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Pages: 1 | 2 | 3 | (show all) BobinKy Post Laureate Reged: 04/27/07 Best astronomy book on your shelf       #5557661 - 12/06/12 02:38 PM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   What is the best astronomy book on your shelf? For me, The Immortal Fire Within: The Life and Work of Edward Emerson Barnard by William Sheehan (Cambridge, 2007). It is a great biography of a great man. How about you? Post Extras:       Traveler Pooh-Bah Reged: 08/19/07 Loc: The Netherlands Re: Best astronomy book on your shelf [Re: BobinKy]       #5557735 - 12/06/12 03:26 PM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   Burnham's Celestial Handbook: An Observer's Guide to the Universe Beyond the Solar System, Vol. 1, 2 and 3. Post Extras:       Rick Woods Postmaster Reged: 01/27/05 Loc: Inner Solar System Re: Best astronomy book on your shelf [Re: Traveler]       #5557758 - 12/06/12 03:38 PM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   Best in what way? Post Extras:       blb Post Laureate Reged: 11/25/05 Loc: Piedmont NC Re: Best astronomy book on your shelf [Re: Rick Woods]       #5557861 - 12/06/12 04:51 PM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   Yep! The best biography, the best history, the best field guide, the best ???? Post Extras:       Rick Woods Postmaster Reged: 01/27/05 Loc: Inner Solar System Re: Best astronomy book on your shelf [Re: blb]       #5557887 - 12/06/12 05:05 PM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   Maybe the best answer is "the one I'm reading right now"! (Although, there's a lot to be said for Traveller's choice.) Post Extras:       desertstars Reged: 11/05/03 Loc: Tucson, AZ Re: Best astronomy book on your shelf [Re: Rick Woods]       #5558104 - 12/06/12 07:11 PM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   There are too many on the shelves behind me that have greating exceeded the cost of acquisition. No way could I pick one out and say "best." Post Extras:       LivingNDixie TSP Chowhound Reged: 04/23/03 Loc: Trussville, AL Re: Best astronomy book on your shelf [Re: desertstars]       #5558305 - 12/06/12 09:21 PM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   Quote: There are too many on the shelves behind me that have greating exceeded the cost of acquisition. No way could I pick one out and say "best." Agreed. Perhaps we should do a Best Book for___ and let people fill in the blank and then tell what title it is? If there is interest I would be glad to start a thread or someone else start one. I would be glad to post my favorites! Post Extras:       Tony Flanders Postmaster Reged: 05/18/06 Loc: Cambridge, MA, USA Re: Best astronomy book on your shelf [Re: BobinKy]       #5558710 - 12/07/12 06:36 AM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   Quote: What is the best astronomy book on your shelf? I wouldn't venture to say which is best. But the most used book, without a doubt, is the RASC Handboook. Post Extras:       izar187 Pooh-Bah Reged: 09/02/06 Loc: 43N Re: Best astronomy book on your shelf [Re: Traveler]       #5558883 - 12/07/12 09:20 AM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   Quote: Burnham's Celestial Handbook: An Observer's Guide to the Universe Beyond the Solar System, Vol. 1, 2 and 3. No home should be with out it. Post Extras:       Daniel Mounsey Vendor - Celestron Reged: 06/12/02 Re: Best astronomy book on your shelf [Re: izar187]       #5558922 - 12/07/12 09:48 AM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   That's easy. I have three favorite astronomy books. I'll gather them together and post a photo shortly. Post Extras:       PhilCo126 Carpal Tunnel Reged: 01/14/05 Loc: coastline of Belgium Re: Best astronomy book on your shelf [Re: Daniel Mounsey]       #5558949 - 12/07/12 10:02 AM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   Certainly the best about ESO: Europe to the Stars http://www.eso.org/public/outreach/50years/europetothestars.html Most nostalgic: Cosmos by Carl Sagan Overview of observatories worldwide: Great Observatories of the World by Serge Brunier & Anne-Marie Lagrange Superb read on the history of refractors: Alvan Clarks and Sons - Artists in Optics & The Victorian Amateur Astronomer Post