Deep Sky Companions : The Messier Objects

Rating:
Summary: An Amateur Astronomers Basic Messier Reference
Review: This superb, exhaustive book is an invaluable collection of Messier object data, illustrations, and drawings, supplemented by excellent observing pointers and advice.
It is a fine supplement to Pennington's Messier Marathon book, taking off where Pennington's book leaves off. Pennington is valuable for quickly locating the objects, O'Meara tells you almost everything you might want to know about each one.
Only one minor defect exists. While O'Meara states in the early text that his finder charts show North up and West to the right, and that the photographs show South up and East to the right as seen in most telescopes, he fails to mention that his drawings are the same orientation as the photographs. This can be seen fairly quickly when comparing them, although in some cases, the resemblance between the drawings and the photographs suffers a bit from the artists interpretation of what he saw. Directional arrows on figures of these items are always useful, and generally provided - except in this book.
A very good buy.

Rating:
Summary: An Essential "Backyard Astronomer's Reference".
Review: When well known 18th century comet hunter , Charles Messier , compiled a list of "confusing objects" in 1774 , little did he think that the list would outlive his fame as the "comet ferret". The list ultimately reached 110 objects that appeared comet-like in the primitive refracting telescopes of Messier's day. The first inkling that these non-stellar objects were a facinating collection of star clusters , gaseous nebulae , and galaxies was the work of Sir William Herschel , who was able to resolve many of these hazy and mysterious objects into clusters of stars.

The author , Steven O'Meara , has carefuly observed all 110 objects with a 4" telescope from one of the darkest and clearest observing sites on Earth , the island of Hawaii , on the slopes of Mauna Kea. I really shake my head in wonder at the drawings the author has produced ; could anyone REALLY see these objects THAT well? I remain a little doubtful.

The book , nevertheless , has some rather small scale star charts to assist the backyard astronomer in finding these objects. Also provided is a B&W photograph , along with an "artistic" sketch by the author.

One thing I generally find fault with in these "observing guides" is the level of optimism conveyed to the average user re: the visibility of the object through any class of instrument , whether binoculars , telescope , or the naked eyeball. I personally believe that really experienced observers wildly overstate what neophytes can expect to see at any given time.

With that little rant aside , this is still a book that should be on the shelf of any budding backyard astronomer. "Four stars" is really a gift on my part--realistically 3 1/2 stars , but one of the few up-to-date pictorial and reasonably scientific books on the subject available today.

Rating:
Summary: An Essential "Backyard Astronomer's Reference".
Review: When well known 18th century comet hunter , Charles Messier , compiled a list of "confusing objects" in 1774 , little did he think that the list would outlive his fame as the "comet ferret". The list ultimately reached 110 objects that appeared comet-like in the primitive refracting telescopes of Messier's day. The first inkling that these non-stellar objects were a facinating collection of star clusters , gaseous nebulae , and galaxies was the work of Sir William Herschel , who was able to resolve many of these hazy and mysterious objects into clusters of stars.

The author , Steven O'Meara , has carefuly observed all 110 objects with a 4" telescope from one of the darkest and clearest observing sites on Earth , the island of Hawaii , on the slopes of Mauna Kea. I really shake my head in wonder at the drawings the author has produced ; could anyone REALLY see these objects THAT well? I remain a little doubtful.

The book , nevertheless , has some rather small scale star charts to assist the backyard astronomer in finding these objects. Also provided is a B&W photograph , along with an "artistic" sketch by the author.

One thing I generally find fault with in these "observing guides" is the level of optimism conveyed to the average user re: the visibility of the object through any class of instrument , whether binoculars , telescope , or the naked eyeball. I personally believe that really experienced observers wildly overstate what neophytes can expect to see at any given time.

With that little rant aside , this is still a book that should be on the shelf of any budding backyard astronomer. "Four stars" is really a gift on my part--realistically 3 1/2 stars , but one of the few up-to-date pictorial and reasonably scientific books on the subject available today.