Light_Years_743
member
Reged: 01/18/11
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Backyard Astronomer's Guide
#5500254 - 11/02/12 12:34 AM
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Just bought this beautiful hard-covered book
who else owns it?
web page
Edited by Light_Years_743 (11/02/12 12:35 AM)
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okieav8r
Carpal Tunnel
Reged: 03/01/09
Loc: Oklahoma!
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Re: Backyard Astronomer's Guide
[Re: Light_Years_743]
#5500453 - 11/02/12 06:33 AM
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I've owned each edition since it first came out, and have given it as a gift to friends who have gotten into the hobby. It's an excellent resource that will serve you well for years. It's been a long time since I looked at the web page though.
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jsiska
professor emeritus
Reged: 07/12/06
Loc: NW Ohio
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Re: Backyard Astronomer's Guide
[Re: okieav8r]
#5501569 - 11/02/12 08:54 PM Attachment (35 downloads)
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I have two editions:
The white cover one is the Copyright 1991 – 4th printing 1994 (updated)
The Dark cover with M31 on the cover is the Revised Edition Copyright 2002.
Both are very different from each other in that having both copies do not have as much duplication as other books may have when the author offers a new edition. This is nice because each actually complements each other. I’m not sure how much difference there are in newer editions compared to my 2002 edition. I read them years ago; however; I still occasionally refer to them and would not relish the thought of not having them in my library.
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C_Moon
Pooh-Bah
Reged: 10/23/09
Loc: Virginia
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Re: Backyard Astronomer's Guide
[Re: jsiska]
#5503083 - 11/03/12 10:07 PM
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I really do think this is the absolute best resource for someone starting out in the hobby. So much of the confusion, fear and angst frequently found in the beginners forum could be avoided, and a lot of money on "non-optimal" purchases could be saved, just by reading it.
I'd also add that, after three very active years in the hobby myself, I still find it quite useful.
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turtle86
Pooh-Bah Everywhere Else
Reged: 10/09/06
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Re: Backyard Astronomer's Guide
[Re: C_Moon]
#5503122 - 11/03/12 10:33 PM
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It's a great reference that has helped me a lot.
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faackanders2
Pooh-Bah
Reged: 03/28/11
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Re: Backyard Astronomer's Guide
[Re: turtle86]
#5504000 - 11/04/12 02:15 PM
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Have 2nd and tird editions,
With so many 100 AFOV eyepieces, may be due for another edition.
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Alan French
Night Owl
Reged: 01/28/05
Loc: Upstate NY
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Re: Backyard Astronomer's Guide
[Re: faackanders2]
#5505229 - 11/05/12 10:49 AM
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I agree. This is the single best investment for anyone starting out in the hobby. Coming in a close second is Dickinson's "Nightwatch," which isn't quite as detailed, but does have the advantage of some nice charts of good objects for the beginner.
Clear skies, Alan
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csa/montana
Den Mama
Reged: 05/14/05
Loc: montana
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Re: Backyard Astronomer's Guide
[Re: jsiska]
#5505328 - 11/05/12 11:57 AM
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Quote:
The white cover one is the Copyright 1991
That's the copy I have; got it when I first started observing! Nice book with lots of information.
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Starman1
Vendor (EyepiecesEtc.com)
Reged: 06/24/03
Loc: Los Angeles
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Re: Backyard Astronomer's Guide
[Re: csa/montana]
#5505577 - 11/05/12 03:11 PM
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I think this wonderful book by Dickinson and Dyer is, essentially, the owner's manual that should be distributed with all telescopes.
It is always my #1 recommendation for anybody newer than a year to astronomy.
This is THE book for beginners--from Firefly Books.
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stevecoe
"Astronomical Tourist"
Reged: 04/24/04
Loc: Arizona, USA
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Re: Backyard Astronomer's Guide
[Re: Starman1]
#5507792 - 11/07/12 12:51 AM
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Like Don, I have recommended this book many times and have been thanked by people in the novice group of the Saguaro Astronomy Club for recommending it. Lots of great info and well written.
Steve Coe
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Daniel Mounsey
Vendor - Celestron
Reged: 06/12/02
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Re: Backyard Astronomer's Guide
[Re: jsiska]
#5507865 - 11/07/12 02:31 AM
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1st edition is best. The latest editions have too many politics.
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Tony Flanders
Postmaster
Reged: 05/18/06
Loc: Cambridge, MA, USA
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Re: Backyard Astronomer's Guide
[Re: Alan French]
#5507943 - 11/07/12 05:43 AM
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Quote:
I agree. This is the single best investment for anyone starting out in the hobby. Coming in a close second is Dickinson's "Nightwatch," which isn't quite as detailed, but does have the advantage of some nice charts of good objects for the beginner.
For someone who wants an overview of every aspect of the hobby, The Backyard Astronomer's Guide has no rival. For someone with a more casual interest -- who might be daunted by the BAG's size and technical depth -- Nightwatch covers the essentials in a very accessible format.
They're both great books.
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RobertED
Carpal Tunnel
Reged: 07/11/03
Loc: Johnston, RI
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Re: Backyard Astronomer's Guide
[Re: Tony Flanders]
#5508186 - 11/07/12 10:53 AM
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 I love this manual!! It's a great and very useful book, especially for the novice!! Politics, or not, I enjoy the "updatedness"...(what, NOT a word???...lol...)of the later issues, but it seems to need an update every year and a half, because of the rapid and glorious changes in the hobby!!!! 
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stevecoe
"Astronomical Tourist"
Reged: 04/24/04
Loc: Arizona, USA
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Re: Backyard Astronomer's Guide
[Re: RobertED]
#5510869 - 11/08/12 11:48 PM
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Daniel;
May I know what kind of "politics" are invovled in this book?
Steve Coe
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