Extras:       CounterWeight Postmaster Reged: 10/05/08 Loc: Cloudyopolis, OR. Re: Best astronomy book on your shelf [Re: izar187]       #5558950 - 12/07/12 10:03 AM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   I could never use the word best ... so many are really good for intended audience and that is so varied. Teaching, informational, biography, autobiography, imagry, survey, science(s) of (layperson), textbooks, ... I'm just glad I can come here and enjoy comments and insights of others that still read books... Looked for it on the web and at my local store and it's out of my price range so I put up a flag for our library and see what happens. Looks like a great read. Post Extras:       LB16europe member Reged: 09/23/09 Re: Best astronomy book on your shelf [Re: CounterWeight]       #5559742 - 12/07/12 06:18 PM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   To me, it would probably be "Starlight Nights" by Peltier. It was such an enjoyable read! "Seeing in the Dark" by Ferris, or "Deep Sky Wonders" by Houston are also really good books. Post Extras:       edwincjones Close Enough Reged: 04/10/04 Re: Best astronomy book on your shelf [Re: LB16europe]       #5560490 - 12/08/12 07:53 AM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   for me, Peltier and Burnham would be the two best-hard to say which is better then maybe the Scotty Houston collection of S&T articles edj Post Extras:       csa/montana Den Mama Reged: 05/14/05 Loc: montana Re: Best astronomy book on your shelf [Re: BobinKy]       #5560696 - 12/08/12 11:08 AM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   There is no way I could narrow down my collection to just one "best" astronomy book on my shelves! Each has their own qualities & purposes that I enjoy. The one that is near & dear to my heart is my 1987 copy of NightWatch. This was a gift to me, & is responsible for getting me interested in astronomy. Post Extras:       rookie Good Night Nurse Reged: 01/14/06 Loc: St. Petersburg, FL Re: Best astronomy book on your shelf [Re: csa/montana]       #5560742 - 12/08/12 11:35 AM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   I'm not able to choose just one but have narrowed my heavy bookshelves to these: Most treasured: A Photographic Atlas of Selected Regions of the Milky Way (Barnard/Dobek) Sky Vistas (Crossen) Slip cover set: Atlas of the Moon (Rukl) + The Modern Moon (Wood) Astronomical Objects for Southern Telescopes (Hartung) Most used: Pocket Sky Atlas (Sinnott) Post Extras:       Traveler Pooh-Bah Reged: 08/19/07 Loc: The Netherlands Re: Best astronomy book on your shelf [Re: rookie]       #5560884 - 12/08/12 01:21 PM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   Quote: Most used: Pocket Sky Atlas (Sinnott) +1 inside the house and always under the stars. Post Extras:       rdandrea Carpal Tunnel Reged: 06/13/10 Loc: Colorado, USA DM59ra Re: Best astronomy book on your shelf [Re: BobinKy]       #5560925 - 12/08/12 01:50 PM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   Ditto Burnhams as best all-around. Post Extras:       Stellarfire Pooh-Bah Reged: 07/10/11 Loc: Switzerland Re: Best astronomy book on your shelf [Re: desertstars]       #5560952 - 12/08/12 02:12 PM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   Quote: There are too many on the shelves behind me that have greating exceeded the cost of acquisition. No way could I pick one out and say "best." My opinion too. Stephan Post Extras:       LivingNDixie TSP Chowhound Reged: 04/23/03 Loc: Trussville, AL Re: Best astronomy book on your shelf [Re: LB16europe]       #5561072 - 12/08/12 03:30 PM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   Quote: To me, it would probably be "Starlight Nights" by Peltier. It was such an enjoyable read! "Seeing in the Dark" by Ferris, or "Deep Sky Wonders" by Houston are also really good books. I have the Peltier book, just need to get to reading it. I really enjoyed Seeing In The Dark. Post Extras:       Rick Woods Postmaster Reged: 01/27/05 Loc: Inner Solar System Re: Best astronomy book on your shelf [Re: LivingNDixie]       #5561619 - 12/08/12 10:40 PM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   "Starlight Nights" and "Immortal Fire" aren't really astronomy books