EmeraldHills
sage
Reged: 11/26/06
Posts: 404
Loc: Louisville, Kentucky
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OK... I'll admit: I'm a shameless fan of Stephen J. O'Meara. Anybody who starts visiting their nearest university observatory as a 14-year-old deserves some attention. So tell me: Is "Hidden Treasures" as good as his Messier book, from the same "Deep Sky Companions" series? The Messier book is probably my most often consulted guide when I'm looking at M objects.
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Doug L. -- Celestron CPC800 GPS (XLT)
Denkmeier "Shorty" PowerSwitch / Tele Vue 32mm Plossl, 12mm Nagler Type 4, 9mm Nagler Type 6
DewBuster / Dew-not heater setup -- Bushnell 8x56 Trophy binoculars
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desertstars
Deja moo
Reged: 11/05/03
Posts: 30032
Loc: Tucson, AZ
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I've only looked through it briefly in a bookstore so far, but it certainly looks promising. I especially like the use of sketches all the way through it. The sketches strike me as more straightforward than those of the Messier book.
One thing I can tell you, this book is much larger and heavier than the Messier book. Imagine both the Messier and Caldwell volumes stuffed between a single set of covers.
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Tom W.
SVP8 'She turned me into a 3-legged Newt' EQ
Ralph, the All-Purpose 102mm Refractor
Under the Desert Stars
Alcohol and calculus do not mix. Please don't drink and derive.
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Chris Z
super member
Reged: 03/24/04
Posts: 112
Loc: Chicago, IL
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I bought both hidden treasuers and the new herschel 400 book. Hidden treasurers is definitly a value. There is a fair amount of background on each object, which I really enjoy and I really can't understand why the price is so low. It is a big book. I've hardly opened the herschel 400 book, but am wondering how he fit 400 objects in a book that is significantly smaller than HT.
Chris
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Orion SVP 120mm f8.3
Obsession 12.5" f5
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deepsky
sage
Reged: 12/04/05
Posts: 210
Loc: oregon
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If you enjoy Stephen J. O'Meara's writings, run don't walk to buy this book. 
This is a Major book, definitely on level with his Messiers and Caldwell efforts.
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jim jackson
Astroleague Observer Award junkie
Messier Club-Honorary
Lunar Club
Binocular Messier Club
Double Star Club
Herschel 400 Club
Urban Observing Club
Deep Sky Binocular Club
Caldwell Club Silver&Gold
Southern Sky Binocular Club
Southern Sky Telescopic Club
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edwincjones
Post Laureate
Reged: 04/10/04
Posts: 4423
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Quote:
If you enjoy Stephen J. O'Meara's writings, run don't walk to buy this book.
This is a Major book, definitely on level with his Messiers and Caldwell efforts.
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n w arkansas
Binocular, Solar, General Amateur Astronomy
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David A Rodger
sage
Reged: 08/12/03
Posts: 393
Loc: North Vancouver, BC, Canada
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Yes, definitely a good book. I have all four of his recent books, and I admire his knowledge and ability to explain and express very much.
Being originally from the Canadian province of Saskatchewan, and having subsequently lived in Alberta before moving to BC 40 years ago (I really, really love the rain here), I couldn't help noticing a minor error in the text about Father Lucien Kemble, discoverer of the eponymous "Cascade," on page 114: "sweeping the skies above his home in Saskatchewan (Alberta, Canada)."
Intrepidly, I wrote the author and explained that what he had written was the equivalent of saying, "his home in Arizona (California, USA)." Steve wrote back immediately and acknowledged the error. He said it originated in his update of Scotty Houston's "Deep Sky Wonders," where that author said Father Kemble was from Alberta, but that further research (by O'Meara) indicated that he was from Saskatchewan.
On further investigation, following my correspondence with another well-known astronomy writer, Alan Dyer, I realized that Steve was right. It just wasn't shown correctly in Hidden Treasures. Father Kemble had, indeed, lived and observed in both provinces. I had thought he was strictly a Saskatchewan observer.
