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achaios
member
Reged: 05/06/08
Posts: 26
Loc: Alexandria, VA
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After reading reviews, I went with some Orion Resolux 7x50's. They're on the way. I've noticed several books for sale about binocular astronomy. Any recommendations, for or against?
Thanks,
-- Tom K.
Update: If I had looked harder, I would have found that there was a thread that covered this. Sorry for wasting your time.
-- Tom K.
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Coronado MaxScope 40/BF5, Coronado Binomites 10x25
Meade 8" SCT, Celestron C90
Eagle Optics Platinum Ranger 8x42, Orion Resolux 7x50, Celestron 15x70, Konus 16x50, Traq 7x35, Bushnell 8x21, Jason 10x50
Too many other doohickeys to list
Collector of ancient coins, specializing in the Seleukid Empire
Edited by achaios (05/08/08 12:51 PM)
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BobinKy
scholastic sledgehammer
Reged: 04/27/07
Posts: 884
Loc: Country road
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Tom K--
Yes, there is a thread or two. However, here are my favorite books for binocular astronomy. I would begin with Flannery's Observing Guide because its free and he is a Cloudy Nights regular, Tirion's Cambridge Star Atlas which is perfect for binocular observing, as well as his DeepMap 600 folding star map, and Chandler's Plainisphere to determine where and when to find stars and objects in the sky. Many of Chandler's products are a nice introduction for children and adults with limited astronomy experience.
Beyond that, let your eye and your pocketbook be your conscience.
Here is my complete list.
Observing Guides Chandler, David. Exploring the Night Sky with Binoculars. (Springfield, CA: David Chandler Co., 2005).
Cherrington, Ernest H., Jr. Exploring the Moon Through Binoculars and Small Telescopes. (New York: Dover Publications, 1969, 1984).
Crossen, Craig and Wil Tirion. Binocular Astronomy. (Richmond, VA: Willmann-Bell, 1992).
Flannery, John. Binocular Certificate Handbook: How to See 110 Extraordinary Celestial Sights with an Ordinary Pair of Binoculars. (Dublin, Ireland: South Dublin Astronomical Society, 2004).
Harrington, Philip S. Touring the Universe through Binoculars: A Complete Astronomer's Guidebook. (Hoboken, NJ: John Wiley & Sons, 1990).
Harrington, Philip S. Star Watch: The Amateur Astronomer's Guide to Finding, Observing, and Learning about Over 125 Celestial Objects. (Hoboken, NJ: John Wiley & Sons, 2003).
Kozak, John T. Deep-Sky Objects for Binoculars. (Cambridge, MA: Sky Publishing Corp., 1988).
Moore, Patrick. Exploring the Night Sky with Binoculars, 4th ed. (New York: Cambridge University Press, 2000).
Muirden, James. Astronomy with Binoculars: A Practical Guide to Observing the Skies. (New York: Arco Publishing Co., 1985).
Peltier, Leslie C. The Binocular Stargazer: A Beginner's Guide to Exploring the Sky. (Waukesha, WI: Kalmbach Publishing Co., 1995).
Seronik, Gary. Binocular Highlights: 99 Celestial Sights for Binocular Users. (Cambridge, MA: New Track Media, 2006). Star AtlasesChandler, David S. and Billie E. Chandler. Sky Atlas for Small Telescopes and Binoculars: The Beginner's Guide to Successful Deep Sky Observing. (Springfield, CA: David Chandler Co., 2000).
Chandler, David. The Night Sky: The Original 2-Sided Planisphere. (Springfield, CA: David Chandler Co., n.d.).
Crinklaw, Greg. SkyTools 2. [Observation Planning Software]. (Cloudcroft, NM: Skyhound, Ver. 3 in beta testing).
Sinnott, Roger W. Pocket Sky Atlas. (Cambridge, MA: Sky Publishing Corp., 2006).
Tirion, Wil. The Cambridge Star Atlas, 3rd ed. (New York: Cambridge University Press, 2001).
Tirion, Wil and Roger W. Sinnott. SkyAtlas 2000.0, 2nd ed. [Six versions]. (Cambridge, MA: Sky Publishing Corp., 1998).
Tirion, Will and Brian Skiff. Bright Star Atlas 2000.0. (Richmond, VA: Willmann-Bell, n.d.).
