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Rating: 
Summary: Better options are available
Review: Don't waste your money on this book. Save it for your equipment. A better choice for a beginner's book is Nightwatch by Terence Dickinson, available from Amazon.com. You should also subscribe to Sky & Telescope magazine and order a free catalog from Orion Telescopes and Binoculars Co. Their Web site URL is telescopes.com
Rating: 
Summary: An essential referenc for any prospective telescope buyer!!!
Review: For anyone in the market for an astronomical telescope , this book is a tremendous help. Twenty or more years ago there were only a handful of manufacturers that offered astronomical telescopes , but now there is a flood of products for the prospective buyer! Phil Harrington does an excellent job in systematically listing not only the individual products by type , but gives a thumbnail sketch of the manufacturers as well. The author leaves the final decisions in the hands of the readers , but after reading this little paperback , the reader is an informed buyer! This is not a field where mistakes are cheap. This book will save you some real $$$ if you pay attention. It did me!
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Summary: Great new edition, even better than the last!
Review: I've read 'em all and Star Ware is still the single best book about equipment for the amateur astonomer ever written. The author has clearly done a tremendous amount of research to cover just about every conceivable piece of equipment out there. And, best of all, he discusses pros and cons evenly, without bias, and with a sense of humor that holds the interest of even non-astronomer types. If you are thinking about buying a telescope or other piece of astronomical equipment, the price of this book could save you hundreds. And, in the long run, you will end up knowing more about what to buy and how to use it, thanks all to this book. Bravo!
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Summary: This book is will save you money, time, and heartburn.
Review: Looking for a friend to help guide you when buying your first telescope, binoculars, or some new eyepieces and accessories. Phil Harrington, acting vicariously through Star Ware, is that friend. The author, who also writes equipment reviews for Astronomy magazine, exhaustively examines the current astronomical marketplace and discusses the pros and cons of just about everything an amateur astronomer could want and purchase. The book also features ten new make-at-home projects, including two observatories, a simple digital imager that is light enough to use with *any* telescope, a pair of binocular mounts, an observing chair, and more. Further, the author's extensive web site ... is regularly updated with the latest news on telescopes and astro-equipment. I highly recommend Star Ware for all amateur astronomers who are interested in learning about and purchasing the best equipment.
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Summary: This book is will save you money, time, and heartburn.
Review: Many of us get product reviews in "Astronomy" and "Sky and Telecope" but they only review a few products at a time. This book is a comprehensive guide that covers almost every product I can think of. Most of us will probably never see all the products listed in here. Telescopes and eyepeices get a long chapter each and that takes up most of the book. However everything from Flashlights to Filters are covered as well. The only downside is that it is only a reference book and not really much else. Worth every penny though!
Rating: 
Summary: A Complete Product Guide for Amatuer Astronomy
Review: Many of us get product reviews in "Astronomy" and "Sky and Telecope" but they only review a few products at a time. This book is a comprehensive guide that covers almost every product I can think of. Most of us will probably never see all the products listed in here. Telescopes and eyepeices get a long chapter each and that takes up most of the book. However everything from Flashlights to Filters are covered as well. The only downside is that it is only a reference book and not really much else. Worth every penny though!
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Summary: This book is the best money I have ever spent on astronomy!
Review: The newly released third edition is more up to date than any other telescope book around! The author has re-examined literally hundreds of different telescopes, binoculars, and accessories, using both his own findings as well as those of readers who answered his telescope owner survey. If you are thinking of buying a telescope or some astro-accessory, or maybe want to get more out of the equipment that you already own, this is the book for you! Even if you own a telescope, you're bound to pick up something new in this book! I learned more from reading Starware than in probably ten other books combined. And even if you own the first or second edition (or both!), the third edition is a MUST!
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Summary: Brilliant trilogy
Review: This has got to be the best and most comprehensive book on everything to do with astronomical equipment. Reading all three editions not only fully equips you with the knowledge on which scope (or binoculars) is best for your needs, but also serves as a "historical" overview of scopes from the past. What I especially liked about the book is that it has exhaustive reviews of scopes and they are split into different categories and brand names (yup brand names and makes are mentioned in the book). Also has a homemade astronomer section that is very useful. Plus, in the 1st and 2nd edition, there is a section on observing (with eyepiece impression sketches). I was disappointed that this section was left out in the third edition but then this spawned Phil's other book "Starwatch". Highly recommended!!!!!!!!!
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