It's a great book and will provide deep sky observers with many attractive hidden treasure discoveries.
DAR
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Orion Intelliscope 12
Orion 100mm ED refractor
Tele Vue NP-127 refractor
Celestron CPC 1100 SCT
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gparkerson
Vendor (Astronomy Technology Today)
Reged: 01/21/05
Posts: 962
Loc: Louisiana
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Doug,
I've been working my way through it as time allows since picking up a copy at NEAF in April. In sum, I can think of few investments that have provided more enjoyment for less money.
I agree with Jim. The sooner you buy a copy, the sooner you'll be enjoying it.
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Gary
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EmeraldHills
sage
Reged: 11/26/06
Posts: 404
Loc: Louisville, Kentucky
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Cool! You've sold me. Thanks for the feedback.
Doug
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Doug L. -- Celestron CPC800 GPS (XLT)
Denkmeier "Shorty" PowerSwitch / Tele Vue 32mm Plossl, 12mm Nagler Type 4, 9mm Nagler Type 6
DewBuster / Dew-not heater setup -- Bushnell 8x56 Trophy binoculars
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JohanK
super member
Reged: 05/21/07
Posts: 163
Loc: Ghent, Belgium
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How many of those hidden treasures are visible from 51 degrees north?
ps: I like the H400 guide, I use it alot.
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deepsky
sage
Reged: 12/04/05
Posts: 210
Loc: oregon
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Quote:
How many of those hidden treasures are visible from 51 degrees north?
For our Northern friends: taking -30 degrees south Dec as the cut-off......
87/109 would be visible
One mild complaint I have of the list is, as he viewed from Hawaii (20 degrees N latitude), some on the list are also not visible from "mid-latitude" sites in the U.S. 
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jim jackson
Astroleague Observer Award junkie
Messier Club-Honorary
Lunar Club
Binocular Messier Club
Double Star Club
Herschel 400 Club
Urban Observing Club
Deep Sky Binocular Club
Caldwell Club Silver&Gold
Southern Sky Binocular Club
Southern Sky Telescopic Club
Edited by deepsky (10/22/07 07:36 PM)
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EmeraldHills
sage
Reged: 11/26/06
Posts: 404
Loc: Louisville, Kentucky
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Found "Hidden Treasures" at
https://www.strandbooks.com
for a ridiculously low price. ($27; but I just checked; I must have gotten the last one. However, just found it at $32:
http://www.textbookx.com/product_detail.php?upc=9780521837040&type=book&affiliate=froogle
Also ordered the H400 (at retail - on Amazon). :-(
There goes the book budget for this month. :-)
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Doug L. -- Celestron CPC800 GPS (XLT)
Denkmeier "Shorty" PowerSwitch / Tele Vue 32mm Plossl, 12mm Nagler Type 4, 9mm Nagler Type 6
DewBuster / Dew-not heater setup -- Bushnell 8x56 Trophy binoculars
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HfxObserver
professor emeritus
Reged: 11/12/04
Posts: 624
Loc: Waterloo ON, Canada
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I'm 2/3 though hidden treasures and it is VERY good. I've looked at his Messier book but it didn't stir anything in me that made me want to buy it but hidden treasures is different and he goes into detail on objects not covered elsewhere.
I also noticed the error, Sask vs Alberta, here in Ontario we have London, Paris, Heidelberg etc. lol...at least O'Meara was trying to be specific.
I highly recommend this text...heavy though it may be.
-Chris
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Chris
7X50 Vixen,22X100 Antares
80mm William Optics Megrez II ED
Santel MK6
Borg 125SD f6 (Pentax/Oasis version)
Tak-Lapides
Pentax XW's 40,20,14,10,3.5 3.8XP, Speers 5-8, 30mm Widescan III
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bicparker
Pooh-Bah
Reged: 02/07/05
Posts: 1438
Loc: Plano, TX
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Don't miss the ending.. namely...
Barbara Wilson's contribution to that book on Caroline Herschel is absolutely wonderful. That alone made the book worth it.
