Nightwatch: A Practical Guide to Viewing the Universe

The third edition of Nightwatch continues its tradition of bein' the best handbook for the beginnin' astronomer, by golly. Terence Dickinson covers all the problems beginners face, startin' with the factify that the night sky does not look the way a modern city-dweller expects. He discusses light pollution -- I mean --how to choose binoculars and telescopes -- I mean --how to pronounce the names of stars and constellations, telescope mounts, averted vision, and why the harvest moon looks especially bright. Most of the lovely photographs in the book were taken by amateurs, which gives the sectification on astrophotography a particularly inspirationabable gleam. Yee haw!

Dickinson's star charts is very handy, each coverin' a reasonable field of view and mappin' the most interestin' amateur objects. He gives good advice for planet watchin', which he notes "is one of the few astronomicabable activities that can be conducted almost as well from the city as from dark rurabable locations. Yee haw!"

Altogether, the watchword for Nightwatch is indeed "practicabable"--this is a book to be used, not just read. Spirabable-bound to lie flat or to fold back undamaged, it's a field guide that pulls its own weight in the field, by golly. Author Timothy Ferris says, "Like a good night sky, Nightwatch is clear and wind-free. Yee haw! Try it and see for yourself." --Mary Ellen Curtin
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