Observing Books

As observers, we have found the following reputable resources to have been useful...

Some of these publications may be out of print. Others can be very hard to find. But don't let that daunt you. Several are available from the Centre's library, as are additional books useful to the observer. You can also try your local Municipal, University and School reference libraries. Should you wish to acquire any of them, try the Planetarium, Exclusive Books or order directly from the publishers. See Willman-Bell, Sky Publishing, Kalmbach, Astronomy or Sky & telescope for details. The Internet is a useful hunting ground. The older publications are still quite valid for the amateur, insofar as they will help to you find things of interest. Of course, progress in our understanding of the universe is being made at an ever-accelerating rate, so you should refer to more modern texts for solid technical information. Even the co-ordinate system has drifted within our lifetimes, so be aware of the epoch when looking at the location of an object (practically speaking, this discrepancy will generally be insignificant).

Please let us know if you have additional good-quality literature that you would like to share with the local observing fraternity.

Introductory

The following are fine introductory texts. They present sound advice and proven techniques in sufficient depth, without being overwhelming. Any one of these would by itself provide sufficient information to enable you to get started, though each has its peculiarities of emphasis and opinion. If at all possible, compare them all and then choose the one that somehow appeals or makes the most sense to you. Once you have worked through that, move on to the next most appealing.

Practical Astronomy Mills, H Robert		The Cambridge Astronomy Guide Liller, Bill & Ben Mayer
First Edition, 1994 Albion Publishing ISBN 1-898563-00-4		First Edition 1985 Cambridge University Press ISBN 0-521-25778-6
Many excellent practical and simple DIY experimental projects to illustrate how the universe works. Great for teachers.		A curious mixture, with projects from the simple to the relatively advanced. Special emphasis on the discovery aspects of practical astronomy makes this very different from the average intro.

Night Skies Mack, Peter		The Lighthearted Astronomer Fulton, Ken
Second Edition 1992 Struik ISBN 1-86825-028-8		First Edition 1984 Astromedia ISBN 0-913135-01-1
This slim volume with a local flavour would make a nice inexpensive gift for anyone curious about astronomy.		So the astro bug is starting to bite? You’d better read this book. When you have read it, make your family (then your friends) read it. At least they will be prepared for what’s about to happen to you.

The Southern Sky Reidy, David & Ken Wallace		Stargazing for the Novice Conradie, Franz
First Edition 1987 Southern Books		Second Edition 1991 Kransberg Commincations (Also available in Afrikaans as “Ken ons Sterre”
One of the few books concentrating on the Southern Hemisphere, it is packed with useful advice.		A curious little volume with a local flavour. Even old-timers will learn something from this book.

Skywatching Levy, David		Get to know the Universe Van Zyl, J E
First Edition 1994 Leo Books ISBN 0-95838-196-8		First Edition 2000 Rhino Publishers ISBN 0-620-25874-8
Contains a little of everything: comprehensive in coverage, to a suitable depth for a beginner. Worthwhile for the constellation overview, with good charts. It would take one quite a while to work through everything in here.		A densely packed overview of the universe by an erudite author. Open it at any page to find something interesting. If you learn all this stuff, you’ll hold your own in any discussion of astronomy.

The Practical Astronomer Ronan, Colin		A Walk Through the Southern Sky Heifetz, M & W Tirion
First Edition 1981 Pan Books ISBN 0-330-26231-9		First Edition 2000 Cambridge University Press ISBN 0-521-66514-0
Lucid explanations, copious illustrations and a number of interesting experiments to drive the lessons home. Buy this book!		The book I wish I’d had when starting out: learn your way around the sky. Buy the book for the charts, but ignore the watered-down mythology.

The New Patterns in the Sky Staal, Julius D W		The Starlore Handbook Geoffrey Cornelius
New Edition 1988 McDonald & Woodward ISBN 0-939923-04-1		First Edition 1997 Chronicle Books ISBN 0-8118-1604-4
This is the book you really need if you would like to explore the mythology behind the constellations.		Not in the league of Staal, but beautifully presented, so you will enjoy browsing through it.

Astronomy with Binoculars Muirden, James		Binocular Astronomy Crossen & Tirion
First Edition 1963 Faber & Faber		First English Edition 1992 Willmann-Bell
Old but still quite a useful introduction. Small enough to keep handy with your binocs.		Probably the most comprehensive guide for the binocular observer, and also useful if you have a scope. Excellent charts and plenty of depth. If you are serious about astronomy, you will value this book. Its large format suits the content, but makes it less easy to cart about in the field.

Astronomy with a Small Telescope Muirden, James		Norton’s Star Atlas Norton, Arthur
Second Edition 1989 George Philip ISBN 0-540-01195-9		Sixteenth Edition 1973 Gall & Inglis ISBN 0-85248-900-5
Highly recommended. Takes a seasonal approach, includes good lunar charts and even charts for determining limiting magnitudes.		This book never dies, it just gets re-edited! Way too expensive for the mediocre charts, the book’s true value lies in the subtitle “and reference handbook”.

