Nightwatch: A Practical Guide to Viewing the Universe
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- Type：Epub+TxT+PDF+Mobi
- Create Date：2021-06-07 09:56:37
- Update Date：2025-09-06
- Status：finish
- Author：Terence Dickinson
- ISBN：155407147X
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Summary
Revised Fourth Edition: updated for use through 2025。
The first three editions of NightWatch sold more than 600，000 copies， making it the top-selling stargazing guide in the world for the last 20 years。 The key feature of this classic title is the section of star charts that are cherished by backyard astronomers everywhere。 Each new edition has outsold the previous one because of thorough revisions and additional new material。
NightWatch has been acclaimed as the best general interest introduction to astronomy。 The fourth edition has improvements over the 3rd edition in every chapter， including:
The famous charts， ideal for stargazers using a small telescope or binoculars A complete update of the equipment section， including computerized telescopes An enlarged photography section， including how-to instructions for using the new generation of digital cameras for astronomical photography， both with and without a telescope The tables of future solar and lunar eclipses， planetary conjunctions and planet locations， updated through 2025。 This edition includes star charts for use in the southern hemisphere。 There are also dozens of new photographs throughout the book that show the latest thrilling discoveries made by current space observatories and probes。
The first three editions of NightWatch sold more than 600，000 copies， making it the top-selling stargazing guide in the world for the last 20 years。 The key feature of this classic title is the section of star charts that are cherished by backyard astronomers everywhere。 Each new edition has outsold the previous one because of thorough revisions and additional new material。
NightWatch has been acclaimed as the best general interest introduction to astronomy。 The fourth edition has improvements over the 3rd edition in every chapter， including:
The famous charts， ideal for stargazers using a small telescope or binoculars A complete update of the equipment section， including computerized telescopes An enlarged photography section， including how-to instructions for using the new generation of digital cameras for astronomical photography， both with and without a telescope The tables of future solar and lunar eclipses， planetary conjunctions and planet locations， updated through 2025。 This edition includes star charts for use in the southern hemisphere。 There are also dozens of new photographs throughout the book that show the latest thrilling discoveries made by current space observatories and probes。
Reviews
Kai Knetsch
，
A very informative introduction to amateur astronomy。 I learned a lot from this classic book。 I didn't know until I received the book， but the author is Canadian！ I'm glad I bought this book because I took some notes， and highlighted sections， and it's a good reference book to keep around the house。 The starcharts are practical to take out in the field and the ring binding makes it easy to keep open on a starchart。 A very informative introduction to amateur astronomy。 I learned a lot from this classic book。 I didn't know until I received the book， but the author is Canadian！ I'm glad I bought this book because I took some notes， and highlighted sections， and it's a good reference book to keep around the house。 The starcharts are practical to take out in the field and the ring binding makes it easy to keep open on a starchart。 。。。more
Robert Swanson
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Actually a good book， a good collection of materials。So why 3-stars？ Why would anyone purchase this book anymore with the internet providing all the same materials， updated。 The basic introductory materials have been rehashed in astronomy books over and over， the charts on viewing are available on-line for any given time and date。 This was a good collection of materials 10 years ago。 But to pay $35 for what can be had for free and more tuned to my needs on-line is a waste。 Too bad for the author Actually a good book， a good collection of materials。So why 3-stars？ Why would anyone purchase this book anymore with the internet providing all the same materials， updated。 The basic introductory materials have been rehashed in astronomy books over and over， the charts on viewing are available on-line for any given time and date。 This was a good collection of materials 10 years ago。 But to pay $35 for what can be had for free and more tuned to my needs on-line is a waste。 Too bad for the author， he did all this work to create what is a good collection， to be relegated to non-use so quickly。 。。。more
Dionysis
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Εξαιρετικό！ Ιδανικό για όποιον θέλει να κάνει τα πρώτα του βήματα στην Αστρονομία και στην εξερεύνηση του νυχτερινού ουρανού με γυμνό μάτι， κυάλια ή και τηλεσκόπιο。
Srikar
，
A wonderful guide for star gazing。 I tried picking up star gazing skills here and there but ofcourse life happened。 Then somehow one day sitting in my backyard enchanted by full moon it suddenly hit me there is so much to watch from backyard and i dont need to wait for big bend national park trip。 （ dark site）。This book was exactly what i needed to get started。 Now those sky maps dont look intimidating。 The celestial sphere doesn’t look complicated。 Also several misunderstood phenomenon became c A wonderful guide for star gazing。 I tried picking up star gazing skills here and there but ofcourse life happened。 Then somehow one day sitting in my backyard enchanted by full moon it suddenly hit me there is so much to watch from backyard and i dont need to wait for big bend national park trip。 （ dark site）。This book was exactly what i needed to get started。 Now those sky maps dont look intimidating。 The celestial sphere doesn’t look complicated。 Also several misunderstood phenomenon became clear and i feel confident reading sky。 For all above and more ， i will recommend this book to any beginning amateur astronomer。 。。。more
