Steve Coe has been watching the deep sky from locations near his home in Arizona for almost 20 years. During that time he has accumulated a wealth of knowledge, observations, hints and tips that will help every deep sky observer, regardless of experience.
This, his first book, gives detailed practical advice about how to find the best observing site, how to make the most of the time spent there, and what equipment and instruments to take along. There are comprehensive lists of deep sky objects of all kinds, along with Steve's own observations describing how they look through telescopes with apertures ranging from 8 to 36 inches (0.2 - 0.9 m).
Most of all, this book is all about how to enjoy astronomy. Steve's enthusiasm and sense of wonder shine through every page as he invites you along on a tour of some of the most beautiful and fascinating sites in the deep sky.
Introduction.- Who should read this book?- Why listen to me?- Choosing a site.- How do I maximise my time while observing?- Accessories.- Taking notes.- Finding my way.- Tips.- Galaxies.- Galaxy groups.- Nebulae.- Planetaries.- Open Clusters.- Globular Clusters.- Binoculars.- Computers.- Public Viewing Sessions.- Further reading.- A Magical Evening.