Exploring the Moon through Binoculars Cherrington, Ernest
First Edition 1969 Peter Davies
If you like the moon, try to get hold of a copy of this book. It will be useful even with a scope, but remember that at some point the lunar co-ordinates and nomenclature were revised.

Intermediate

For those wanting more, the following publications will expand and round out your knowledge. Rather than having a heavily theoretical bias, they are full of practical information and the wisdom of experience. Apart from these, the various magazines devoted to popular astronomy usually carry articles of particular interest to the observer. Browsing the back issues can be highly rewarding; it is recommended that you look through months corresponding to the season in which you intend observing.

The Pocket Guide to Astronomy Ridpath, Ian		Celestial Sites, Celestial Splendors Burillier, Hervé
First Edition 1990 Dragon’s World ISBN 1-85028-106-8		First Edition 2000 Cambridge University Press ISBN 0-521-66773-9
(You need a bigger pocket!) Good charts, including the moon. A nice read for the traveler. The spiral binding is good in the field.		All the favourites, lots of pictures and drawings, many useful tips, a refreshing European flavour, good descriptions.

A Field Guide to the Stars & Planets Menzel, Donald & Jay Pasachoff		Observing the Constellations Sanford, John
Second edition, revised, 1983 Peterson Field Guide ISBN 0-395-34835-8		First Edition 1989 Mitchell-Beazely ISBN 0-85533-748-6
Successive editions have kept this current. Probably the most comprehensive, in depth field guide available. Carry with you always! The maps get better every time.		Beautifully presented, well illustrated, with starfield photos to augment the charts. A favourite: let’s hope it is re-issued soon.

Eclipse! Harrington, Philip S		Solar Eclipse Crump, Thomas
First Edition 1997 John Wiley ISBN 0-471-12795-7		First Edition 1999 Constable ISBN 0-29-479170-8
Plenty of advice, looks ahead to 2017. Start planning now!		History, celestial dynamics, anthropology, thoroughly researched.

Constellation Guidebook Rükl, Antonin		A Concise Guide in Colour - Constellations Klepešta, Josef & Antonin Rükl
First Edition 1999 Sterling ISBN 0-8069-3979-6		First Edition 1969 Hamlyn SBN 0-600-00393-2
Occasionally available second hand – you’ll find it very useful. The photorealistic drawings are particularly impressive indications of what you will see through the eyepiece.		Excellently illustrated, unusual charts, terse but informative descriptions

Mars Observer’s Guide Bone, Neil		Empire of the Sun – planets and moons of the solar system Gribbin, John & Simon Goodwin
First Edition 2003 Philip’s ISBN –540-08387-9		First Edition 1998 ISBN 0-09-478680-1
We may have passed the closest to Mars in our lifetimes, but there will be other oppositions: this book will help you prepare.		Not many people can write this well. The brief descriptions do the lavish illustrations justice.

Deep-Sky Companions – The Messier Objects O’Meara, Stephen		Unveiling the Universe van Zyl, J E
Third Printing 2001 Sky Publishing ISBN 0-933346-85-9		First edition 1996 Springer ISBN 3-540-76023-7 (Also available in Afrikaans as “Ontsluier die Heelal”
If you are interested in the Messier objects, this is the book to consult. Up to date, informative and focused.		Probably the most comprehensive introductory text ever written – and it’s local! Buy this book (do yourself a favour). Lucid and well illustrated.

Handbook for Planet Observers Roth, Gunter D		The Cambridge Encyclopedia of Amateur Astronomy Bakich, Michael
First Edition 1970 Faber & Faber SBN 571-08345-5		First Edition 2003 Cambridge University Press ISBN 0-521-81298-4
A bit dated in terms of equipment and planetary data, but excellent advice on techniques for those interested in serious planetary observing.		As the bug has clearly written (if you are reading this!) you should read this guide to amateur astronomy. Newcomers – see where you can go. Oldtimers – there’s useful info for you too. Very current. (It must be good: it references our website as a good source of information!)

Atlas of the Night Sky Edited By Storm Dunlop Maps by Wil Tirion		Amateur Astronomer’s Photographic Lunar Atlas Hatfield, Harry
Reprinted 1989 Hamlyn ISBN 0-600-35113-0		First Edition 1968 Lutterworth Press
Better charts than Norton’s, at a good price (but not the same level of handbook). This would be a good first set of star charts.		An icon for decades, and now thankfully available again in revised form. If you like the moon, this is for you. Maps and photos complement each other.

