Product Description

A guidebook for beginning amateur astronomers, Turn Left at Orion provides all the information you need to observe the Moon, the planets and a whole host of celestial objects. Large format diagrams show these objects exactly as they appear in a small telescope and for each object there is information on the current state of our astronomical knowledge. Revised and updated, this new edition contains a chapter describing spectacular deep sky objects visible from the southern hemisphere, and tips on observing the upcoming transits of Venus. It also includes a discussion of Dobsonian telescopes, with hints on using personal computers and the internet as aids for planning an observing session. Unlike many guides to the night sky, this book is specifically written for observers using small telescopes. Clear and easy-to-use, this fascinating book will appeal to skywatchers of all ages and backgrounds. No previous knowledge of astronomy is needed.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #15129 in Books
• Published on: 2000-11-01
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Hardcover
• 224 pages

Review
‘Wonderful … it is one of those books about which you say, ‘If only I had something like this when I was a beginner‘.’ Journal of the Astronomical Society of the Pacific

‘This is a GREAT BOOK! … This book is unique, with easy, clear directions on how to find these celestial objects, the best conditions, and what you will see. Consolmagno and Davis do a terrific job.’ Colin Haig, Event Horizon, Hamilton (Ontario) Amateur Astronomers Newsletter

‘No telescope owner should be without this classic (now updated) amateur astronomy manual.’ Jamie Love, Science Explained

‘Turn Left at Orion has all the qualifications of a good beginner’s guidebook. It makes observing deep-sky objects easier, and most of the objects listed can be seen from the city. More importantly, it makes observing FUN!’ Kathy Anderson, The Reflector, The Astronomical League Newsletter

‘Turn Left at Orion is the most user friendly field guide I have ever come across.’ The Eyepiece, Neville (Wisconsin) Public Museum Astronomical Society

‘When and if you buy that first telescope, you should get Turn Left at Orion’ . Battle Point Astronomical Association, Bainbridge Island, Washington

‘If you have difficulty finding objects, perhaps the person who gave you the telescope forgot to give you a good set of star maps. I’d recommend Turn Left at Orion. With it and a telescope of practically any size, you'll find plenty to see.’ Tom Burns, Columbus (Ohio)

‘This book is really a must have!’ Bob Martino, Perkins Observatory, Ohio Wesleyan University

‘This book is an ideal catalog of just the kinds of wonders in the sky that we like to show the public in any of the telescopes at our AAAA public star parties…’ Newsletter of the Ames (Iowa) Area Amateur Astronomers

‘Should be packaged with every first telescope …’ Chet Raymo, Sky and Telescope

‘Stars all look pretty much the same, but this book tells you how to find unusual, deep-sky objects, such as the ring Nebula, which looks like a perfect smoke ring. Other guides simply don’t provide this. Part of the excitement of astronomy is finding things; this book is invaluable.’ Tom Parker, The Times

Synopsis
A guidebook for beginning amateur astronomers, Turn Left at Orion provides all the information you need to observe the Moon, the planets and a whole host of celestial objects. Large format diagrams show these objects exactly as they appear in a small telescope and for each object there is information on the current state of our astronomical knowledge. Revised and updated, this new edition contains a chapter describing spectacular deep sky objects visible from the southern hemisphere, and tips on observing the upcoming transits of Venus. It also includes a discussion of Dobsonian telescopes, with hints on using personal computers and the internet as aids for planning an observing session. Unlike many guides to the night sky, this book is specifically written for observers using small telescopes. Clear and easy-to-use, this fascinating book will appeal to skywatchers of all ages and backgrounds. No previous knowledge of astronomy is needed.

About the Author
Guy Consolmagno is a Jesuit brother at the Specola Vaticana (Vatican Observatory) dividing his time between Tucson, Arizona and Castel Gandolfo, Italy. He studied the origin and evolution of moons and asteroids in our solar system. His telescope is a 3.5” catadioptic.

Dan M. Davis is a professor of geophysics in the Department of Earth and Space Sciences at the State University of New York at Stony Brook. His research concerns the formation of mountain belts on Earth. Most of his observations for this book were made with a 2.5” refractor.

Customer Reviews

get someone to buy it for you
if you are interested in imaging, forget it. there is no info on what the variouse targets can look like when photographed, only how to find them. a companion book on how too image and what to use is recomended.

The Novice Stargazer's Bible
Ask any amateur astronomer what the first book they would recommend to a novice, and the majority will tell you this very book.

Written in a style that is user friendly yet not patronising, it carefully details the highlights of the night sky (by season), giving ratings for each target. All the information on how to find that elusive nebula or galaxy etc is here, along with realistic sketched views through the scope (and finderscope) from a 'normal' viewing site.

Rather than showing each target as a HST or large observatory scope photograph, leading to frustration from the novice, this book is refreshingly honest at what the back garden stargazer will see.

Along with the catalogue of targets (with excellent descriptions of what you are looking at), there is plenty of information on how to set up scopes, what equipment to use and other general advice needed for the novice/amateur astronomer.

I've yet to see a book that covers amateur observations so well.

All that the novice needs
Put simply, if a novice astronomer with ANY size of telescope buys only one book to assist them, then this should be it (or at least the most recent version of it should be). I'm actually a fairly experienced amateur astronomer with an appalling inability to navigate my way round the skies - at least I did have until I had this book bought for me. Broken down into seasonal sections with indications of the right conditions to go looking for particular objects, I can't think of anything that could make the task easier (short of someone actually finding the objects for you!). It is such a good book I can forgive it a few typos and some lapses of English grammar.

My advice - buy this book!