Tirion, Will. DeepMap 600: The Deep-Sky "Road Map" for Amateur Astronomers. (Santa Cruz, CA: Orion Telescopes & Binoculars, 1999).
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Bob
38° Kentucky, USA
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mttafire
Pooh-Bah
Reged: 02/02/06
Posts: 1114
Loc: midwest
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IMHO, Nightwatch is by FAR the best Astronomy book out there.
Period.
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God Bless America
Binocular astronomy
for me ONLY.
8x45 Garretts
15x70 Skymasters
2 eyes!
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EdZ
Professor EdZ
Reged: 02/15/02
Posts: 12158
Loc: Cumberland, R I , USA42N71.4W
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Of those mentioned above I would recommend
Crossen, Craig and Wil Tirion. Binocular Astronomy. (Richmond, VA: Willmann-Bell, 1992).
Chandler, David. The Night Sky: The Original 2-Sided Planisphere. (Springfield, CA: David Chandler Co., n.d.).
Sinnott, Roger W. Pocket Sky Atlas. (Cambridge, MA: Sky Publishing Corp., 2006).
I would add:
Celestial Sampler, 60 Small Scope Tours for Starlit Nights, Sue French
When you are at the point you need a serious atlas to find detail detail,
Sky Atlas 2000.0, Deluxe edtion, large scale star charts to mag 9.
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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jrw11
sage
Reged: 06/09/07
Posts: 492
Loc: U.S.A.
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I would also include as an Atlas program.....
http://www.philharrington.net/tuba.htm
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Celestron C6n -HD Reflector
dual axis drive motors added
Orion 80mm Short tube refractor
Skyscout
Early 70's Pentax 7x50
Garrett Optical 12x60
Garrett Optical 15x70
Oberwerk 20x80 Standards
Canon Rebel Ti (film)
4 Minolta Srt cameras
Mamiya RB67 Pro-s with 180 lens
127mm KL lens for RB, Bellows hood for RB67
120 and 220 film backs
over 50 other film cameras
several eyepieces
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taffy
super member
Reged: 01/22/08
Posts: 124
Loc: Somerset UK
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I found Exploring the Night Sky with Binoculars by Patrick Moore a great book to start of with, also a planisphere and small red light torch.
taffy
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skywatcher 130pm x 900mm reflector
7x50,10x50 binoculars
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achaios
member
Reged: 05/06/08
Posts: 26
Loc: Alexandria, VA
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Thanks for the help. I'll look into some of these books.
And to everyone in the mid-atlantic states, I apologize for getting new binoculars and threatening to take my H-alpha telescope outside, resulting in the torrential downpours we've been getting. 
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Coronado MaxScope 40/BF5, Coronado Binomites 10x25
Meade 8" SCT, Celestron C90
Eagle Optics Platinum Ranger 8x42, Orion Resolux 7x50, Celestron 15x70, Konus 16x50, Traq 7x35, Bushnell 8x21, Jason 10x50
Too many other doohickeys to list
Collector of ancient coins, specializing in the Seleukid Empire
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kfred
Carpal Tunnel
Reged: 11/11/03
Posts: 1830
Loc: Dayton, Ohio
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My favorite would have to be Sky and Telescope's Binocular Highlights - excellent book!
Fred
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Trinity College - Cambridge England
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Charles Laird
member
Reged: 08/24/07
Posts: 93
Loc: Kerrville, Texas
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I am about 2/3 of the way through a binocular Messier with some 8 x 42 binos. Sky and Telescope's Pocket Sky Atlas is a very good very practical field atlas. It is very convienient to handle in the dark, tough as a boot and resistant to dew.
The 7 x 50 binos are excellent for learning your way around up there. They provide a nice wide field of view which really helps you to get your bearings and are not so powerful that they provide a confusing mass of stars to sort through. Since I am working on a Messier I really wish I had some 10 x 50s. However, I think the greater light grasp of your 50mm will be roughly equivalent to my 8 x 42s. Be aware though many deep sky objects will be very faint and it requires a little practice to see some of them.
Here is a digital rendition of a pencil sketch which is an excellent example of what you will be looking for.
http://www.cloudynights.com/ubbthreads/showflat.php/Cat/0/Number/2380774/page/0/view/collapsed/sb/5/o/all/fpart/1
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"Nothing is too wonderful to be true."
