Book suggestions

I am looking for a book that would give detailed info. for objects to look for including charts for an 8" scope preferably by constellation where I don't have to go and draw the constellation lines back in. Some text and mostly charts and highlight reasonable objects to look for.

I have Turn Left at Orion and like the format but it's too limited. I have Burnham's book and it doesn't have charts. I have Sky Atltas 2000 (I believe) and the charts are too big and I want it by contsellation. The atlas doesn't have complete constellations on any of the pages and it has no lines.

Michelle

Hello there Michelle,

There's a cheaper but still very capable, spin tingling book: Oberving Handbook and Catalogue of Deep-Sky Objects by Luginbuhl and Skiff (not a whole lot of chars though).

Have you consider a charting software such as The Sky or SkyTool. The Sky works well for me.

Regarding limiting magnitude for a particular aperture, try this very interesting article. You can also use photometric sequence to try to find your own "speed limit" ;-).
http://www.efn.org/~mbartels/aa/visual.html
http://members.cox.net/ronby/Observations/Light_Cup_Speed_Limit_1.htm

Ron B[ee]

I concur. The NSOG is my prime resource. From a practical point of view, my urban sky observing seldom allows the seeing of 10+ mag deep sky objects with my 8" SCT.

Pete

Michelle,

I agree with the others that say one book doesn't do it all. Charts that show the level of detail you'll need aren't usually arranged by constellation. I have not seen NSOG. I tried for about three months to buy it and could not find copies available.

I've taken Sky Atlas and lightly drawn in the constellations. But I've also taken it and photocopied sheets showing a constellation and wrote all over the photcopies. I've got so many notes written on sheets now that my outdoor charts are my 50 pages of photocopies.

These questions about charts and reference books are now in several forums. I believe you need both good charts and good references. Even a good pocket reference. I'm sure there are a dozen books I don't even know about, and I now own a bunch I haven't yet written about, but I have written about a whole bunch. Check these out http://www.cloudynights.com/books/books-general.htm

I recently picked up Nightwatch, it's nice, has a lot of great info, but limited. Binocular astronomy by crossen is another good one, not just for binoculars, but still won't give you the detail you need. I now also own Uranometria Charts. Detail is impressive, but very large, overwhelming if you think Sky Atlas is big. Two volumes over 250 pages each to cover the whole sky. Cambridge Star Atlas will not give you enough detail for an 8" scope. Sky Atlas will just get you close. The Lughinbuhl and Skiff book mentioned above is a pretty good reference. There are others more detailed, but maybe to much information.

edz