I purchased a set of Oberwerk 15x70s and a tripod for my dad on his birthday and he loves 'em. Only problem is that he'd like to learn the sky better and asked me for book recommendations. I gave him my copy of "Turn Left at Orion". Is there anything else I should suggest (maybe something specifically targeted at binocular viewing)?
Best book for astrobinocular viewing?
Started by gmanzero, 07/17/2003 04:45PM
Posted 07/17/2003 04:45PM
Opening Post
Posted 07/17/2003 05:53PM
#1
"Binocular Astronomy" by Tirion & Crossen. Purchased mine from universityoptics.com. The price included shipping.
I have a least half a dozen books with the words "binocular" & Astronomy in the title. This one is the best by far. Unlike other books that just give a list of objects by constellation, this one gives you a bit of history and a description of how they would appear in 50mm or larger binos. The black and white photos in the book gives the reader a better idea of what DSO look like in binos and smaller scopes. IMO much more useful than a book filled with color photos taken by 12 in or larger scopes. Very useful for someone with 4 in or smaller scopes too.
ERik D
I have a least half a dozen books with the words "binocular" & Astronomy in the title. This one is the best by far. Unlike other books that just give a list of objects by constellation, this one gives you a bit of history and a description of how they would appear in 50mm or larger binos. The black and white photos in the book gives the reader a better idea of what DSO look like in binos and smaller scopes. IMO much more useful than a book filled with color photos taken by 12 in or larger scopes. Very useful for someone with 4 in or smaller scopes too.
ERik D
Posted 07/17/2003 11:38PM
#2
Thank you Kenny,
Greg,
Kenny mentions Monthly Sky Guide and Erik mentions Binoculoar Astronomy. Both are excellent choices.
M S G lays out the sky by month and shows at least a portion of a sky chart showing a significant constellation or area for the month. Includes some detail charts. Excellent choice for a beginner.
B A would be the best choice for binocular viewing, it's geared towards that user. It has many excellent detail charts and a full set of sky charts, much more written work, more detailed descriptions of objects. He'll enjoy owning it for a lifetime.
These two gentlemen have steered you in the right direction. These are two very different books. Buy both.
Crossen's book might go for $25+/-. Monthly Sky Guide can be bought for $5+3$shp used on Amazon.
edz
Greg,
Kenny mentions Monthly Sky Guide and Erik mentions Binoculoar Astronomy. Both are excellent choices.
M S G lays out the sky by month and shows at least a portion of a sky chart showing a significant constellation or area for the month. Includes some detail charts. Excellent choice for a beginner.
B A would be the best choice for binocular viewing, it's geared towards that user. It has many excellent detail charts and a full set of sky charts, much more written work, more detailed descriptions of objects. He'll enjoy owning it for a lifetime.
These two gentlemen have steered you in the right direction. These are two very different books. Buy both.
Crossen's book might go for $25+/-. Monthly Sky Guide can be bought for $5+3$shp used on Amazon.
edz
Posted 07/20/2003 04:54PM
#3
Hi Greg,
If your Dad doesn't already have a good planisphere, I would HIGHLY recommend getting him one. A planisphere and some form of red, (or green) light should be the very 1st astro items to be added to any kit. Typically, when I find out that friends and coworkers are interested in astronomy, I make a gift of a medium sized planisphere to get them started. 2 that I especially like are the Miller Planisphere and "The Night Sky" by David Chandler. Be sure to get one appropriate for your Dad's latitude. There's also the giant Levy planisphere that lots of folks love for it's ease of use. I don't use it, cuz it doesn't fit into my astro bag.
In addition to that, I really like Rick Schaffer's "Your Guide to the Sky". I like this book so much that I've given away several copies. It's optimized for the mid-US, with a different area of the sky highlighted for each month of the year. It features both an All Sky & a Zoom map for each month. It's one flaw, is that Schaffer recommends 7x50s with a 7* FOV, and the Zoom targets are set up to reflect that preference. (Most modern am. astro bino buffs have realized that the 7mm exit pupil of the classic 7x50 is not optimized for either light polluted observing sites, nor for optimum resolution from most adult's eyes). Not withstanding that, it's an excellent choice to get someone really familiar with the sky. I put thumbtabs on the copy I kept, to reflect the different constellations, and use it that way, rather than month by month.
Here's what's in my Eagle Creek shoulder bag that accompanies me whenever I go out to observe with binoculars or small telescopes:
(2) planispheres (his 'n hers)
(2) red LED ligts
"Your Guide to the Sky", Rick Schaffer (<$20)
Sky & Telescope's laminated Messier Card (~$5?)
Nat'l Audubon Soc. "Field Guide to the Night Sky" (<$20)
Brent Watson's excellent laminated "Finder Charts of Bright Telescopic Objects" (~$8)
Brent Watson's laminated "Finder Charts of Overlooked Objects" (~$8)
Those last 2 books are very easy to use, fairly inexpensive, spiral bound, laminated charts that feature objects easily seen in most binoculars, (Bright Telescope Objects), or small telescopes (Overlooked Objects).
I've got a whole bookshelf of astro and cosmological books, but that short list is what I've found to be the most useful in the field, and is particularly suited to teaching others, or initial learning.
Mike Swaim
If your Dad doesn't already have a good planisphere, I would HIGHLY recommend getting him one. A planisphere and some form of red, (or green) light should be the very 1st astro items to be added to any kit. Typically, when I find out that friends and coworkers are interested in astronomy, I make a gift of a medium sized planisphere to get them started. 2 that I especially like are the Miller Planisphere and "The Night Sky" by David Chandler. Be sure to get one appropriate for your Dad's latitude. There's also the giant Levy planisphere that lots of folks love for it's ease of use. I don't use it, cuz it doesn't fit into my astro bag.
In addition to that, I really like Rick Schaffer's "Your Guide to the Sky". I like this book so much that I've given away several copies. It's optimized for the mid-US, with a different area of the sky highlighted for each month of the year. It features both an All Sky & a Zoom map for each month. It's one flaw, is that Schaffer recommends 7x50s with a 7* FOV, and the Zoom targets are set up to reflect that preference. (Most modern am. astro bino buffs have realized that the 7mm exit pupil of the classic 7x50 is not optimized for either light polluted observing sites, nor for optimum resolution from most adult's eyes). Not withstanding that, it's an excellent choice to get someone really familiar with the sky. I put thumbtabs on the copy I kept, to reflect the different constellations, and use it that way, rather than month by month.
Here's what's in my Eagle Creek shoulder bag that accompanies me whenever I go out to observe with binoculars or small telescopes:
(2) planispheres (his 'n hers)
(2) red LED ligts
"Your Guide to the Sky", Rick Schaffer (<$20)
Sky & Telescope's laminated Messier Card (~$5?)
Nat'l Audubon Soc. "Field Guide to the Night Sky" (<$20)
Brent Watson's excellent laminated "Finder Charts of Bright Telescopic Objects" (~$8)
Brent Watson's laminated "Finder Charts of Overlooked Objects" (~$8)
Those last 2 books are very easy to use, fairly inexpensive, spiral bound, laminated charts that feature objects easily seen in most binoculars, (Bright Telescope Objects), or small telescopes (Overlooked Objects).
I've got a whole bookshelf of astro and cosmological books, but that short list is what I've found to be the most useful in the field, and is particularly suited to teaching others, or initial learning.
Mike Swaim
Funding Member
