently, it has been at my disposal for many years. I keep meaning to review it, but something always comes up, not the least of which was the recent printing of a 3rd edition. The work is co-authored by Guy Consolmagno, a Jesuit Brother at the Vatican Observatory; and Dan M. Davis, professor of geophysics at the State University of New York. Between them they conspired to create a work that reflects a singular passion for viewing celestial objects with small telescopes (emphasis on small). In fact, the combined aperture of both authors' instruments is somewhat less than the singular average among beginning-amateur telescopes. One is a 3.5-inch Cassegrain, and the other is a 2.5-inch refractor. Nevertheless, with these small instruments they were able to create a first-rate work of impressive magnitude. Simplistic means to extraordinary ends. I was introduced to the order of Jesuits as a youngster growing up in New England. Even at that young age I was profoundly inspired by the notion that science could be passionately embraced (and accurately promoted) in concert with unwavering religious faith. Almost any science buff knows full well that astronomy and religion run like oil and water through the veins of history. And because this work represents such a remarkable beacon of parallel encounter, I am somewhat disappointed in myself for not doing this earlier. But now, so much has been said about this book that there seems a trite redundancy in plugging it. Oh well. Pioneers and discoverers like Galileo and Messier were themselves saddled with equipment that can easily be considered pathetic by today's standards (both optically and mechanically). However, countless thousands of celestial objects were acquired, catalogued, and studied using archaic equipment of the sort. The point being, that you don't have to bribe the evening sky with money or fat-free technology to see what it's hiding. You merely need to coax it slightly to reveal some of its treasures. The knowledge of what places to do your coaxing is where Turn Left at Orion excels so remarkably. On page 202, authors Consolmagno and Davis re-endorse one of life's most poorly understood allegations - "There is no such thing as a bad telescope". If you find yourself in conflict with that statement then you're missing out on a golden tenet of amateur astronomy, and most likely some of the fun that goes along with it. Because it really doesn't matter what caliber of instrument you use to enhance your view of the night sky. For even some of the most tenuous tidbits in the Messier catalog are revealed in binoculars of moderate size - still considered far superior to anything Messier could have ever laid his hands on. Get the picture? Turn Left at Orion begins with a basic introduction of the evening sky, and a brief overview of "how to use this book", which from experience I can honestly testify that few authors can resist. From there, we go through some discussion of the moon, and a few major planets. Then it's on to the main course, which begins with the Winter constellations Taurus and Auriga and some of their celestial wonders - including the Pleiades open cluster and the famous Crab Nebula. A hundred and eighty pages later we're looking at a double cluster in Perseus. In between, we're shown where to look for a globular cluster in Lyra and the famous double star Albireo in Cygnus. A hundred or so interesting objects are presented and illustrated. Very little is missed or left out for the beginner, or for users of small telescopes. We are first shown where each object is located within a broad view of the sky. Minimal sky-conditions, best times of year to observe, recommended eyepieces and telescope types are graphically illustrated at each heading. We see what the object looks like in a finder-scope, plus what it looks like in the telescope's eyepiece (and at different powers). This book shows you exactly how to get each object in the eyepiece! Really good stuff. Beyond this, the 3rd edition includes some fare from the Southern Hemisphere (Eta Carinae, 47 Tucanae, and the Large and Small Magellanic Clouds to name a few). A complete index is provided, along with a fairly good glossary for the beginner. This is a wonderful book; a lot of fun; and extremely useful for nearly all age groups. Great for binocular users too. Recommended not just for the beginning amateur, but also as a teaching tool for some advanced observers who occasionally look for ways to entertain or educate others at the eyepiece. Then too, we've been known to pick it up and browse it just for fun. Secretaries and officers: - put a few copies in your club's library.
Rating:
Summary: The ESSENTIAL book for beginning astronomers
Review: Just starting to look at the night sky with a small telescope or binoculars? Buy this book. I spent many a frustrated night with my new scope, trying in vain to find galaxies and other interesting objects in the heavens. Half a dozen other sky guides were no help -- and the astrophotographs they offered gave me no clue to what I might actually see with my own eyes. "Turn Left at Orion" transformed me from a galaxy hunter to a galaxy finder even while stargazing under light-polluted suburban skies. Clearly and entertainingly written, TLAO never leaves the reader lost and offers interesting background on what you are viewing as well as other essential information such as "How to run a telescope." My copy is now a year old and is the most-used volume in my stargazing library. It's one of those rare books that can be used by a "square one" beginner or a clueless parent trying to show a youngster how to use a telescope yet still will a delight to an amateur astronomer with more experience. Here's a recipe for years of awe-inspiring after-dark entertainment: a small telescope or 7X50 binoculars, a copy of Turn Left at Orion, a red-lens flashlight (so you can refer to the TLAO in the dark without losing your night vision), and clear skies.
Rating:
Summary: The best book for amateur astronomers I've seen yet!
Review: Shows you how to find deep space objects...what they look like thru an amateur scope (quite a bit different than the fancy super color photos in most books...much more realistic to what you will really see thru a small telescope). And enough interesting info about what you are seeing to make it understandable. All in all, a must have for startup amateur astronomers (or some not so startups who just want a simple guide to how to locate a hundred worthwhile things to see up there!)
Rating:
Summary: Excellent addition for the amateur astronomer
Review: This book came highly recommended by a few fellow amateur astronomers,and I have found it to be beautifully presented;written in terms the newbie can understand perfectly;and written with an obvious love of the nightsky.I wouldn't hesitate to say "buy it!!"
Rating:
Summary: Excellent addition for the amateur astronomer
Review: This book came highly recommended by a few fellow amateur astronomers,and I have found it to be beautifully presented;written in terms the newbie can understand perfectly;and written with an obvious love of the nightsky.I wouldn't hesitate to say "buy it!!"
Rating:
Summary: An absolute must for the ametuer astronomer
Review: This book is a concise, easy to follow and beautifully illustrated guide to the wonders of the universe. Written specifically for small telescope users, it makes astronomy easy and fun. An absolute must for any beginner, a welcome addition for the more experienced.
Rating:
Summary: Not just for beginners
Review: This book is wonderful. I can't believe I didn't buy it earlier. Extrememly helpful in finding objects even for an advanced observer.
Rating:
Summary: The real thing...
Review: This book not only gives great things to look at, but gives a picture you should expect to see through your telescope. There is no Hubble Telescope pictures in the book leading you on like other star finder books. Another nice feature about this book is that it rates the objects and tells what is needed to view each one. A must for all astronomers!
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