The Backyard Astronomer's Guide

Easily the most comprehensive and clearly written practical primer on astronomy and star gazing. All the sections are laid out with intelligence and clarity, and the accompanying illustrations and photos are outstanding. Added to this there are bold recommendations and critiques of available equipment rather than bland comments seen in other astro how-to books. I appreciate that. Everything you need to know is here, not only to get you started but if you are rusty and making a return to star gazing this gem updates you on gaps since perhaps you last looked skywards, with a really good contemporary look at equipment and techniques, from observing planets to clusters to deep space objects. This book anticipates your yearning to learn and uncannily knows the kind of questions you want answered, whether you are simply star hopping, or getting deeper into the basic physics of astronomy. There is a very impressive guide to astrophotography too. This is an outstanding book in every way and super value. Highly recommended without reservation.

I honestly can't think of a single bad thing to say about this. As the title of my review says, it is ideal for anybody new to astronomy. It has information about equipment, techniques, what to look for and when to look for it. As far as I can see the only real issue is that technology changes so quickly that it might become out of date too quickly, but from what I can tell they do release updated editions occasionally. If you're thinking of becoming an amateur stargazer: read this. If you're thinking about buying a telescope: read this. If you have some equipment, but aren't really sure how to get going: read this. If you enjoy astronomy but simply aren't an expert, and wonder how to get more from your hobby: read this. If you're an expert with many years experience behind you: possibly not for you, but might be handy as a reference manual.

When it arrived, I was surprised at the size and weight of this book. It's published in Canada by Firefly Books but the style and format remind me a bit of Dorling Kindersley. What I like about the book is its hands-on, practical and advisary style. The authors have definite views in terms of equipment and techniques and don't hesitate to give you their opinions (eg Canon DSLR cameras are preferred for astrophotography over Nikon, a view which might not go down too well with everyone). But as I say, it is an extremely good reference book for the newcomer to the hobby of astronomy. Note that there are no star charts so you will need to buy something like the Cambridge Star Atlas in order the find your way around the sky.

This is a great book (one of a series by the same author). It contains a lot of wisdom for not too much money. There is no getting away from the fact that serious astronomy is an expensive hobby but the knowledge and understanding gained will either prevent unnecessary purchases and/or replacements especially when you are new to the hobby.

I rally enjoyed ths book. It contains a lot of up to date information on all aspects of Astronomy, equipment, photography and of course the night sky. If you have a medium to detailed knowledge this book probably is not for you. I would recommend it to a friend though, and have no regrets about buying it.

I exaggerate for effect, of course but this publication is the DBs. It's written by Americans and the products mentioned and recommended are primarily aimed at the American market but most are available in the UK and those that aren't have equivalents (I think SkyWatcher products go by the name of 'Synta' in the 'States, for example). If you're thinking of taking up astronomy, your first purchase should be this book. You should then read the chapters on telescopes and eyepieces before spending a penny more - I kid you not; it'll save you from making expensive mistakes and buying something which is too cumbersome or complicated to see regular use. If you've already bought your 'scope and are thinking of adding more eyepieces or other accessories, again, buy this first and you'll discover that a larger finder scope or red-dot finder will enhance you viewing pleasure more than any fancy optics. If you're concerned that it might be out of date, fret ye not as it's been updated. It is, without question, the best amateur astronomy book I've ever encountered.

early days but is very interesting with lots of valuable info on telescopes. have a read yourself. amazon alllowed me to read the section i was interested in and then offered the book at a later visit. its fair to say i may never have come across the book otherwise.

This is a great book for those starting this hobby, it answers virtually all the questions a beginner asks. That said, it is also very informative for those of us who have been involved in astronomy for a while. Giving good explanations on how to upgrade with out falling into the various pitfalls many of us have dropped into. In all I would say that "The backyard Astronomer's Guide" is a very useful reference book to have to hand, one you can dip into as required, but also one you can read from cover to cover. Highly recommendable