though, are they. They're biographies of astronomical people. I guess if we rearrange the thread title to "Best book on your Astronomy Shelf", everything fits. Post Extras:       deepskytraveler super member Reged: 12/25/05 Loc: Worthington, OH Re: Best astronomy book on your shelf [Re: BobinKy]       #5561722 - 12/08/12 11:57 PM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   Starlight Nights: The Adventures of a Star-Gazer by Leslie Peltier. I read it at least once a year. -Mark Post Extras:       izar187 Pooh-Bah Reged: 09/02/06 Loc: 43N Re: Best astronomy book on your shelf [Re: deepskytraveler]       #5561873 - 12/09/12 04:44 AM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   I'll mention another two I like a lot: The Deep Sky Field to Uranometria, and Double Stars for Small Telescopes. For rather differing targets, but very worthwhile references. Also, from the equipment end of things, All About Telescopes by Sam Brown is great fun. Post Extras:       edwincjones Close Enough Reged: 04/10/04 Re: Best astronomy book on your shelf [Re: izar187]       #5561921 - 12/09/12 06:53 AM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   for anyone building up their collection it is hard to go wrong with any of these edj Post Extras:       rmollise Postmaster Reged: 07/06/07 Re: Best astronomy book on your shelf [Re: BobinKy]       #5562124 - 12/09/12 10:11 AM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   Quote: What is the best astronomy book on your shelf? For me, The Immortal Fire Within: The Life and Work of Edward Emerson Barnard by William Sheehan (Cambridge, 2007). It is a great biography of a great man. How about you? "Best" is a slippery thing. Today I'll just day it's Sir Patrick Moore's The Amateur Astronomer. Post Extras:       kbastro professor emeritus Reged: 04/20/08 Loc: Running from Clouds Re: Best astronomy book on your shelf [Re: rmollise]       #5566728 - 12/11/12 10:57 PM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   one of my fav's/best was the orginal backyard astronomers guide... by dickinson and dyer and the book has an accompanying websight with downloads kev b Post Extras:       Rudra super member Reged: 07/02/10 Re: Best astronomy book on your shelf [Re: kbastro]       #5567929 - 12/12/12 04:41 PM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   Norton's Star Atlas Uranometria (All volumes and field guide) Herald-Bobroff Astro Atlas Great Atlas of the Sky Millennium Star Atlas Astronomical Almanac Explanatory Supplement to the Astronomical Almanac Cosmology - Burbige and Narlikar Astrophysics Made Easy Sprectroscopy - A key to the stars PS: The above is not in the order of preference. Post Extras:       KidOrion professor emeritus Reged: 07/07/07 Loc: Carbondale, IL Re: Best astronomy book on your shelf [Re: Rudra]       #5568517 - 12/13/12 12:22 AM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   To put it in answerable terms (how does one define "best" when comparing atlases, observing guides, scientific texts, etc. among each other?), I'd say that if I was only allowed to keep one astronomy book, it'd probably be Sue French's Deep-Sky Wonders. However, if I was allowed to keep only one book of any sort, it would be Sagan's Cosmos. Post Extras:       faackanders2 Pooh-Bah Reged: 03/28/11 Re: Best astronomy book on your shelf [Re: Rick Woods]       #5568949 - 12/13/12 10:26 AM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   Quote: Maybe the best answer is "the one I'm reading right now"! (Although, there's a lot to be said for Traveller's choice.) +1 However, my favorite series is the O'Meara DSO series (Messier, Caldwell, Hidden Treasures, Secret Deep, and soon to be Southern Treasures? which is on order). An the book that started it all for me: Patrick Moore's Atlas of the Universe. After this and going to the Ft. Wayne Three River's Festival to look through the FWAC observatory telescope to see Saturn for the first time (and realize I could still see it naked eye as a "star" - I was hooked! If I could see it, I could find it; and so I joined the FWAC and soon bout my first 10.1" Coultour Oddessy Dobsonian which I used for 10-12 years before I outgrew it. Post Extras:       opticsguy super member Reged: 02/02/09 Re: Best astronomy