Jeff Stephenson
，
There is a reason that so many experienced amateur astronomers recommend this book。 This book is a great introduction to backyard astronomy。 The book should be almost considered essential reading for someone who is thinking about buying a first telescope before the purchase is made。 This book gives a good overview of what to expect to see in the sky， the different types of telescopes available and when to use/obtain each type， star charts for all seasons， an introduction to astrophotography， and There is a reason that so many experienced amateur astronomers recommend this book。 This book is a great introduction to backyard astronomy。 The book should be almost considered essential reading for someone who is thinking about buying a first telescope before the purchase is made。 This book gives a good overview of what to expect to see in the sky， the different types of telescopes available and when to use/obtain each type， star charts for all seasons， an introduction to astrophotography， and even a basic introduction to the Southern Hemisphere skies。 If you， or someone you know， is thinking about buying a telescope or getting into amateur astronomy or backyard stargazing， then do not hesitate to obtain and read this classic book！ 。。。more
Joy Owleyes
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Lovely pictures。 This book is great for anyone new to exploring the night sky and anyone who wants to know about telescopes。
David
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I own a small telescope， so this book is invaluable。 Very readable maps with quick highlights of what to look at。 Terence Dickinson has a couple more books I like too。
Stan
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A nice， basic look at stargazing with practical sections on telescopes and astrophotography。 It's geared to the beginner， but even those with some experience may find sections useful。 A nice， basic look at stargazing with practical sections on telescopes and astrophotography。 It's geared to the beginner， but even those with some experience may find sections useful。 。。。more
Sterling
，
I have found it an Excellent introduction to stargazing。 Great at teaching you to navigate the sky， especially with the binoculars I have。 The provided star charts are wonderful since I had no technical knowledge base to use more complex ones out there。 Probably what the author does best though， is temper expectations; helping with where to start （for me， binoculars） and realistic expectations （you won’t see images like you see from the Hubble）。
PottWab Regional Library
，
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Nikola Nesic
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Great for all amateur astronomers！
Jeff Mauch
，
Probably the most recommended introduction to the universe that we can see from our backyards via the naked eye， binoculars， or a telescope。 Terence Dickinson presents a very well organized and easy to understand guide to the night sky。 If you're interested in getting into star gazing and looking for a jumping off point， this is the most recommended book out there and there's a reason its been through a number of editions and updates over the years。 The star charts alone are worth it to give you Probably the most recommended introduction to the universe that we can see from our backyards via the naked eye， binoculars， or a telescope。 Terence Dickinson presents a very well organized and easy to understand guide to the night sky。 If you're interested in getting into star gazing and looking for a jumping off point， this is the most recommended book out there and there's a reason its been through a number of editions and updates over the years。 The star charts alone are worth it to give you a starting point one your exploration of the sky。 。。。more
Preston Pendergraft
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Hands down the best introductory guide to astronomy for someone looking to get into the hobby。 Love the charts。
Μανώλης Σιμιτσάκης
，
Τα κατάλαβα όλα， έμαθα τα πάντα。 Όλο το βιβλίο μπορεί να συνοψιστεί σε μία εικόνα:Just kidding。。。 Τα κατάλαβα όλα， έμαθα τα πάντα。 Όλο το βιβλίο μπορεί να συνοψιστεί σε μία εικόνα:Just kidding。。。 。。。more
Dean
，
Loved it， very practical and informative， excellent book to get you started looking at the night sky！ Finding the constellation Scorpius was the best thing that has happened to me so far after reading this book （though soon I will be looking to identify specific craters on the moon in my next telescope night！） 5/5 would definitely recommend looking at the stars anytime you find yourself outside at nighttime :）
Samy
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Invaluable top-to-bottom guide to getting into stargazing。 First read it as a kid and left an impression。
3O3O
，
A reference book—perfect for amateur astronomers like myself！ I have a spiral-bound copy。 I’m not sure if they all come this way， but I like this feature because it makes it easier to keep the book open while your eyes are on the sky！
Saša
，
A great introduction to viewing the night sky and finding various objects in the starry night。 One star is taken off because the book is a little dated regarding the technology related chapters， but the concepts from those chapters are still valid。 The book really covers the basics well and it is always nice to read something from someone who really enjoys his hobby/work and can be awestruck as much today as when he first looked up at the starry sky。
Cerulean
，
