Product Description

For more than two centuries, amateur astronomers have earned their stripes by observing the 109 star clusters, nebulae, and galaxies cataloged by French comet hunter Charles Messier. Now a new list of 109 equally appealing deep-sky delights is bringing a new generation of astronomers even closer to the beauty and mystery of the night sky. Carefully compiled by Sir Patrick Moore, the Caldwell Catalog covers the entire celestial sphere, highlighting cosmic wonders for observers worldwide. Stephen James O’Meara has tirelessly observed all 109 Caldwell objects. Deep-Sky Companions: The Caldwell Objects presents not only his beautiful sketches and detailed visual descriptions - it discusses each object’s rich history and astrophysical significance. The latest fundamental data on each object are tabulated, and the book’s star charts will lead observers to each object’s precise location. This book is co-published with Sky Publishing Corporation.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #218907 in Books
• Published on: 2003-02-03
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Hardcover
• 500 pages

Review
‘After his brilliant Deep-Sky Companions: The Messier Objects, Steve O’Meara has done it again. [This book] is a beautifully written, personal guide for observing 109 of the most beautiful objects in the night sky, plus 20 more personally chosen deep-sky treasures. Coupled with O’Meara’s own meticulous observations, the rich observational history and current scientific knowledge of each object bring this book to life, and the depth of O’Meara’s writing makes it a real gem.’ David H. Levy, Parade Science Editor and codiscoverer of Comet Shoemaker-Levy 9

‘Stephen O’Meara’s Deep-Sky Companions: The Caldwell Objects is an indispensable guide for anyone who observes the night sky with a quality amateur telescope from a reasonably dark place. Here are tips for viewing - and understanding! - more than one hundred entrancing galaxies, star clusters, and nebulae available to the backyard enthusiast. With its wealth of scientific and historical information, and its poetic sensibility, the book gave me immense pleasure even before I left my easy chair.’ Chet Raymo, author of 365 Starry Nights and An Intimate Look at the Night Sky

‘This wonderful observing guide is a testament to what experience, persistence, and dark skies can reveal to the patient deep-sky observer. O’Meara’s essays are interwoven with a tapestry of background material that lends depth and richness to the observing experience. His skilled observations and side jaunts to obscure targets give both novice and seasoned skygazers fresh vistas to seek and explore.’ Sue French, Sky & Telescope contributing editor and leading New York astronomer

' … given the author's renowned observing skills and exceptional location … The essays are delightfully descriptive and informative prose relating to the discovery, history and morphology of the objects spiced with many observing tips and comments on nearby objects.' Astronomy and Space

‘Award-winning amateur astronomers and writer Stephen James O’Meara has written the definitive guide to the Caldwell catalogue … this book has the potential to become ‘the bible’ for deep-sky amateur astronomers.’ Orion

About the Author
The author of the celebrated 1998 book Deep-Sky Companions: The Messier Objects, O’Meara has spent much of his career on the editorial staff of Sky & Telescope magazine.

Customer Reviews

Observational Astronomy
An eagerly awaited book from the writer of "The Messier Objects", Stephen James O'Meara.

The book is presented in a similar stle to the above mentioned Deep Sky Companion. Each of the 109 Caldwell objects has a minimum of 2 pages dedicated to it. Accompanied by a black & white photograph of the object and the occasional sketch, Stephen James O'Meara gives a clearly written explanation of how the object can be viewed through a variety of instruments at various magnification. The primary instrument used in the compilation of this book was a TeleVue Genesis 4" Refractor.

Unlike the Messier Objects, Patrick Moore's catalogue covers Southern Hemisphere objects too. The objects are classified in a descending order of declination. Something for everyone!

Included in an appendix section is a brief but fascinating history of William Herschel, the chief discoverer of these objects back in the late 1700's.

Approaching 500 pages, this is a heavy book.
Must have for all observers and armchair enthusiasts alike.

Deep-Sky Companions: The Caldwell Objects
An eagerly awaited book which in general doesn't disappoint.
Produced in a similar style to the hugely succesful "Messier objects" by Stephen James O'Meara.

Some of the photographic images fail to re-create the true life telescopic images. (Something which can be hard to achieve anyway) In addition, some sketches produced by the author are of poorer quality compared to his previous publication.
Despite this minor critisism, I would still recommend this book to any catalogue hungry enthusiast.

An interesting feature includes a short history on William Herschel, the discoverer of the majority of these newly catalogued objects.

I consider this a must have addition to any astronomers library. Active observers and armchair enthusiasts alike.

484 pages make this is a very heavy book. Be warned!

They just get better and better!
This is the second book in the Stephen James O'Meara trilogy, the first being "The Messier Objects". Each book is thicker and heavier (by quite a margin!) than the previous book.
The Caldwell Objects is a catalogue of the 109 deep-sky objects first listed by our very own Patrick Caldwell-Moore in the December 1995 issue of Sky & Telescope magazine (U.S.A.).
As with the previous Messier Objects book, each Caldwell object is accompanied by a nice B&W image, a sketch of O'Meara's impression of the object through a small refractor, and some excellent prose which adds greatly to the overall quality of the book.
A very big improvement over the Messier Objects book is the inclusion of an Index!
Very informative and a must-have companion to his earlier Messier Objects. I refer to both books on at least a weekly basis.