book on your shelf [Re: faackanders2]       #5570156 - 12/13/12 11:40 PM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   Great Atlas of the Sky. However, it does not fit on my shelf . . . . Post Extras:       FirstSight Postmaster Reged: 12/26/05 Loc: Raleigh, NC Re: Best astronomy book on your shelf [Re: opticsguy]       #5571256 - 12/14/12 06:10 PM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   "best" for overall understanding, or "best" for an observing guide? In the latter category, three come first to mind: 1) Sue French, "Deep Sky Wonders" 2) Kepple & Sanner, "Night Sky Observer's Guide" (three vols, though only the first two are useful for those of us in the northern hemisphere); 3) Sinnott, "Pocket Sky Atlas" A good nomination in the first category, filled with glorious astrophotos, is Michael Benson's "Far Out", a journey from the nearby Milky Way progressively outward to the grand distant scale of the universe. Just about anything by Neil Degresse Tyson is worth having on your shelf. Post Extras:       Daniel Mounsey Vendor - Celestron Reged: 06/12/02 Re: Best astronomy book on your shelf [Re: Daniel Mounsey]       #5571360 - 12/14/12 07:10 PM Attachment (26 downloads) Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   Quote: That's easy. I have three favorite astronomy books. I'll gather them together and post a photo shortly. Post Extras:       edwincjones Close Enough Reged: 04/10/04 Re: Best astronomy book on your shelf [Re: Daniel Mounsey]       #5571423 - 12/14/12 07:42 PM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   for just pretty pictures, go for S&T's annual Beautiful Universe series edj Post Extras:       Traveler Pooh-Bah Reged: 08/19/07 Loc: The Netherlands Re: Best astronomy book on your shelf [Re: Daniel Mounsey]       #5571480 - 12/14/12 08:20 PM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   Yes!! Post Extras:       Daniel Mounsey Vendor - Celestron Reged: 06/12/02 Re: Best astronomy book on your shelf [Re: Traveler]       #5571622 - 12/14/12 09:45 PM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   I actually prefer monochrome. Post Extras:       Rick Woods Postmaster Reged: 01/27/05 Loc: Inner Solar System Re: Best astronomy book on your shelf [Re: Daniel Mounsey]       #5571835 - 12/15/12 12:24 AM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   Quote: Quote: That's easy. I have three favorite astronomy books. I'll gather them together and post a photo shortly. Show of hands: Who didn't see that coming a mile away? FWIW Daniel, I was told it's a bad idea to have books standing on their front edge as pictured here; the spine will get biffed and the text part separate. Post Extras:       PhilCo126 Carpal Tunnel Reged: 01/14/05 Loc: coastline of Belgium Re: Best astronomy book on your shelf [Re: Rick Woods]       #5572029 - 12/15/12 05:17 AM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   Also check: http://www.cloudynights.com/ubbthreads/showflat.php/Cat/0/Board/Observatory/N... Post Extras:       Daniel Mounsey Vendor - Celestron Reged: 06/12/02 Re: Best astronomy book on your shelf [Re: Rick Woods]       #5572197 - 12/15/12 09:07 AM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   Quote: Quote: Quote: That's easy. I have three favorite astronomy books. I'll gather them together and post a photo shortly. Show of hands: Who didn't see that coming a mile away? FWIW Daniel, I was told it's a bad idea to have books standing on their front edge as pictured here; the spine will get biffed and the text part separate. Agreed. I actally turned the spines out just for the photo but normally they're down for the reasons you stated. Post Extras:       blb Post Laureate Reged: 11/25/05 Loc: Piedmont NC Re: Best astronomy book on your shelf [Re: Rick Woods]       #5572759 - 12/15/12 03:28 PM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   Quote: Quote: Quote: That's easy. I have three favorite astronomy books. I'll gather them together and post a photo shortly. Show of hands: Who didn't see that coming a mile away? FWIW Daniel, I was told it's a bad idea to have books standing on their front edge as pictured here; the spine will get biffed and the text part separate. Frankly I am surprised it took so long. Post Extras:       