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Bic Parker
17.5" f/5 dob
10" f/10 SCT
5" f/8 refractor
80mm f/6 refractor
66mm f/6 refractor
Plus a few others out of the rotation
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desertstars
Deja moo
Reged: 11/05/03
Posts: 30032
Loc: Tucson, AZ
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I was just told by my wife that her father is stumped for Holiday gift ideas for your's truly.
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Tom W.
SVP8 'She turned me into a 3-legged Newt' EQ
Ralph, the All-Purpose 102mm Refractor
Under the Desert Stars
Alcohol and calculus do not mix. Please don't drink and derive.
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dgs©
Postmaster
Reged: 03/29/04
Posts: 13903
Loc: West Monroe, Louisiana
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So, y'all are saying this book is pretty good then, right?
I haven't gotten my copy yet but expect to order one soon.
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- david
8"Ø Newtonian on SVP, Moonlite CR2, Telrad
PST Oberwerk Ultra 15x70 Orion Ultraview 10×50
Hand-me-down Sears Refractor (Discoverer) 60mm×900mm
"What we have done for ourselves alone dies with us; what we have done for others and the world, remains and is immortal." --Albert Pike
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EmeraldHills
sage
Reged: 11/26/06
Posts: 404
Loc: Louisville, Kentucky
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Mine shipped out today. :-)
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Doug L. -- Celestron CPC800 GPS (XLT)
Denkmeier "Shorty" PowerSwitch / Tele Vue 32mm Plossl, 12mm Nagler Type 4, 9mm Nagler Type 6
DewBuster / Dew-not heater setup -- Bushnell 8x56 Trophy binoculars
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EmeraldHills
sage
Reged: 11/26/06
Posts: 404
Loc: Louisville, Kentucky
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Whoa. It arrived. Love it. O'Meara has done us all a favor. I believe the new Hidden Treasures list of 109 objects...
HT1, HT2, HT3, etc....
Will become a long-term list in the stable with the likes of Messier.
Wonder if he reads CloudyNights. :-)
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Doug L. -- Celestron CPC800 GPS (XLT)
Denkmeier "Shorty" PowerSwitch / Tele Vue 32mm Plossl, 12mm Nagler Type 4, 9mm Nagler Type 6
DewBuster / Dew-not heater setup -- Bushnell 8x56 Trophy binoculars
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johnfdean
professor emeritus
Reged: 06/04/06
Posts: 569
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Thanks for the comments on Hidden Treasures. I will be ordering it.
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Celestron C6 f/5 by Vixen with Polaris GEM
14" Tscope dob f/4.7 with Argo Navis
80mm Nighthawk on Eq 2
Celestron C-4 f/10 GEM
Sky Scout
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EmeraldHills
sage
Reged: 11/26/06
Posts: 404
Loc: Louisville, Kentucky
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Sorry - I must have the O'Meara bug. See my thread on the Herschel 400 Observing Guide. :-) It's even better.
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Doug L. -- Celestron CPC800 GPS (XLT)
Denkmeier "Shorty" PowerSwitch / Tele Vue 32mm Plossl, 12mm Nagler Type 4, 9mm Nagler Type 6
DewBuster / Dew-not heater setup -- Bushnell 8x56 Trophy binoculars
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DeepSpaceTour
Post Laureate
Reged: 10/25/05
Posts: 3023
Loc: In the dark and"WAY"out there!
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I couldn't resist I just ordered "Hidden Treasures" has anyone used the book out in the field,it sounds like a very interesting book,I just wonder how it is to work with in the field,is it usable,or is it best to plot or transfer the objects onto a proper sky atlas,before going out observing???
Clear skies.
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Bill
-17.5"F/5 Discovery TD /Dob driver/ArgoNavis
Kendrick dew control/Obsession Alt bearings
-Antares 152-F/6.5 refractor on HEQ-5 Pro
-25x100 Binos
-15x70 Binos
-Collimating tools "LOTS"
- TV ep's *8-Ethos*13-Ethos*31T-5*
- 2" Barlows
- Pelican1600
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