telescopes

Sky & Telescope's Pocket Sky Atlas

Turn Left at Orion: A Hundred Night Sky Objects to See in a Small Telescope--and How to Find Them

A Hundred Night Sky Objects to See in a Small Telescope - and How to Find Them! -- This is a guidebook for beginning amateur astronomers. The moon, planets and nearly a hundred deep sky objects visible in the northern hemisphere are shown exactly as they appear in a small telescope (50-75 mm, or 2-3 inches aperture). -- The book gives all the information you need to find these and other objects in the night sky. -- There are plenty of maps and the large format drawings accurately depict what you can expect to see. -- Unlike many guides to the night sky, this one is specifically written for observers using small telescopes. -- No previous knowledge of astronomy is needed, and since the descriptions are non-technical, skywatchers of all ages and backgrounds can enjoy and learn from this book.

Binocular Highlights: 99 Celestial Sights for Binocular Users (Sky & Telescope Stargazing)

The Universe in a Mirror: The Saga of the Hubble Space Telescope and the Visionaries Who Built It

The Hubble Space Telescope has produced the most stunning images of the cosmos humanity has ever seen. It has transformed our understanding of the universe around us, revealing new information about its age and evolution, the life cycle of stars, and the very existence of black holes, among other startling discoveries. The Universe in a Mirror tells the story of this telescope and the visionaries responsible for its extraordinary accomplishments.

Robert Zimmerman takes readers behind the scenes of one of the most ambitious scientific instruments ever sent into space. After World War II, astronomer Lyman Spitzer and a handful of scientists waged a fifty-year struggle to build the first space telescope capable of seeing beyond Earth's atmospheric veil. Zimmerman shows how many of the telescope's advocates sacrificed careers and family to get it launched, and how others devoted their lives to Hubble only to have their hopes and reputations shattered when its mirror was found to be flawed. This is the story of an idea that would not die--and of the dauntless human spirit. Illustrated with striking color images, The Universe in a Mirror describes the heated battles between scientists and bureaucrats, the perseverance of astronauts to repair and maintain the telescope, and much more. Hubble, and the men and women behind it, opened a rare window onto the universe, dazzling humanity with sights never before seen.

This book tells their remarkable story.

The Dobsonian Telescope: A Practical Manual for Building Large Aperture Telescopes

This book tells how you can build a state-of-the-art Dobsonian telescope using readily available materials and supplies. Every step of construction is detailedin photographs and diagrams, and the underlying ideas are carefully explained. As a result of this three-year collaboration between authors David Kriege and Richard Berry, experienced and well-known telescope makers, you now have the opportunity to build a high-performance telescope from 14 inches to 40 inches aperture based on the thoroughly tested designs described in this book. The Dobsonian telescope takes its name from the astronomer/philosopher John Dobson, who introduced the concept of inexpensive, large-aperture telescopes to astronomy. Amateur astronomers at the time were so amazed that a telescope builtfrom simple, inexpensive materials performed so well that they could hardly believe their eyes. As home-built Dobsonians started showing up at star parties across the nation and people saw what Dobsonians could do, the word spread. In just a few years, the Dobsonian revolution swept the world. Since those early telescopes, Dobsonians have improved dramatically. An entire generation of amateur telescope makers contributed their best insights and refinements to Dobson's original design. Today's Dobsonians are larger, lighter,and more precise than ever before. For example, it is possible to build a telescope of 20 inches aperture that is compact enough to transp

Star Ware: The Amateur Astronomer's Guide to Choosing, Buying, and Using Telescopes and Accessories

Praise for Star Ware

"Star Ware is still a tour de force that any experienced amateur will find invaluable, and which hardware-minded beginners will thoroughly enjoy."

- Robert Burnham, Sky & Telescope magazine

"Star Ware condenses between two covers what would normally take a telescope buyer many months to accumulate."

- John Shibley, Astronomy magazine

Whether you're shopping for your first telescope or your fifth, don't be surprised if you feel overwhelmed by the dazzling array of product choices, bells and whistles, and the literature that describes them all. That's why you need Star Ware.

In this revised and updated Fourth Edition of the essential guide to comparing and selecting sky-watching equipment, award-winning astronomy writer Philip Harrington takes you telescope shopping the easy way. He analyzes and explains today's astronomy market and compares brands and models point by point. Star Ware gives you the confidence you need to buy the telescope and accessories that are right for you and the knowledge to get the most out of your new purchase, with:
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Extensive, expanded reviews of leading models and accessories-including dozens of new products
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A clear, step-by-step guide to every aspect of selecting telescopes, binoculars, filters, mounts, lenses, cameras, film, star charts, guides and references, and much more
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Ten new do-it-yourself projects for building your own astronomical equipment
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Easy tips on setting up, using, and caring for telescopes and other astronomical equipment
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Lists of where to find everything astronomical, including Web sites and resources; distributors, dealers, and conventions; and corporate listings for products and services

Sky & Telescope's Mirror-Image Field Map of the Moon

The Day the Universe Changed: How Galileo's Telescope Changed The Truth and Other Events in History That Dramatically Altered Our Understanding of the World (Back Bay Books)

Sky & Telescope's Field Map of the Moon

Universe: Images from the Hubble Telescope