NightWatch: A Practical Guide to Viewing the Universe. This item is unavailable.NightWatch: A Practical Guide to Viewing the Universe

With more than 275,000 copies in print since its original publication in 1983, Nightwatch has become a standard reference guide for stargazers throughout the Northern Hemisphere. The enlarged third edition of the book was issued in 1998, but this new fourth printing has been re-issued this year with even more revisions and the latest astronomical statistics and information. Comprehensive field guide for amateur stargazers, featuring 20 specially created full-colour deep-sky star charts and 256 full colour photographs. Special full-colour sections cover the stars, constellations, nebulae, planets, the sun and moon, eclipses, comets and meteors. Ultra-simplified jargon-free text offers substantial information for the novice and intermediate astronomer on equipment and photography. New edition features spiral binding for lay-flat use next to your telescope

The third edition of Nightwatch continues its tradition of being the best handbook for the novice astronomer. Terence Dickinson covers all the problems beginners face, starting with the fact that the night sky does not look the way a modern city-dweller expects. He discusses light pollution, how to choose binoculars and telescopes, how to pronounce the names of stars and constellations, telescope mounts, averted vision and why the Harvest Moon looks especially bright. Most of the lovely photographs in the book were taken by amateurs, which gives the section on astrophotography a particularly inspirational gleam.

Dickinson's star charts are very handy, each covering a reasonable field of view and mapping the most interesting amateur objects. He gives good advice for planet watching, which he notes "is one of the few astronomical activities that can be conducted almost as well from the city as from dark rural locations."

Altogether, the maxim for Nightwatch is indeed "practical": this is a book to be used, not just read. Spiral-bound to lie flat or to fold back undamaged, this is a field guide that pulls its own weight in the field. Author Timot hy Ferris says, "Like a good night sky, Nightwatch is clear and wind-free". Try it and see for yourself." --Mary Ellen Curtin, Amazon.com