The backyard astronomer's guide

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Title:

The backyard astronomer's guide

Author:

Dickinson, Terence, author.

Dyer, Alan, 1953- author.

Summary:

"This classic, groundbreaking guide has been the go-to field guide for both beginning and experienced amateur astronomers for nearly 30 years. The fourth edition, scheduled for release in 2021, brings Terence Dickinson and Alan Dyer's invaluable manual completely up-to-date. Setting a new standard for astronomy guides, it will serve as the touchstone for the next generation of stargazers as well as longtime devotees. Technology and astronomical understanding are evolving at a breathtaking clip, and to reflect the latest information about observing techniques and equipment, this massively revised and expanded edition has been rebuilt from the ground up (an additional 48 pages brings the page count to 416). Illustrated throughout with all-new photographs and star charts, the fourth edition boasts a refreshed design and features five brand-new chapters, including three essential essays on binocular, telescope and Moon tours by renowned astronomy writer Ken Hewitt-White. With new content on naked-eye sky sights, LED lighting technology, WiFi-enabled telescopes and the latest advances in binoculars, telescopes and other astronomical gear, the fourth edition of The Backyard Astronomer's Guide is sure to become an indispensable reference for all levels of stargazers. New techniques for observing the Sun, the Moon and solar and lunar eclipses are an especially timely addition, given the upcoming solar eclipses in 2023 and 2024. Rounding out these impressive offerings are new sections on dark sky reserves, astro-tourism, modern astrophotography and cellphone astrophotography, making this book an enduring must-have guide for anyone looking to improve his or her astronomical viewing experience. The fourth edition of The Backyard Astronomer's Guide also features a foreword by Dr. Sara Seager, a Canadian-American astrophysicist and planetary scientist at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and an internationally recognized expert in the search for exoplanets."-- Provided by publisher.

General Note:

"A Firefly book"--Title page verso.

Edition:

Fourth edition, completely revised and expanded.

Contents:

Part 1: getting started. Amateur astronomy comes of age -- The naked-eye sky -- Your observing site -- Getting to know the sky better -- Buying binoculars for astronomy -- Binocular sky tours -- Part 2: choosing and using a telescope. Choosing a telescope -- Choosing eyepieces and filters -- Our accessory catalog -- Using your new telescope -- Using your GoTo telescope -- Part 3: the telescopic universe. Observing the Sun, Moon and eclipses -- Moon tours for telescopes -- Observing the solar system -- Exploring the deep sky -- Telescope sky tours -- Part 4: capturing the cosmos. Photographing the cosmos -- Processing astrophotos -- Epilogue -- Appendices.

Physical Description:

416 pages : illustrations (chiefly color), color portraits ; 29 cm

Genre:

Handbooks and manuals.

Subject Term:

Astronomy -- Amateurs' manuals.

Author(s):

Dyer, Alan, 1953-

Publisher:

Firefly Books,

Publication Date:

2021

ISBN:

9780228103271

Publication Information:

Buffalo, New York ; Richmond Hill, Ontario : Firefly Books, 2021.

Call Number:

522 DICKINSON

Holds: Copies:

Available:*

Item Barcode	Collection	Call Number	Status	Item Holds
33607003539395	New Adult Nonfiction	522 DICKINSON	Searching... Unknown	Searching... Unavailable

Bound With These Titles

On Order

Summary

The touchstone for contemporary stargazers.

This classic, groundbreaking guide has been the go-to field guide for both beginning and experienced amateur astronomers for nearly 30 years. The fourth edition brings Terence Dickinson and Alan Dyer's invaluable manual completely up-to-date. Setting a new standard for astronomy guides, it will serve as the touchstone for the next generation of stargazers as well as longtime devotees.

Technology and astronomical understanding are evolving at a breathtaking clip, and to reflect the latest information about observing techniques and equipment, this massively revised and expanded edition has been completely rebuilt (an additional 48 pages brings the page count to 416). Illustrated throughout with all-new photographs and star charts, this edition boasts a refreshed design and features five brand-new chapters, including three essential essays on binocular, telescope and Moon tours by renowned astronomy writer Ken Hewitt-White.

