Book Review: DK - The Universe

[nightvision]

Not sure if this book has been reviewed here but I thought it worth a mention.

- Very good value and brilliantly put together.

- Comprehensive and logically structured.

- Beautifully illustrated with linked information for every image

- Objects described in detail and in context

- Sets standards for reference material

- Hard to stop reading it

512 pages of outstanding reference material

Any downside?

It's big (315x255) and heavy, especially in the hardback version.

It will get a lot of use so recommend getting the Hardback version, more robust.

You can't get much for £14.40 these days, this is an exception, amazing value:

Universe: Amazon.co.uk: Robert Dinwiddie, Martin Rees: Books

Some images to show the quality of the content:

[Revs]

Looks great. What objects does it cover?

[nightvision]

Looks great. What objects does it cover?

Everything I can think of from the usual suspects to the more obscure, name a few and I will check (just as a test:)).

It is my ultimate reference book and I have a large collection, nothing comes close.

[nightvision]

Oh yes and not just pretty pictures, as you can see if you look closely it shows where to find every object covered.

[GazOC]

I bought this book a couple of years ago. Can't recommend it highly enough as a "coffee table", general interest book on astronomy.

[nightvision]

I bought this book a couple of years ago. Can't recommend it highly enough as a "coffee table", general interest book on astronomy.

I bought it back in 2005, I have plenty of Astro ref material but I always come back to this for inspiration especially on a cloudy evening, accessible enough for young beginners and deep enough for the more knowledgeable. Amazing value when you consider for the same price you could only buy a few astro mags.

Revs, some reviews here:

Amazon.co.uk: Customer Reviews: Universe

and more reviews:

Amazon.com: Customer Reviews: Universe

[GazOC]

Yep, you can dip into it as much or as little as you like. From "nice" pictures of Saturn to information on Wolf Rayet stars, something for everyone.

[Revs]

Everything I can think of from the usual suspects to the more obscure, name a few and I will check (just as a test:)).

All the Messier's and a good few NGC's?

[nightvision]

All the Messier's and a good few NGC's?

Yes the Messier's are covered, many more than once.

Let's get picky.... I did notice NGC2419 wasn't there but then it doesn't appear in many books. It did however appear in my dob recently, it's the furthest I have seen any member of our galaxy; 300,000 light years!

Have a look at the reviews on Amazon.

[nightvision]

Recommend getting the Hardback version, more robust.

[Revs]

I'll grab a (hardback) copy. Cheers

[nightvision]

I'll grab a (hardback) copy. Cheers

Difficult to find, sometimes used copies appear on Amazon.