John Wiley: Star Watch

4.0 Star Watch

Very well organized; Easy to use star charts; Great descriptions of objects.

None.

This is a wonderful guide for amateurs who may be just starting their observing sessions and those who may need a refresher to hone their skills even more. Phil Harrington has divided this book into four seasonal sections. Each section focuses on those objects that are prominently displayed for that particular season. Finder charts help in locating the object in the sky, followed by information that includes fascinating facts, size, distances and "wow" factor (ease or difficulty in finding the object) and its impact on the observer. The majority of the targets are from the Messier catalog, but include double stars and NGC objects. I should mention that the first part of the book deals with local solar system targets, before venturing into deep sky objects.

The objects selected should be visible with binoculars and small to medium telescopes. If you are up for a challenge, you can try to complete the viewing list found in the back of the book. Once completed you can mail the completed list to the author and receive a certificate of achievement for your efforts.

Star Watch is an excellent way to prepare for a night's observing session, and it will give you an idea of what to expect when selecting your targets. I use this book quite often, and have not regretted the returns on my small investment .