With new content on naked-eye sky sights, LED lighting technology, WiFi-enabled telescopes and the latest advances in binoculars, telescopes and other astronomical gear, the fourth edition of The Backyard Astronomer's Guide is sure to become an indispensable reference for all levels of stargazers. New techniques for observing the Sun, the Moon and solar and lunar eclipses are an especially timely addition, given the upcoming solar eclipses in 2023 and 2024.

Rounding out these impressive offerings are new sections on dark sky reserves, astro-tourism, modern astrophotography and cellphone astrophotography, making this book an enduring must-have guide for anyone looking to improve his or her astronomical viewing experience.

The Backyard Astronomer's Guide also features a foreword by Dr. Sara Seager, a Canadian-American astrophysicist and planetary scientist at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and an internationally recognized expert in the search for exoplanets.

Author Notes

Terence Dickinson, one of Canada's best-loved amateur-astronomy writers, gained renown for unraveling the mysteries of the cosmos. His down-to-earth style made him the award-winning best-selling author of 14 astronomy books, including NightWatch , The Backyard Astronomer's Guide , The Universe and Beyond and Hubble's Universe . The cofounder and former editor of SkyNews , Canada's national astronomy magazine, Dickinson was a recipient of the Order of Canada and two honorary doctorates. He died of complications from Parkinson's on February 1, 2023.

Alan Dyer is widely regarded as one of the world's foremost astrophotographers. His images have appeared in Spaceweather.com, Astronomy Picture of the Day, Universe Today, National Geographic , TIME , NBCNews and CBSNews. He is a regular contributor to Sky and Telescope and SkyNews magazines.

Reviews (1)

Library Journal Review

Despite the book's title, there is very little about astronomy here, i.e., lists of constellations, star charts, night sky maps, or details about planets, stars, and galaxies. However, there is a wealth of information about the equipment used in astronomy, including prices, consumer-type information, advice on when to use and when not to use binoculars, telescopes, cameras, film, lenses, filters, and other items for the amateur astronomer. Four chapters, though, concern the observation of the solar system and deep space objects. There are also several chapters discussing the photographing of all types of astronomical phenomena. Though cost may deter small-to-medium-sized libraries, there is much information here for the experienced amateur, and some useful information for the beginner as well. (Illustrations and index not seen.)-- Robert Ellis Potter, Dunedin P.L., Fla. (c) Copyright 2010. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.

Excerpts

Introduction Since the publication of the first edition of The Backyard Astronomer's Guide in 1991, amateur astronomy has evolved in several important areas. This prompted a major rewrite and redesign for the Second Edition in 2002. Even more rapid developments since then bring us to this Third Edition and another major overhaul, which now expands the book substantially beyond its original 295 pages. As always, new developments in equipment are behind most of the revisions led by affordable computerized telescopes and the entry of China as a major player in telescope manufacture. More unexpected was the speed of the digital-camera revolution, which opened a new wonderland of astrophotographic opportunities undreamed of in the days of film. That, combined with a wider array of telescopes and accessories at better prices than ever before, meant that every chapter required revisions, ranging up to a complete rewrite of the astrophotography section, Chapter 13. In response to readers' requests for how-to reference guides to fundamental telescope setup, use and maintenance procedures, we've added two new chapters (14 and 15). More than 200 new photos and illustrations accompany these changes, both major and minor, in every chapter. (Prices given are average U.S. dollar dealer prices.) To keep the text uncluttered and readable, we have avoided embedding a lot of website addresses throughout. To locate the websites for companies and products described, simply Google the names. Finally, at the back of the book, we've added a beautiful and practical Milky Way atlas, created by Glenn LeDrew. In almost all cases, we have used photographs of equipment that were taken in the field and in our own studios rather than relying on stock shots from manufacturers. (We've really used this equipment!) In many respects, this book is a sequel to coauthor Dickinson's NightWatch: A Guide to Viewing the Universe , which emphasizes reference material for the absolute beginner. In The Backyard Astronomer's Guide , we provide more in-depth commentary, guidance and resources for the enthusiast. We invite readers to visit the book's website (see below), where updates and links to other informative sites can be found. Terence Dickinson NightWatch Observatory Alan Dyer Telus World of Science-Calgary Website: www.backyardastronomy.com Excerpted from The Backyard Astronomer's Guide by Terence Dickinson, Alan Dyer All rights reserved by the original copyright owners. Excerpts are provided for display purposes only and may not be reproduced, reprinted or distributed without the written permission of the publisher.