|
Ken....
Pooh-Bah
Reged: 01/22/04
Posts: 1005
Loc: Nashua, NH, USA
|
|
Now out of print, I see this book go for hundreds of dollars used. What's so special about it? I am aware of the author's argument of using higher magnification for dim extended objects, a concept he refers to as Optimum Magnified Visual Angle (OMVA), but is that it?
--------------------
Ken....
Discovery 10"
|
Peter Argenziano
Watcher of the Skies
Reged: 11/11/03
Posts: 2811
|
|
For DSO lovers, it is a very good book. I have enjoyed reading it.
That being said, I would never pay hundreds of dollars for a copy. I bought mine for $60 shipped via an AM wanted ad. That was as high as I was willing to go.
This book, like Rukl's Atlas of the Moon (before the current version), go up in price because they are out of print and the folks selling them believe they can get their price. There must be people willing to pay it... not me, though.
--------------------
Peter
14.5" Starmaster
I hail from the explosive jetsam of a multitude of high-mass stars that died more than 5 billion years ago.
|
Tom Trusock
Reged: 02/26/02
Posts: 27390
Loc: Alternate Reality (TM)
|
|
I sold my first version for $120 (bought new for retail - around $29) years ago when I needed cash for another toy, and have regretted it ever since. So recently, I bought one back for $110. Net payment for the book - $19.
Just another way to look at it. 
I think there are some minor issues with how he develops his formulae, but by and large it's an excellent look that takes a very different look at "best visibility".
T
--------------------
There are two theories to arguing with my wife. Neither one works.
|
Starman1
Vendor - Scope City
Reged: 06/24/03
Posts: 10956
Loc: Los Angeles
|
|
The sample clusters to determine limiting magnitude are priceless.
His discussions of contrast threshold are among the best in print. Likewise his discussion of human vision.
And, his sample list of DSOs is a good one.
There are errors: he lists the brightness of a dark country sky as 24.4 magnitudes per square arc-second, when 22.0 is generally considered accurate by professionals; his discussions of limiting magnitude are also dated--Schafer's studies are more modern and reveal the intense conservatism of earlier estimates, like Clark's.
But overall, it's a very good book to have in your library.
At over $100, though, I'd have to think long and hard about its necessity in my library.
--------------------
Don Pensack
12.5" Truss Dob, 5" Maksutov
Sustaining Lifetime IDA member, TeleVue junkie
|
helpwanted
Carpal Tunnel
Reged: 07/04/07
Posts: 1757
Loc: Phoenix, AZ
|
|
i had this book, and sold it long ago when i got out of the hobby, after seeing the prices on Amazon, i wish i kept it!
anybody care to summarize the book, and talk about his formulas?
thanks,
david
--------------------
|
Scott Regener
scholastic sledgehammer
Reged: 03/31/06
Posts: 840
Loc: SE Minnesota
|
|
A quick check of the Minnesota Interlibrary Loan system shows two copies available. You might want to check the library system in your own state to evaluate a copy. Then you can decide if it's worth owning a copy at current prices.
--------------------
Orion SkyQuest 4.5XT
Orion SkyQuest XT10i w/COL
Urban (red) skies
Limiting Mag 3.5-4.0 Average
|
desertstars
Deja moo
Reged: 11/05/03
Posts: 30020
Loc: Tucson, AZ
|
|
Quote:
i had this book, and sold it long ago when i got out of the hobby, after seeing the prices on Amazon, i wish i kept it!
anybody care to summarize the book, and talk about his formulas?
thanks,
david
This might give you a taste: http://www.clarkvision.com/visastro/omva1/
--------------------
Tom W.
SVP8 'She turned me into a 3-legged Newt' EQ
Ralph, the All-Purpose 102mm Refractor
Under the Desert Stars
"If we don't change direction soon, we'll end up where we're going." Professor Irwin Corey
|
|
2 registered and 1 anonymous users are browsing this forum.
Moderator: desertstars, ~Steph~
Print Thread
|
Forum Permissions
You cannot start new topics
You cannot reply to topics
HTML is disabled
UBBCode is enabled
|
Thread views: 814
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Previous
Index
Next
Threaded
Edit
Reply
Quote
