Book advice please

[sticks]

Hi guys - another newbie question - which beginners books are best? I have got Collins Night Sky and find it useful but a bit hard going and the constellation maps are too small for the detail they contain (a case of style over purpose). I have the Philips Planesphere but having found Stellarium for the Laptop, it seems a little redundant. I also bought the Haynes Astronomy Manual which is my fave find so far. I am really looking for an introduction to basic things like the Celestial Sphere and star/object location, types etc which are perhaps explained in an easy narrative form rather than technical texbook style of the Collins book. Any advice would be very welcome.

[Patbloke]

Hiya, it's gotta be DK's The Practical Astronomer... the book people had it on special for £5 at work... I have lot's of books now but this one ticks all the boxes

[rory]

Patbloke is right."Practical astronomer " is very good for basics. The way the constellations are covered is exellent. There's also basic sections on equipment ect. Good all round beginers book.

Also " backyard astronomer" is good.

[Nova]

Turn left at Orion. Fantastic book, easily followed

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Turn-Left-Orion-Hundreds-Telescope/dp/0521153972/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1321881806&sr=8-1

[Starlight 1]

Turn left at Orion. Fantastic book, easily followed

Turn Left at Orion: Hundreds of Night Sky Objects to See in a Home Telescope - and How to Find Them: Amazon.co.uk: Guy Consolmagno, Dan M. Davis: Books

I go with this one as well good book

[glowjet]

The Backyard Astronomers Guide, Dickinson and Dyer comes well recommended.

[umadog]

What do you want the book to cover? If you want a book to help you find stuff, then get Turn Left at Orion. If you want a general introduction to stuff, then Nightwatch is an option. A good star atlas would be The Sky & Telescope Pocket Atlas. A laptop running Stellarium isn't a very good option out in the field because it produces too much light and will have issues when it gets cold. The planisphere is better for those occasions.

[ismangil]

I have both BAG and Turn Left. If you just want to find stuff in the sky, Turn Left is good.

BAG is a bit more encyclopedic, it contains lots of stuff which may or may not be relevant to you. Certainly the eyepieces section is very useful.

-- Perry Ismangil

[sticks]

Thanks everyone - I have some of those on request at our Library then I can buy the ones I "understand"!

[BruceUK]

I bought BAG a few weeks ago, a great resource to have. Will likely pick up Turn Left as a Christmas present

[imarcs]

My favourite is...

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Illustrated-Guide-Astronomical-Wonders-Observer/dp/0596526857/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1321984660&sr=8-1

I would add that its the next logical step after TLAO in my opinion.

[rory]

My favourite is...

Illustrated Guide to Astronomical Wonders: From Novice to Master Observer DIY Science: Amazon.co.uk: Robert Bruce Thompson, Barbara Fritchman Thompson: Books

I would add that its the next logical step after TLAO in my opinion.

i agree, its a great book.