desertstars
Deja moo
Reged: 11/05/03
Posts: 30057
Loc: Tucson, AZ
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I've heard folks refering to this publication of the Royal Astronomical Society of Canada ever since I returned to stargazing, but the 2008 edition is the first I've ever picked up.
That thing must have the highest ratio of information to dollars spent of any astronomy book I've ever purchased. Talk about density!  Not always the easiest read - beginners should take a deep breath before plunging in, but by all means do so. It's part of how you work up from beginner status, after all.
The '08 edition may be the first for me, but it won't be the last.
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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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~Steph~
Texas Wildflower
Reged: 06/11/05
Posts: 21663
Loc: North Texas
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Linky?  
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Steph
10" RCX400 ~~ 4" TV102 ~~ WO ZS80FD ~~ PST
Serenity Observatory
HansenAstro | CN Member Websites
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desertstars
Deja moo
Reged: 11/05/03
Posts: 30057
Loc: Tucson, AZ
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I guess that might be of some use, eh?
http://www.rasc.ca/handbook/index.shtml
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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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~Steph~
Texas Wildflower
Reged: 06/11/05
Posts: 21663
Loc: North Texas
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Steph
10" RCX400 ~~ 4" TV102 ~~ WO ZS80FD ~~ PST
Serenity Observatory
HansenAstro | CN Member Websites
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Scott Regener
scholastic sledgehammer
Reged: 03/31/06
Posts: 849
Loc: SE Minnesota
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After reading the first several pages, I've decided to become a member of the RASC. Price just went up to $59, thanks to the cheap US dollar...
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Orion SkyQuest 4.5XT
Orion SkyQuest XT10i w/COL
Urban (red) skies
Limiting Mag 3.5-4.0 Average
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desertstars
Deja moo
Reged: 11/05/03
Posts: 30057
Loc: Tucson, AZ
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I've also heard good things about their periodicals. Let us know what you think of them when you have a chance.
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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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Scott Regener
scholastic sledgehammer
Reged: 03/31/06
Posts: 849
Loc: SE Minnesota
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If I understand the RASC's email to me, those who join before the end of January will receive *both* the 2008 and 2009 handbooks as part of their membership. Those who are members come October automatically receive the next year's handbook hot off the presses.
I got the 2008 copy in a deal through my club - we found 5 willing members and got a bulk discount. You can save dramatically if you order 5 copies instead of 4.
The log pages for the Messier certificate are worth checking out for anyone interested in such things: http://www.rasc.ca/im/observing/rascmessierforms.pdf
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Orion SkyQuest 4.5XT
Orion SkyQuest XT10i w/COL
Urban (red) skies
Limiting Mag 3.5-4.0 Average
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desertstars
Deja moo
Reged: 11/05/03
Posts: 30057
Loc: Tucson, AZ
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Nicely done... 
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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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John Flannery
sage
Reged: 12/03/04
Posts: 303
Loc: Dublin, Ireland
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Hi all,
I picked up a copy of the RASC Handbook about 2 years ago and was also very impressed by the content of the material. Lots to keep observers occupied over the course of the year and many useful tables and diagrams.
The amount of celestial almanacs on the market now is nothing short of phenomenal ... and welcome 
I know a number of clubs produce their own and over here, besides the British Astronomical Association annual Handbook, the Federation of Astronomical Societies also produce an observers guide. One of the Irish clubs also issue a sky diary for the casual sky watcher and Paul Money in the UK produces NightScenes, another very good publication. Astronomy Now, in addition to Sky and Telescope have a special issue annual sky guide (Astronomy now bundle theirs with the December edition in the prior year). The BBC's Sky at Night magazine had a pull-out astronomy calendar in December's issue.
Add to this mix Guy Ottewell's "Astronomical Calendar" each year and the Astronomical Almanac plus a huge range of wall and desk calendars and you will never be short of something to check for what's happening in the skies over the next year.
Did I leave anything out? 
Oh, yeah  ... there's a great few web sites out there which are labours of love by their authors. I'm thinking JPL's Space Calendar and Joe Orman's postings here of dates for your diary.
Have a Happy Christmas and a great '08 
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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o1d_dude
o1der than dirt
Reged: 10/03/07
Posts: 1444
Loc: The Big Tomato, California
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Thanks for pointing out the 2008 Handbook, Tom. I've been a fan of the RASC website and their materials for some time but missed the Handbook somehow.
Now all I have to do is talk to my club to see if I can drum up some interest. The group discount is a nice touch. Thanks for calling that out, Scott.
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Kit
"There's only two things that excite a man, expensive toys and real expensive toys." - Red Green
* A bunch of old ATM stuff that cost me next to nothing
* A bunch of new commercial stuff that cost me an arm and a leg
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Peter Argenziano
Watcher of the Skies
Reged: 11/11/03
Posts: 2813
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One of my clubs has been making a bulk purchase of the books for years. We typically order 40 or 50 copies and sell them for $20. Members get a deal and the club makes a couple bucks too.
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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.
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desertstars
Deja moo
Reged: 11/05/03
Posts: 30057
Loc: Tucson, AZ
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I need to see if I can get the TAAA to do something like that...
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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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LivingNDixie
Lord of Ferrets
Reged: 04/23/03
Posts: 15799
Loc: Hoover, AL
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That is a great book.
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Preston
Celestron 11" Nexstar GPS XLT
Lunt LS60T/Ha 60mm f/8.33 (on order)
It’s not finishing something when your tank is empty that makes you a stronger person. It’s brushing yourself off and refacing the foe that defeated you with the same determination and willingness to fight that you had when you began your journey.
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desertstars
Deja moo
Reged: 11/05/03
Posts: 30057
Loc: Tucson, AZ
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Yup. And it just became an annual expense for me.
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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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o1d_dude
o1der than dirt
Reged: 10/03/07
Posts: 1444
Loc: The Big Tomato, California
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I just spotted the RASC Handbook 2008 at the Orion website.
Priced at $24.95 and you can find it here. (link sanitized to prevent personal information leakage)
Edit: Amazon also has a listing for it but you must sign up to be notified when it becomes available.
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Kit
"There's only two things that excite a man, expensive toys and real expensive toys." - Red Green
* A bunch of old ATM stuff that cost me next to nothing
* A bunch of new commercial stuff that cost me an arm and a leg
Edited by o1d_dude (01/03/08 11:10 AM)
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desertstars
Deja moo
Reged: 11/05/03
Posts: 30057
Loc: Tucson, AZ
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I picked mine up at my local astronomy shop, along with the RASC calendar, another very worthwhile item. I was sorry to see that S&T wasn't putting out a calender this year, but truth be told, I think the one sold by RASC is a better product.
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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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Magellan
professor emeritus
Reged: 01/26/06
Posts: 518
Loc: Dartmouth, NS Canada
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I am a Member of the Halifax RASC, great club, periodicals and agree that the Handbook is a great tool filled with alot of great information.
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Jeff D
Coulter Odyssey 2 8" Dobsonian
Celestron Nexstar 102SLT
Antares EQ-5 Mount
Celestron Skymaster 15x70
Messier Certificate Count: 71/110
St. Croix Observatory RASC-Halifax
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astropup
sage
Reged: 12/12/05
Posts: 423
Loc: Ann Arbor, MI
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I really enjoy this Handbook along with Guy Ottewell's "Astronomical Calendar". This is my third year for both and I plan on making them a yearly purchase.
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DBA Deep Space Observer 10" f/5 (GSO Dob)
Meade 114/500 4.5" f/8 Reflector
PST
Celestron Skymaster 15x70mm
Oberwerk 8x56mm
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