EmeraldHills
sage
Reged: 11/26/06
Posts: 404
Loc: Louisville, Kentucky
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OK... so I liked O'Meara's "The Messier Objects." And I loved his "Hidden Treasures", so, with a hope, I ordered his Herschel 400 Observing Guide. What a great follow up to the Messier Objects book. To me, the Messier book is like O'Meara's astronomy 101... and Hidden Treasures is 102. The Hershel guide has to be 201 or more... but for some reason, I find it more compelling... more approachable. Maybe because it's a tad more concise on each object. (At 2am, on a cold November night, I pretty much just want him to cut to the chase, you know? :-) ) But I think it's more than that. This book is infinitely more of a *guide* than an encyclopedia. Everything about it from the fill-in-the-blank charts to the "Day 1", "Day 2", "Day 3" orientation, and even the easy-to-follow organization -- just screams, "Use me!" Suddenly, I feel as if I've been handed a treasure *map*. Thank you Steve. :-)
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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: 30022
Loc: Tucson, AZ
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Any truth to the rumor that you've just been named president of the Stephen James O'Meara fan club? 
 
By the way, you're costing me (or my relatives, if I can hold out 'till the holidays) a lot of money... 
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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
"If we don't change direction soon, we'll end up where we're going." Professor Irwin Corey
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DwightX
member
Reged: 08/13/07
Posts: 60
Loc: Kentucky
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Well, if Steve is Pres, then I'll be VP. Keep it a Kentucky thing! :-)
I think Messier Objects is one of the best astro books since Burnhams. Absolutely love it and would highly recommend it to anyone.
I've got Hidden & Herschel on my wishlist.
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Dwight
Orion XT8
Meade LXD55 SC-8
Celestron C4R and 8SE
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esd726
professor emeritus
Reged: 09/30/04
Posts: 731
Loc: Howe, IN
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I REALLY like the Herschel one but wish it could have been more along the lines of the other three. I know there are 4x as many objets than in just ONE of those but I just really liked the way they were done.
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No more scopes :-(
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EmeraldHills
sage
Reged: 11/26/06
Posts: 404
Loc: Louisville, Kentucky
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I'll admit -- it would make the "set" look nicer.
So since we haven't mentioned the "third" of the other "three", let's profile it next! :-) It's the Deep-Sky Companions: The Caldwell Objects
I'll start *that* thread (to keep up my fan club image). :-)
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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Couldn't agree more. I also like the H400 guide. Used it quite often, the last couple of months.
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Johan
Orion XT10
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John Flannery
sage
Reged: 12/03/04
Posts: 303
Loc: Dublin, Ireland
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Just got the book a few days ago and am looking forward to getting out there and a few clear nights soon  I remember Jay Reynolds Freeman writing in Sky and Telescope how he bagged all the Herschel objects in a 60mm refractor. The achivement has me mulling now over whether the 25x100mm binoculars will do the trick too (albeit, some stuff will appear "stellar").
atb,
John
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Oscail do Shuile D'iontas na Cruinne/Open Your Eyes to the Wonder of the Universe
Bliann Idirnáisiúnta Réalteolaíochta 2009/International Year of Astronomy 2009
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EmeraldHills
sage
Reged: 11/26/06
Posts: 404
Loc: Louisville, Kentucky
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I bet the binoculars in your avatar icon would bag them all right.
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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: 30022
Loc: Tucson, AZ
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First he has to find a proper mount for them.
Just to toss out an idea, to those of you currently reading and using these books, as far as I can recall his newer works have not been properly reviewed in the "other side" of CN. (Meaning the articles and review portion of the forum.)
In case I'm being too subtle, that's a hint...
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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
"If we don't change direction soon, we'll end up where we're going." Professor Irwin Corey
Edited by desertstars (11/09/07 10:22 AM)
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Nick Lloyd
Carpal Tunnel
Reged: 10/24/06
Posts: 1641
Loc: cincinnati
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Does the Herschel 400 have sketches for each object? I own Hidden Treasures, and really like this feature.
Does O'Meara continue the pirate theme in the Herschel 400 book? (I hope not...  )
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"The best scope is the one you use." -rcg
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desertstars
Deja moo
Reged: 11/05/03
Posts: 30022
Loc: Tucson, AZ
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Pirate theme? 
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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
"If we don't change direction soon, we'll end up where we're going." Professor Irwin Corey
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Nick Lloyd
Carpal Tunnel
Reged: 10/24/06
Posts: 1641
Loc: cincinnati
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Deep Sky Companion: Hidden Treasures. Have you looked through it? Chock full of swashbuckling metaphors and pirate/booty analogy. Don't ask me why...
So... does the Herschel 400 have sketches for each object?
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"The best scope is the one you use." -rcg
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JohanK
super member
Reged: 05/21/07
Posts: 163
Loc: Ghent, Belgium
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Quote:
So... does the Herschel 400 have sketches for each object?
No. Only "Digitized Sky Survey" pictures. The main purpose of the book is to help you *find* all the objects in an organized way.
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Johan
Orion XT10
Edited by JohanK (12/05/07 06:40 AM)
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Nick Lloyd
Carpal Tunnel
Reged: 10/24/06
Posts: 1641
Loc: cincinnati
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Thank you.
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"The best scope is the one you use." -rcg
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