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jmjones5112
newbie

Reged: 05/21/12

Book for Messier Objects
#5235943 - 05/23/12 03:36 PM

Hi everyone,
I have recently gotten interested in observing objects on Messier's list. Currently I am using the book "Turn Left at Orion." It's a great book, but doesn't include all of the Messier objects. I'm looking for a book that will include all of the objects on Messier's list, and gives the best information on how to find them. In your all's opinions what book would be best for this? "The Illustrated Guide to Astronomical Wonders: From Novice to Master Observer" has been recommended to me several times.

Thanks!

Post Extras:

buddyjesus
Carpal Tunnel

Reged: 07/07/10

Loc: Davison, Michigan

Re: Book for Messier Objects new

[Re: jmjones5112]
#5236019 - 05/23/12 04:23 PM

that is a great book for learning how to find many of them. To go beyond I think you are ready to get an atlas. I would recommend Objects in the Heavens or the Mag 7 star atlas(free download and a decent atlas for a beginner.)

Post Extras:

Tony Flanders
Postmaster

Reged: 05/18/06

Loc: Cambridge, MA, USA

Re: Book for Messier Objects new

[Re: jmjones5112]
#5236054 - 05/23/12 04:42 PM

I think most people would agree that the best book for actually finding the Messier objects is The Year-Round Messier Marathon Field Guide. I'd say it's a little weak on the science and observational detail once you've found them -- but certainly not terrible on either count.

There are several other Messier-specific guidebooks, each with its strengths and weaknesses. Or perhaps it would be more accurate to say each with its strengths and greater strengths. They're all of them pretty darned good.

I'd say that by the time you have a few dozen Messier objects under your belt, you don't really need all that much help with the navigational and logistic aspects. All you really need to find any of them -- or any other object, for that matter -- is a good star atlas. Or the computerized equivalent.

Post Extras:

Jersey Star Man
sage

Reged: 05/08/10

Loc: Seaville, New Jersey

Re: Book for Messier Objects new

[Re: Tony Flanders]
#5236168 - 05/23/12 06:04 PM

Quote:

I think most people would agree that the best book for actually finding the Messier objects is The Year-Round Messier Marathon Field Guide.

Wow Tony.. what a great looking book. How many books is too many? My library of astronomy books just keeps growing.

Post Extras:

cloudmagnet
sage

Reged: 12/04/08

Loc: Georgetown, Texas

Re: Book for Messier Objects new

[Re: Jersey Star Man]
#5236172 - 05/23/12 06:08 PM

I like- "The Next Step- Finding and Viewing Messier Objects" by Ken Graun

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EJN
Pooh-Bah

Reged: 11/01/05

Loc: Highway 61

Re: Book for Messier Objects new

[Re: jmjones5112]
#5236182 - 05/23/12 06:17 PM

The Messier Album by John Mallas & Evered Kreimer.

Messier's Nebulae and Star Clusters by Kenneth Glyn Jones.

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desertstars

Reged: 11/05/03

Loc: Tucson, AZ

Re: Book for Messier Objects new

[Re: cloudmagnet]
#5236187 - 05/23/12 06:19 PM

Quote:

I like- "The Next Step- Finding and Viewing Messier Objects" by Ken Graun

I'll second Graun's book.. A very useful and complete guide, very handy for use scopeside. O'Meara's Deep Sky Companions: The Messier Objects is also worth considering.

Not so handy by the eyepiece but well worth owning is Atlas of the Messier Objects. This is my favorite book on the subject, these days.

Post Extras:

Rob E
Village......clown

Reged: 05/20/09

Loc: Where Independence Was Won

Re: Book for Messier Objects new

[Re: desertstars]
#5236192 - 05/23/12 06:23 PM

http://www.davidpaulgreen.com/tumol.html
The Ultimate Messier Object Log (TUMOL)
FREE!!!

Post Extras:

Curt B
sage

Reged: 08/02/05

Loc: Regina, Canada

Re: Book for Messier Objects new

[Re: jmjones5112]
#5236258 - 05/23/12 07:08 PM

Star Watch by Phil Harrington is an excellent book too.

Edited by Curt B (05/24/12 06:57 PM)

Post Extras:

Matt2003
Post Laureate

Reged: 04/22/10

Re: Book for Messier Objects new

[Re: Curt B]
#5236288 - 05/23/12 07:32 PM

Too many books on Astronomy? Never! I want a whole section out of the Library of Congress! ROFLOL
Seriously, this is a dated work, but the ultimate DSO classic is Burnham's Celestial Handbook ( 3 Volumes). Yes, its old. But its good & has more info than any 10 standard observing guides you can buy. All Messier's are covered, even the boo boos.

The Peterson Field Guide to Stars & Planets contains a star atlas, but is kind of hard to uactually use in the field. My working Atlas is S & T's Pocket Sky Atlas. A Must Have for anyone with a scope, especially newbies..

Clear Skies,
Matt

Post Extras:

la200o
Pooh-Bah

Reged: 09/09/08

Loc: SE Michigan, USA

Re: Book for Messier Objects new

[Re: Matt2003]
#5236485 - 05/23/12 10:45 PM

The Graun book has very easy-to-use charts. O'Meara and the big "Atlas of the Messier Objects" are nice books to have but not nearly as useful at the telescope. Graun's charts, based on geometric patterns, make most of the objects pretty easy to find for those not using goto or push-to mounts.

