Exploring the Night Sky with Binoculars

Patrick Moore's painstakingly researched, beautifully illustrated guide to astronomical observation for casual and serious observers.

Patrick Moore (Author)

9780521793902, Cambridge University Press

Paperback, published 16 October 2000

220 pages, 141 b/w illus. 12 tables
24.4 x 17 x 1 cm, 0.467 kg

'This guide is therefore an ideal start to observe celestial objects using simple instruments as binoculars … an indispensable preparation for further observations using larger instruments.' Orion (Société Astronomique de Suisse)

On a clear, starry night, the jewelled beauty and unimaginable immensity of our universe is awe-inspiring. Star-gazing with binoculars is rewarding and may begin a lifelong hobby! Patrick Moore has painstakingly researched Exploring the Night Sky with Binoculars to describe how to use binoculars for astronomical observation. He explains basic astronomy and the selection of binoculars, then discusses the stars, clusters, nebulae and galaxies that await the observer. The sky seen from both the northern and southern hemispheres is charted season by season, with detailed maps of all the constellations. The reader can also observe the Sun, Moon, planets, comets and meteors. With many beautiful illustrations, this handbook will be helpful and encouraging to casual observers and those cultivating a more serious interest. The enjoyment of amateur astronomy is now available to everybody.

Preface to the third edition
1. The night sky
2. Binoculars of many kinds
3. Among the stars
4. Double stars and variable stars
5. Clusters, nebulae and galaxies
6. Stars of the seasons
7. The constellations
8. The sun and its eclipses
9. Lunar landscapes
10. The planets
11. Comets and shooting stars
12. Summing-up
Appendices
Bibliography
A note on metrication.

Subject Areas: Popular astronomy & space [WNX], Astronomical observation: observatories, equipment & methods [PGG]