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sue_ferris's review against another edition
4.0
Very interesting and inspiring. I even got my telescope out and had a good look at Venus.
chris_okeefe's review against another edition
3.0
Good. Skimmed most of it. Lots of useful starcharts, etc.
jeffmauch's review against another edition
5.0
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.
mormms's review against another edition
5.0
The absolute best starting point for anyone wanting to know more about the universe and how to get the best start to viewing it.
renee_pompeii's review against another edition
5.0
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.
david_reads_books's review against another edition
5.0
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.
joemurphy's review against another edition
4.0
Dickinson writes about the heavens with the infectious passion of an expert tour guide. The sky charts are beautiful and clearly explained. An exceptional book for someone who's been kind of thinking about learning more about the night sky.
My one minor criticism is in the section on telescopes and binoculars. While it contains clear and useful advice, I felt like the technical details Dickinson gives were beyond me. (This comes around again in the astrophotography section.) Presumably, Dickinson sacrificed a couple of pages of Optics 101 for length, focus, and style - but it would've helped me. Of course, maybe the point is that you can enjoy stargazing without the investment of money which requires you to understand the equipment better. Which, again, is a fantastic point for a newbie considering a WalMart trash scope.
My one minor criticism is in the section on telescopes and binoculars. While it contains clear and useful advice, I felt like the technical details Dickinson gives were beyond me. (This comes around again in the astrophotography section.) Presumably, Dickinson sacrificed a couple of pages of Optics 101 for length, focus, and style - but it would've helped me. Of course, maybe the point is that you can enjoy stargazing without the investment of money which requires you to understand the equipment better. Which, again, is a fantastic point for a newbie considering a WalMart trash scope.
cgreaten's review against another edition
5.0
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.