Very practical: no burdening jargons。 A fine beginner guide to astronomy and star viewing orient technique。
Bob Mimiaga
，
This was undoubtedly one of the best books on astronomy I've read。 It was a great primer on our solar system， Milky Way and galaxies， including clusters， nebula， variable stars and other objects in the cosmos。 Dickinson was able to present the amateur astronomer with a detailed yet understandable explanation of the scientific basics for the systems in the heavens。 What really comes through in the pages of this book is Dickinson's passion for astronomy， which has become a life-long career and lov This was undoubtedly one of the best books on astronomy I've read。 It was a great primer on our solar system， Milky Way and galaxies， including clusters， nebula， variable stars and other objects in the cosmos。 Dickinson was able to present the amateur astronomer with a detailed yet understandable explanation of the scientific basics for the systems in the heavens。 What really comes through in the pages of this book is Dickinson's passion for astronomy， which has become a life-long career and love for him。This book is written for the novice backyard astronomer so many astronomical terms are defined and explained clearly。 There is also a great section on the different types of telescopes and a discussion about what kind of telescope would be best for the reader。There are a variety of star charts including one set for star gazing with the naked eye and another set with information that can be used to explore the heavenly objects with a telescope。 I would highly recommend this as a first book for the person who is interested in beginning a hobby in backyard astronomy。 。。。more
Renee
，
This book has everything you need to get started and then stick with stargazing， and is entertaining and quite readable to boot。 Not only will it give you a nice introduction to basic astronomy， it will also give very practical advice on equipment - both for beginners as well as for more experienced stargazers。 It is also filled with great star charts， and instructions on how to use them。。。plus has a really nice lay-flat binding so that you can actually take it outside with you when you're ready This book has everything you need to get started and then stick with stargazing， and is entertaining and quite readable to boot。 Not only will it give you a nice introduction to basic astronomy， it will also give very practical advice on equipment - both for beginners as well as for more experienced stargazers。 It is also filled with great star charts， and instructions on how to use them。。。plus has a really nice lay-flat binding so that you can actually take it outside with you when you're ready to explore the universe！ This book is a must-have for the amateur astronomer's home bookshelf。 。。。more
Riversue
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Very interesting and inspiring。 I even got my telescope out and had a good look at Venus。
Red Lagoe
，
Excellent guide for the beginner backyard astronomer。 One of the best I've read， and it's the one I recommend to all new astronomers。 Excellent guide for the beginner backyard astronomer。 One of the best I've read， and it's the one I recommend to all new astronomers。 。。。more
Aron
，
This was an enjoyable read and a great introductory text on amateur astronomy。 I haven't really used the star charts yet， so I'm looking forward to testing them out in the near future。 Those are often the first thing people mention when they discuss this book， so I have high hopes。I picked up the third edition （1998） for the cost of shipping， because I figured the bulk of the material can't change that much （4th was 2006）。 After all， we're talking about the stars here。 If a fifth edition comes o This was an enjoyable read and a great introductory text on amateur astronomy。 I haven't really used the star charts yet， so I'm looking forward to testing them out in the near future。 Those are often the first thing people mention when they discuss this book， so I have high hopes。I picked up the third edition （1998） for the cost of shipping， because I figured the bulk of the material can't change that much （4th was 2006）。 After all， we're talking about the stars here。 If a fifth edition comes out， though， I'll definitely consider it。 。。。more
Brian MortonAshton
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One of first books for stargazing。
Katy
，
I received this book as a Christmas with a telescope。 I've been reading it off & on and thought it was time to review the book， but not put it up。 It is a book to read through time and time again; whether for the start charts or other information。 My edition （4th） was published in 2015 and is updated for use through 2025。 I received this book as a Christmas with a telescope。 I've been reading it off & on and thought it was time to review the book， but not put it up。 It is a book to read through time and time again; whether for the start charts or other information。 My edition （4th） was published in 2015 and is updated for use through 2025。 。。。more
Chris
，
Excellent book for anyone wanting to get started in backyard astronomy。 Nice star maps as well as solid advice for purchasing your first astronomy equipment。
Jim
，
Very helpful for a beginner。 This book was recommended as a great intro into backyard astronomy， and it delivered the goods。 Also reading "The Backyard Astronomer's Guide" by the same author。 Review of that will follow completion。 Very helpful for a beginner。 This book was recommended as a great intro into backyard astronomy， and it delivered the goods。 Also reading "The Backyard Astronomer's Guide" by the same author。 Review of that will follow completion。 。。。more
Natalie
，
Good， not great。 The pictures were the highlight， and I thoroughly enjoyed them。
Jamie
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