Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #19173 in Books
• Published on: 2008-08-31
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Hardcover
• 368 pages

Review
Dickinson and Dyer have brought their excellent guide further into the 21st century. I can't recommend it highly enough. -- Sean Walker "Sky and Telescope" (04/01/2009)

Customer Reviews

A must have for all beginners
I was given a copy of The Backyard Astronomer's Guide (revised Edition) by Terence Dickinson and Alan Dyer, as a birthday gift earlier this year. I've heard much about this book and luckily I now have it.

Having read the book from cover to cover, I have to admit, it lives up to its reputation. It's technical enough not to condescend a semi-pro/expert, but it's balanced and basic enough to help a total beginner get a better grasp of the technology behind a wide variety of telescopes and binoculars. After explaining in the detail the key differences, advantages and disadvantages of all the variants of scopes and binoculars, the book goes on to recommending some of the authors best choices, based in part from personal experience and from industry opinion. The section on filters was especially useful and helped me work out the chief differences between wide band, narrow band, oxygen 3 and hydrogen filters.

The book is very well illustrated and offers practical and insightful tips of how to use your scope/bins and how to best cut down on light pollution, prevent dew build up and cleaning your scope carefully and properly. There is an in-depth chapter dedicated to observing planets, the moon, sun and comets and a significant chapter on deep sky objects. Each chapter mentions the best techniques to use to view each type of object and what atmospheric conditions are best quited for each type of object. There is ample mention of CCD technology and the technical terminology which can and will confuse a total beginner.

Above all, the one most notable feature of this book is it's broad coverage on wide variety of frequently asked questions and the way in which is coherently untangles the techno-bable and mystery behind astronomical instruments and their use. In addition, it puts in the context the ever nagging question, "is big always better". If you're a city slicker, in a light polluted area with a big wallet and think bigger is better, read this book first. You might learn a thing or to. Certainly was an eye opener to me!

This book is a real boon to the beginner and a nice compliment to the experienced astronomer who could find it useful as a quick reference guide in part. There is a supporting web site to the book which has a lot of extra information which the book doesn't include, although this fact of "extra information" is clearly mentioned in the opening pages and you're encouraged to explore further on their site.

Kaustav.

A Stellar Selection
I've had this book for years now and wouldn't do without it. Whether one wants advice on what equipment to buy, or what to do with it once purchased, this book fits the bill nicely. I have many books on astronomy and telescopes--and this is the one I always come back to. If I had to pick just one book on amateur astronomy, this would be it.

THIS BOOK IS AN OUTSTANDING RESOURCE
I purchased this book 3 years ago when I first became seriously interested in amature astronomy. It is OUTSTANDING!! Anyone considering purchasing a telescope should read this book first. It provides very helpful information which will enable you to decide what type of equipment will best meet you needs, and how to use it. This book along with "Stare Ware" are the two most useful astronomy books I've had the pleasure to own.