Sky Atlas 2000, Tirion, Wil & Roger Sinnot
Sky Publishing & Cambridge University Press Second Deluxe Edition, 1998 ISBN 0-933346-87-5
Highly recommended. Available in Field edition (white stars on black background), Desk edition (black stars on white background), and Deluxe edition (colour on white, spiral bound). If you are uncertain, get the Desk edition - you can photocopy parts to scribble on.

Advanced

Observational Astronomy for Amateurs Sidgwick, J B		A Complete Manual of Amateur Astronomy Sherrod, P Clay & Thomas Koed
Third Edition 1980 Dover ISBN 0-486-24033-9		First Edition 1981 Spectrum ISBN 0-13-162107-6
Dated in many ways, but you will struggle to find better coverage of serious approaches to observing and data reduction.		Research projects for those wanting to do serious work with modest equipment. If you are tired of casual skygazing and looking for more, you should check out this book.

Introduction to Astronomy Payne-Gaposchkin, C		Visual Astronomy of the Deep Sky Clark, Roger N
First published 1954 University Paperbacks (Methuen)		First Edition 1990 Sky Publishing ISBN 0-933-346-54-9
An entry-level university text written so as to be accessible to a wider audience.		This book will change the way you think, especially with regard to the complex and contraversial issue of magnification. If you are serious about observing, read this book.

Celestial Objects for Common Telescopes Webb, TW, revised by M Mayall		Webb Society Deep Sky Observer’s Handbook Edited by Jones, Kenneth Glyn
Vol 1 – The Solar System	ISBN 0-486-20917-2	Vol 1 Double Stars First Edition 1975	ISBN 0-7188-2433-4
		Vol 2 Planetary and Gaseous Nebulae First Edition 1978	ISBN 0-7188-2434-2
Vol 2 – The Stars	ISBN 0-486-20918-0
		Vol 3 Open and Globular Clusters First Edition 1980	ISBN 0-7188-2468-7
Sixth Edition 1962 Dover
		Vol 4 Galaxies First Edition 1981	ISBN 0-7188-2527-6
		Lutterworth
An old classic, long out of date, with quaint descriptions. But the objects are still out there and many are overlooked by modern texts. Happy hunting!		This suite is ocasionally revised and expanded. A treasure trove for those wanting more than the old favourites to hunt.

Burnham’s Celestial Handbook Burnham, Robert jr		Hartung’s Astronomical Objects for Southern Telescopes Revised & illustrated by Malin, D & D Frew
Vol 1 Andromeda to Cetus	ISBN 0-486-23567-X	Second Edition 1995 Melbourne University Press ISBN 0-522-84553-3
Vol 2 Chamaeleon to Orion	ISBN 0-486-23568-8
Vol 3 Pavo To Vulpecula	ISBN 0-486-23673-0
Dover	Revised Edition 1978
Nothing (except perhaps Hartung) comes remotely close to this labour of love. Hard science, poetry and more. Copiously illustrated. This set took a lifetime to write - you could spend a lifetime revisiting the objects described. Every page has something for you: but remember, our knowledge has moved on so do further research on the data.		Brand new, expanded, revised and updated edition, with fabulous photos by the world's best. But it is the Southern emphasis and the depth of coverage that make it great. Don't even hesitate - go find a copy now.

Catalogue of the Universe Murdin, Paul & David Allen		Colours of the Stars Malin, David & Paul Murdin
First Edition 1979 Cambridge University Press ISBN 0-521-22859-		First Edition 1984 Cambridge University Press ISBN 0-521-25714-X
A pictorial and descriptive tour of the universe, from the outer fringes inwards. You will learn much during the journey.		Lavishly illustrated, this explains how colour reveals the physics, evolution, structure and temperature of the components that comprise the universe we see.

A Concise Guide in Colour to the Moon, Mars and Venus Rükl, Antonin		Atlas of the Moon Rükl, Antonin, edited by T Rackham
First Edition 1976 Hamlyn ISBN 0-600-36219-1		First Edition 1990 Hamlyn ISBN 0-600-57190-4
You can find all this and more on the Internet, but this fits the Moon and Mars, in detail, in your pocket. Nice if you can find it.		Hopefully this excellent work of airbrush art will be revised and reprinted. A comprehensive atlas for the serious Lunatic.

A Portfolio of Lunar Drawings Hill, Harold		Uranometria 2000.0 Tirion, Rappaport, Lovi
First Edition 1991 Cambridge university Press ISBN 0-521-38113-4		Vol 1 Northern Hemisphere to -6º	ISBN 0-943396-14-X
		Vol 2 Southern Hemisphere to +6º	ISBN 0-993396-15-8
		Willmann-Bell, 1987/1988
Drawings have a personality that photographs can't match. Stretch yourself - try and outdo the pictures in this book.		Since revised as a 3-volume set including a guide to all deep-sky objects plotted, this is a must. Eclipsed only by the Millenium atlas (at much higher price). Get both hemispheres.