I ordered The Backyard Astronomer's Guide solely on the advice which I'd seen given to beginners to the astronomy hobby by countless members in Cloudy Nights forums. When the package arrived (I got a notice from the post office because it was too big and couldn't fit in my mailbox) I was not expecting to receive it so soon, so did not know what I was collecting. I was totally surprised, first by the encyclopedic size of the book and after flipping through the 368 glossy pages, by the amount of content which is so relevant to all of those areas of astronomy and astro-photography that as a beginner, I'm eager to learn about. Robert Burnham's foreword got me all psyched up about the new knowledge promised in the pages to follow and his comment that "This is by far the best book I know of for helping anyone become a knowledgeable stargazer." could not have described the book any better. The book is very well laid out, excellent table of contents and comprehensive index make planning of reading sessions and finding specific information a breeze. Stunning photographs support very well written tips and techniques about almost every aspect of the hobby. Great value for money and a book that no new amateur astronomer should be without. This is not a book for the shelf, but for the sofa table where I can grab it whenever there's a spare moment!

A well written, easy and informational resource for anyone interested in viewing the skies from wherever you are either in your backyard or a dark sky preserve. Packed with great information on equipment and accessories as well as detailed information about everything in our solar system. Congrats to the two authors who put this book together for all who wish to learn about our universe and enjoy the night sky. Just buy it!

I purchased the newest edition- A MUST HAVE for anyone who is serious in getting the BEST start to astronomy and backyard to Dark sky viewing. I love it and the photos are INCREDIBLE! AWESOME! Hope some time to meet the author and beg for an author's inscription with a special comment to me: SKYYE. lol

Being new to astronomy, I bought this book as a guide. I give it 5 stars, because it's packed with useful information for any "newbie" backyard astronomer. My only caveat is that this book is meant as a guide for those who HAVE NOT purchased a telescope yet. I had already purchased mine, so the chapter explaining the various types of telescopes, and the pros and cons of each type, were (more or less) irrelevant to me at that point. Having said that, there are chapters devoted to selecting eyepieces, accessories, "must haves," and "totally useless" items... things that might seem like they'd be great... but aren't. The eyepiece section alone was worth the price of the book, because the eyepiece is truly the "heart" of any telescope, and making the right choice in an eyepiece is critical. This book offers advice for budget-minded astronomers as well as "money is no object" astronomers. For those who are new to telescopes, finding the right eyepieces can be a puzzling and somewhat overwhelming task, considering all the choices there are. I made some selections based on the information in this book, and so far, I have not been disappointed! I'm also planning to work my way up to astrophotography, so there is a lot of useful information in that chapter that will help me when the time comes. Overall, this book is packed with useful information for beginners, and even for those with a little more experience. If you haven't bought a telescope yet, this book is a great (and reasonably cheap) place to start your research. Be warned, though... it's big and heavy, and is about the size of a college textbook (a big one!), so it's not a book you can curl up with and hold comfortably for hours on end. Aside from that, it's a perfect and highly recommended book for those who are thinking about buying a telescope, or who already have, and need some guidance on finding accessories or exploring the skies. If you already have a telescope and don't need help with accessories, I'd also recommend "Nightwatch: a Practical Guide to Viewing the Universe" by Terrance Dickinson. Another great book for beginners, and includes star maps and charts!

Being new to backyard Astronomy, I was a little hesitant to spend the money on this book, as it seemed to be a little expensive. I read a few of the reviews and decided to take the plunge. Now that this book is in my hands, you would have quite a challenge prying it away from me. The authors, Dickenson and Dyer have covered EVERYTHING that I could think of, and then some. The chapter on eyepieces alone was worth the cost of the book, and I made two purchases based upon this info alone. I'm glad I did. They eyepieces that I purchased as a result have really increased the quality of my viewing. The photos are beautiful and most are taken by the authors. The Milky Way, Galaxies, Nebulas, Constellations, Planets are all in this book along with how best to enjoy or photograph them. Also not really easy to tell online is the size of this book. It is a glossy, coffee table quality book with all of the technical info that I was looking for, and then some. After scanning and reading the sections of greatest interest, I am now going back through and reading each chapter in full. I never do that in this type of book, but this one is too good to miss anything. After having this book for a couple of months, I can honestly say that it is one of my most prized astronomy possessions. I cannot think of any case where I got so much really useful information about a subject that I love for so little money. This is an indispensable guide for any backyard astronomer.