Binocular Astronomy
by Craig Crossen, Wil Tirion
Book Summary Information
Author: Craig Crossen, Wil TirionEdition: Hardcover
Audio: English (Original Language); English (Unknown); English (Published)
Published: 2008-06-30
ISBN: 0943396883
Number of pages: 190
Publisher: Willmann-Bell
Book Reviews of Binocular Astronomy
Book Review: Stunningly thorough, perhaps a bit much for the casual user
Summary: 5 Stars
Wow, this one has all the information you want or need for binocular observation, and maybe more. If you enjoy astronomy and want one book for binocular astronomy, get this one. It will keep you busy with your binoculars for a long time.
The first chapter introduces the basics of star-watching: constellations, the celestial sphere, seasonal changes, and so on. It also includes a short discussion about choosing and using binoculars. The technical information is a little dated (the optics world has changed in the past 15 years!), but the rest is good solid information.
The next four chapters cover the sky by season. They each introduce the seasonal constellations, and the move straight to the good stuff. And what good stuff it is. Terrificly detailed descriptions of hundreds and hundreds of targets for you to look at, with drawings, charts, and photographs to help you find and identify them.
But be forewarned, this book is by and for amateur astronomers. If your interest in the night sky is very casual, a "twice-a-summer" affair, this book may overwhelm you. For example, it uses the Bayer and Flamsteed IDs for stars (Greek letters and numbers, respectively), and gives directions using degree measurements. You will need and use the star atlas at the rear of the book. Most of this can be quickly learned, but it does demand that you pay attention. This is a good thing. :-)
Chapter 6 describes and illustrates the structure of our own galaxy. It's interesting and very instructive.
Chapter 7 sends you out looking for galaxies. Galaxies, my friends, and with binoculars no less! But with a decent pair of household 10x50 binoculars and a dark sky, you'll be amazed at how the universe unfolds before you.
Appendix A covers the history of the constellations we use to navigate the sky; I found it good "cloudy night" reading. Appendix B covers the basics of stars (e.g., formation, evolution, and categorization), but there are better resources for this information. Appendix C is a very outdated bibliography; the most recent book noted is from 1991.
Finally, the book include indices for every object type, and the ten star charts of the "Bright Star Atlas", which as I said you will need and use.
Anyone with even a passing interest will learn something on nearly every page of this book.
I will say that this book could use an update in look and feel. It doesn't have the polish of, say, "Nightwatch" or even "Turn Left". With an edit and format makeover, a revised edition would just blow the competition away.
As it is, this book expects some effort on your part (which, repeat this, is a good thing). It has numerous detailed charts to guide you, but it could use even more.
Not all objects described are illustrated; that would triple the page count. And the photographs, printed on ordinary (non-glossy) paper stock, are poor cousins of what we've become accustomed to. But they're serviceable in the sense that you get an idea what the field will look like when you get to your target. But don't buy the book for the pictures.
These few negatives don't add up to even a one-star drop in my rating. For the amateur astronomer, this is the cream even if you're just starting the hobby.
But for the person with a passing, post-barbecue curiosity about the darkening sky, this is too much. For you, this is a two-star book; S&T's "Binocular Highlights" may be a better choice for you.
With this book in hand, a red flashlight to read by, and a clear sky above your lounge chair, your binoculars will reveal brand new beautiful and awesome sights for many years to come.
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