Bill

Post Extras:

buddyjesus
Carpal Tunnel

Reged: 07/07/10

Loc: Davison, Michigan

Re: Book for Messier Objects new

[Re: la200o]
#5236572 - 05/23/12 11:47 PM

doh! I forgot O'meara's the Messier Objects. It is precisely what you are looking for. A great album for amateur scopes.

Post Extras:

uniondrone
Carpal Tunnel

Reged: 12/05/09

Loc: Streetlight Archipelago

Re: Book for Messier Objects new

[Re: Tony Flanders]
#5237251 - 05/24/12 01:02 PM

Quote:

I think most people would agree that the best book for actually finding the Messier objects is The Year-Round Messier Marathon Field Guide.

I certainly agree with this statement. The Year Round Messier Marathon is easily the best book for learning to find the Messier objects quickly and easily. It has lots of great maps and helpful tips.

Quote:

O'Meara's Deep Sky Companions: The Messier Objects is also worth considering.

O'Meara's books are generally thoughtfully written, but I find his Messier book a bit lacking. Unlike his Herschel 400 guide, which I like a lot, his Messier book doesn't seem to be written for the observer so much as it is for the armchair picture book astronomer's coffee table. It has some nice photos and good general information about each object, but it doesn't provide much in the way of reference information for observers or tips and tactics for seeing them.

Post Extras:

droid
rocketman

Reged: 08/29/04

Loc: Conneaut, Ohio

Re: Book for Messier Objects new

[Re: Tony Flanders]
#5238473 - 05/25/12 07:10 AM

Quote:

I think most people would agree that the best book for actually finding the Messier objects is The Year-Round Messier Marathon Field Guide. I'd say it's a little weak on the science and observational detail once you've found them -- but certainly not terrible on either count.

There are several other Messier-specific guidebooks, each with its strengths and weaknesses. Or perhaps it would be more accurate to say each with its strengths and greater strengths. They're all of them pretty darned good.

I'd say that by the time you have a few dozen Messier objects under your belt, you don't really need all that much help with the navigational and logistic aspects. All you really need to find any of them -- or any other object, for that matter -- is a good star atlas. Or the computerized equivalent.

I agree with The Year-Round Messier Marathon Field Guide , for a beginning learning to find the messiers, it is a great start.
One note how ever....it is designed to be used with a telrad or similiar type zero power finder.So youll also need to add one of these to use the book to its best.

Post Extras:

Tony Flanders
Postmaster

Reged: 05/18/06

Loc: Cambridge, MA, USA

Re: Book for Messier Objects new

[Re: uniondrone]
#5238883 - 05/25/12 12:18 PM

Quote:

O'Meara's books are generally thoughtfully written, but I find his Messier book a bit lacking. Unlike his Herschel 400 guide, which I like a lot, his Messier book doesn't seem to be written for the observer so much as it is for the armchair picture book astronomer's coffee table. It has some nice photos and good general information about each object, but it doesn't provide much in the way of reference information for observers or tips and tactics for seeing them.

I don't see it quite like that. O'Meara simply assumes that you can find the objects -- which anybody can, once they have a little experience under their belt. Especially under dark skies.

Given that, one does wonder why the book has charts at all. Their fields aren't wide enough to use without an atlas, and if you have an atlas, why do you need the charts?

However, I find this book very much for observers. The photo-sketch pairs are superb, and O'Meara really pushes you to make the most of what you can see through the eyepiece. If you can't match O'Meara's observations through a 4-inch scope on your first try with your 8-inch scope -- which you probably won't -- then you can go back and try again, knowing what to look for.

Post Extras:

csrlice12
Post Laureate

Reged: 05/22/12

Loc: Denver, CO

Re: Book for Messier Objects new

[Re: jmjones5112]
#5238932 - 05/25/12 12:45 PM

I've found those free TelRad charts to be of great help in locating objects, and TelRads are cheap!

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desertstars

Reged: 11/05/03

Loc: Tucson, AZ

Re: Book for Messier Objects new

[Re: Tony Flanders]
#5238938 - 05/25/12 12:48 PM

I've always thought of the finder charts in the Deep Sky Companions books as aids in find the right spot on whatever chart or atlas you happen to use. Sort of a quick link between his book and your chart. Not strictly necessary, of course, but it does come in handy now and then.

Post Extras:

la200o
Pooh-Bah

Reged: 09/09/08

Loc: SE Michigan, USA

Re: Book for Messier Objects new

[Re: desertstars]
#5239596 - 05/25/12 07:39 PM

I have all four of the Deep Sky Companions series: Messier, Caldwell, Hidden Treasures, and Secret Deep. Obviously I like them or wouldn't keep buying them. But IMO they are for background reading, not for finding the objects; there are much smaller, simpler, handier books for that. I have the Herschel book too--much more a guide to finding stuff, but again, pretty big and clunky to use at the scope, unless you have an observatory.

Still, all are great books to have, and I hope O'Meara gets rich off 'em (he won't, alas).

Bill

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Scott in NC
Mad Hatter

Reged: 03/05/05

Loc: NC

Re: Book for Messier Objects new

[Re: la200o]
#5239599 - 05/25/12 07:44 PM

This is what I use: Finder Charts of the Messier Objects, a two-volume set of laminated, spiral-bound Telrad charts.

Post Extras:

csa/montana
Den Mama

Reged: 05/14/05

Loc: montana

Re: Book for Messier Objects new

[Re: cloudmagnet]
#5239694 - 05/25/12 08:39 PM

Quote:

I like- "The Next Step- Finding and Viewing Messier Objects" by Ken Graun

This is one of my favorites!

I also have & like very much, The Year-Round Messier Marathon Field Guide mentioned.

Post Extras:

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