Michael Faraday
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edcannon
professor emeritus
Reged: 11/19/03
Posts: 663
Loc: Austin, Texas
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What's the latest opinion on CN user Stephen Tonkin's book, "Binocular Astronomy"?
http://www.astunit.com/publications/mybooks.htm
For use with small handheld binoculars I really really like Bright Star Atlas 2000 by Tirion and Skiff.
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Ed Cannon - Austin, Texas, USA
As of 23 August 2008 - Celestron Skymaster 12x60
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SkyG
member
Reged: 09/04/07
Posts: 34
Loc: London
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I agree with Fred - it was binocular highlights that got me back into astronomy on a holiday in Crete a year or so ago.
Couldn't recommend it enough.
G
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WO ZD66, Miyauchi Exceeds, besser 10x50, WW2 RAL 7x50s, ZEISS 10X50W Jenoptem
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KennyJ
Reged: 04/27/03
Posts: 9980
Loc: Lancashire UK
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< What's the latest opinion on CN user Stephen Tonkin's book, "Binocular Astronomy"? >
Hi Ed ,
I must have been one of the first people in the world to read Stephen's book , which I maintain is a MUST HAVE book about BINOCULARS .
That said , Stephen , who has probably forgotten more about ASTRONOMY than I will ever know , dedicated a generous section of the book to WHAT TO LOOK AT -- with many pages at the end of it , of " sketchy - type " / black on white charts relevant to the typical binocular's relatively low magnificaation / wide true field of view .
For ME - to make the book PERFECT , I wish those pages could be somehow magically converted to Wil Tirion style
coloured illustrations , at least FOUR TIMES larger in scale than what they appear in my pocket - sized edition .
I like the SKY MONTHLY publications , although mine are out of date right now .
Kenny
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Two eyes and a preference to use both
Zeiss 7 x 42 BGAT
Captain's Helmsman 7 x 50
Nikon 10 x 42 Superior E
Swift Audubon Kestrel 10 x 50
Helios 15 x 70 Observation
Strathspey 20 x 90
Televue 76 APO
Zeiss 85 Diascope
Helios 102 f5 refractor
Various eyepieces barlows tripods mounts etc.
Panasonic Lumix DMC - TZ5 digital camera
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Roadbike
member
Reged: 12/02/06
Posts: 67
Loc: Virginia, USA
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Touring the Universe Through Binoculars by Phil Harrington is an excellent introduction to binocular observation of the heavens. It has a lot of information and is presented by someone who clearly enjoys the hobby.
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achaios
member
Reged: 05/06/08
Posts: 26
Loc: Alexandria, VA
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I ended up getting "Touring the Universe Through Binoculars", and "Binocular Astronomy". While I was at the Willmann-Bell site, I also picked up "Star Clusters", which isn't really aimed at binocular astronomy, but it will go well with my Arp Atlas as a good reference. I also bought the "Sky & Telescope's Pocket Atlas" and "Sky Atlas 2000.0".
And, no, I don't expect to see anything in the "Arp Atlas of Peculiar Galaxies" in my binoculars...
-- Tom
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Coronado MaxScope 40/BF5, Coronado Binomites 10x25
Meade 8" SCT, Celestron C90
Eagle Optics Platinum Ranger 8x42, Orion Resolux 7x50, Celestron 15x70, Konus 16x50, Traq 7x35, Bushnell 8x21, Jason 10x50
Too many other doohickeys to list
Collector of ancient coins, specializing in the Seleukid Empire
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jrw11
sage
Reged: 06/09/07
Posts: 492
Loc: U.S.A.
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Quote:
Touring the Universe Through Binoculars by Phil Harrington is an excellent introduction to binocular observation of the heavens. It has a lot of information and is presented by someone who clearly enjoys the hobby.
I like it, too. That's why I put up the link to his software program.
--------------------
Celestron C6n -HD Reflector
dual axis drive motors added
Orion 80mm Short tube refractor
Skyscout
Early 70's Pentax 7x50
Garrett Optical 12x60
Garrett Optical 15x70
Oberwerk 20x80 Standards
Canon Rebel Ti (film)
4 Minolta Srt cameras
Mamiya RB67 Pro-s with 180 lens
127mm KL lens for RB, Bellows hood for RB67
120 and 220 film backs
over 50 other film cameras
several eyepieces
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