Anonymous
Unregistered
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Does anyone have an opinion of:
"Deep Sky Companions: The Messier Objects" -- by Stephen James O'Meara?
Any other recommendations for using as a guide for finding and viewing each one?
Thanks, Tom
Edited by Tom Leavitt (09/29/03 03:57 PM)
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miniventures
Something Else
Reged: 09/13/03
Posts: 11078
Loc: Powell Butte, Central Oregon
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Hi Tom,
I thumbed through it at the OSP when a friend of mine (who by the way is a member of NightSky45 down in Salem) was dancing around like a crazy woman because she bought it at the swap meet there. It looked like a wonderful book but she admitted that living in Salem, she wouldn't get a whole lot of use of it. It'll probably end up on my shelf eventually but I will be buying the Finder Charts of THE MESSIER OBJECTS by Brent Watson which are published by Sky Spot. The are a 2 part laminated series that are keyed to the Telrad but can also be easily used with a Rigel Quikfinder. The only complaint I have about them is that they have no illustrations whatsoever of what all those faint fuzzies look like
LarryC
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LarryC
Volunteer
http://www.sunrivernaturecenter.org
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rboe
Numbfinger
Reged: 03/16/02
Posts: 40419
Loc: Phx, AZ
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I picked it up last year. Got to M24 before I stopped reading it. Too much else going on - and I lost a bit of interest in the Messier list.
Great photo's (B&W), nice drawings - I believe he used a 4" refractor so folks with smaller glass can use the book. I have a larger scope now but at the time all I had was the Pronto and I wanted a more realistic viewing aid.
It's a good read, adding tid bits of history so it's not a dry observation record. He grounds the reader right off the bat so you don't have unrealistic expectations of what you are about to see. Something other writers, intentionaly or not tend to do.
Thanks for the reminder, I need to finish his book. Along with about ten others I've started lately and let sit. I gotta stop buying books until I get caught up. I miss blizzards for that reason alone!
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Ron
NS11GPS
Pronto
16" dob
15X70 Obies
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Steve Landry
professor emeritus
Reged: 04/25/02
Posts: 609
Loc: Graham, Washington
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I miss blizzards for that reason alone!
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I know what you mean Ron, I did a LOT of reading that year I was stationed in Iceland. A lot of drinking too, but thats another forum!
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Orion ED80
Orion ED100
Celestron C4R
Orion 120/F5
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EdZ
Professor EdZ
Reged: 02/15/02
Posts: 12789
Loc: Cumberland, R I , USA42N71.4W
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Deep Sky Companions: The Messier Objects" is a great read, but not very useful for finding these objects. It'll give you some info and impressions you won't get anywhere else.
Another absolute necessity sorce for info is Burnham's "Celestial Handbook", three volumes you need all three. You'll get stuff in here that other writers never even though of.
There is no substitute for good stars charts to use for finding objects. My favorite is still SkyAtlas 2000.0 Deluxe. I own Uranometria and Night Sky Observer's Guide, both useful, but both you could do without for a while if you own a good set of charts.
If you don't want to spring for $49 for the Deluxe 2000.0, try The cambridge Star Atlas, smaller but pretty good for $19.95.
edz
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Teach a kid something today. The feeling you'll get is one of life's greatest rewards.
member#21
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Anonymous
Unregistered
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I like O'Meara's book. It's great for browsing. For actually locating Messier objects, nothing beats Pennington's THE YEAR-ROUND MESSIER MARATHON HANDBOOK AND FIELD GUIDE. Pennington will have you locating M objects with nothing better than a cardboard toilet paper holder as a finder.
Jeff Verona
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Anonymous
Unregistered
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Thanks folks. I fixed the author's name (thanks Jeff). I borrowed the Norton 2000.0 Star Atlas from the library and it looks very interesting. How do the other Star Atlas books compare to that one (it is the only I have looked at so far...jsut curios which is most useful). I keep seeing the Burnham set for sale over on Astromart for decent price.
I don't want to over do it on the book thing (I have other books to read also) so I am trying find books that don't overlap too much.
Being a SW geek, I like using SW if possible and I'm currently trying to learn how to utilize "Cartes Du Ciel" by Patrick Chevalley. I have Starry Night Beginner but it keeps crashing so I'm tired of fighting with it.
I would love to find something that I can print out and use while gazing to record what I find.
Tom
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Dave Mitsky
Postmaster
Reged: 04/08/02
Posts: 6628
Loc: PA, USA, Planet Earth
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Some of O'Meara's sketches have been described as being fanciful. I tend to agree.
Dave Mitsky
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Chance favors the prepared mind.
De gustibus non est disputandum.
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Carolyn
Carpal Tunnel
Reged: 09/17/03
Posts: 2061
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Hey Tom,
Take a look at Star Watch by Philip S. Harrington. It looks like a good way of learning where everything is and what to expect through the eyepiece.
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The inside of a pumpkin is where the universe went terribly wrong.
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Anonymous
Unregistered
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Hey Carolyn, I bought that one a few weeks back. I'm just now finishing "Nightwatch"...what a great book and I highly recommend it to anyone (along with the "Backyard Astronomers Guide")! Terrence Dickinson is so excited sometimes when he writes about certain aspects of astronomy and it is fun to read!
"Star Watch" is next!
Tom
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Starman1
Vendor - Scope City
Reged: 06/24/03
Posts: 11086
Loc: Los Angeles
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My two favorite Messier books:
"The Messier Album" by Mallas & Kreimer
"Messier's Nebulae & Star Clusters" by K.G.Jones
Jones' book is the better of the two.
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Don Pensack
12.5" Truss Dob, 5" Maksutov
Sustaining Lifetime IDA member, TeleVue junkie
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