LivingNDixie TSP Chowhound Reged: 04/23/03 Loc: Trussville, AL Re: Best astronomy book on your shelf [Re: FirstSight]       #5573187 - 12/15/12 08:45 PM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   Quote: "best" for overall understanding, or "best" for an observing guide? In the latter category, three come first to mind: 1) Sue French, "Deep Sky Wonders" 2) Kepple & Sanner, "Night Sky Observer's Guide" (three vols, though only the first two are useful for those of us in the northern hemisphere); 3) Sinnott, "Pocket Sky Atlas" A good nomination in the first category, filled with glorious astrophotos, is Michael Benson's "Far Out", a journey from the nearby Milky Way progressively outward to the grand distant scale of the universe. Just about anything by Neil Degresse Tyson is worth having on your shelf. I agree with the three titles mentioned. If someone could only have three books this would be the best three (sorry Daniel). I like Tyson, but some of his books read more like a blog. I would say for cloudy night reading I am more likely to grab something David Levy wrote then Tyson. That is not to say Neil is a bad writer, it just more my preferences Post Extras:       blb Post Laureate Reged: 11/25/05 Loc: Piedmont NC Re: Best astronomy book on your shelf [Re: LivingNDixie]       #5573272 - 12/15/12 09:34 PM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   Quote: Quote: "best" for overall understanding, or "best" for an observing guide? In the latter category, three come first to mind: 1) Sue French, "Deep Sky Wonders" 2) Kepple & Sanner, "Night Sky Observer's Guide" (three vols, though only the first two are useful for those of us in the northern hemisphere); 3) Sinnott, "Pocket Sky Atlas" A good nomination in the first category, filled with glorious astrophotos, is Michael Benson's "Far Out", a journey from the nearby Milky Way progressively outward to the grand distant scale of the universe. Just about anything by Neil Degresse Tyson is worth having on your shelf. I agree with the three titles mentioned. If someone could only have three books this would be the best three (sorry Daniel). I like Tyson, but some of his books read more like a blog. I would say for cloudy night reading I am more likely to grab something David Levy wrote then Tyson. That is not to say Neil is a bad writer, it just more my preferences I too would agree with those three if you also included O'Meara's books, Messier, Caldwell, Hidden Treasures, Secret Deep, and his Herschel 400 book. Sorry I can't just limit myself like that. That is the skeleton that my library is built upon. Post Extras:       RobertED Carpal Tunnel Reged: 07/11/03 Loc: Johnston, RI Re: Best astronomy book on your shelf [Re: blb]       #5573911 - 12/16/12 10:42 AM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   I'll say that in my own little corner of the world, best means my favorite,....I say, my new "Cambridge Photographic Atlas of the Moon", or "The Backyard Astronomer's Guide", or perhaps even "Burnham Celestial Handbook".........howzzat?!?!?! Post Extras:       pbealo sage Reged: 10/12/06 Loc: New Hampshire Re: Best astronomy book on your shelf [Re: RobertED]       #5586815 - 12/24/12 09:09 AM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   My favorites would have to include: The Lighthearted Astronomer by Ken Fulton Outer Space Photography by Henry Paul: autographed by Paul wih a note of thanks to photo contributor Ralph Dakin Post Extras:       PhilCo126 Carpal Tunnel Reged: 01/14/05 Loc: coastline of Belgium Re: Best astronomy book on your shelf [Re: pbealo]       #5590760 - 12/27/12 06:31 AM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   An update at; http://www.cloudynights.com/ubbthreads/showflat.php/Cat/0/Board/Observatory/N... Post Extras:       Rick Woods Postmaster Reged: 01/27/05 Loc: Inner Solar System Re: Best astronomy book on your shelf [Re: pbealo]       #5591679 - 12/27/12 07:32 PM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   Quote: My favorites would have to include: The Lighthearted Astronomer by Ken Fulton I borrowed that from a friend once and read it. I remember it as being a lot of fun! Post Extras:       Pages: 1 | 2 | 3 | (show all)

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