Messier's Nebulae and Star Clusters

This is a unique handbook, unlikely ever to be equalled in its completeness and importance to the telescope owner.

Kenneth Glyn Jones (Author)

9780521058490, Cambridge University Press

Paperback / softback, published 28 January 2008

448 pages
24 x 18.7 x 2.2 cm, 0.818 kg

"...a very thorough and fascinating treatment of both the man and his catalog....Any observer who has marveled at the wonders contained within the Messier list will be fascinated to read the story behind it and the man behind the "M"!" Gordon Bond, The Practical Observer

Charles Messier's catalogue of nebulae and star clusters, published in 1784, marked the start of a new era of deep sky astronomy. This tradition of observing galaxies and clusters is kept alive by serious amateur astronomers who study the objects of the deep sky. Nearly all the objects are visible in a small telescope. Many, such as the Crab Nebula and the Andromeda galaxy, are among the most fascinating objects in the universe. Kenneth Glyn Jones has revised his definitive version of Messier's catalogue. His own observations and drawings, together with maps and diagrams, make this a valuable introduction to deep sky observing. Historical and astrophysical notes bring the science of these nebulae to the fore. This is a unique handbook, unlikely ever to be equalled in its completeness and importance to the telescope owner.

List of tables and figures
Plates
Preface
Introduction
1. Astronomical background to the Messier objects: the 'missing' and 'additional' objects
2. The Messier objects classified
3. Observing: equipment, conditions and method
4. The Messier objects in detail (Nos. 1-104
) Biographical and historical
Maps and appendices
Index of names
Index of subjects
Index of objects.

Subject Areas: Popular astronomy & space [WNX]