Beginner Reading Materials
- ChrisP90
- Earth Ambassador
- Articles: 0
- Posts: 27
- Joined: Tue Sep 03, 2019 3:13 pm
- 4
- Location: Wales
- Status:
Offline
Beginner Reading Materials
Hey All,
I’ve been looking online at some reading material to give me some basic knowledge before my first scope arrives. I’ve seen some good reviews mainly on “turn left at Orion”.
Is this the go to book for a beginner or are there alternatives that people recommend?
Is it worth paying £25.00 for edition 5, over paying £4 for edition 4.
I know it’ll have updates but as a beginner, how important will updated tables and charts be?
Thanks again guys!
I’ve been looking online at some reading material to give me some basic knowledge before my first scope arrives. I’ve seen some good reviews mainly on “turn left at Orion”.
Is this the go to book for a beginner or are there alternatives that people recommend?
Is it worth paying £25.00 for edition 5, over paying £4 for edition 4.
I know it’ll have updates but as a beginner, how important will updated tables and charts be?
Thanks again guys!
Telescope: Skywatcher Heritage 130P
Camera: Canon EOS 450D
Complete Novice, hoping to build my collection and in turn my signature!
Camera: Canon EOS 450D
Complete Novice, hoping to build my collection and in turn my signature!
- Lady Fraktor
- Co-Administrator
- Articles: 0
- Posts: 9860
- Joined: Mon Apr 29, 2019 9:14 pm
- 4
- Location: Slovakia
- Status:
Offline
Re: Beginner Reading Materials
The books is a good one and an enjoyable read, depending on how many years have past the updated charts are good.
See Far Sticks: Antares Elita 103/1575, AOM FLT 105/1000, Bresser BV 127/1200, Nočný stopár 152/1200, Vyrobené doma 70/700, Stellarvue NHNG DX 80/552, TAL RS100/1000, Vixen SD115s/885
EQ: TAL MT-1, Vixen SXP, AXJ, AXD
Az/Alt: AYO Digi II/ Argo Navis, Stellarvue M2C/ Argo Navis
Tripods: Berlebach Planet (2), Uni 28 Astro, Report 372, TAL factory maple, Vixen ASG-CB90, Vixen AXD-TR102
Diagonals: Astro-Physics, Baader Amici, Baader Herschel, iStar Blue, Stellarvue DX, Takahashi prism, TAL, Vixen flip mirror
Eyepieces: Antares to Zeiss
The only culture I have is from yogurt
My day was going well until... people
EQ: TAL MT-1, Vixen SXP, AXJ, AXD
Az/Alt: AYO Digi II/ Argo Navis, Stellarvue M2C/ Argo Navis
Tripods: Berlebach Planet (2), Uni 28 Astro, Report 372, TAL factory maple, Vixen ASG-CB90, Vixen AXD-TR102
Diagonals: Astro-Physics, Baader Amici, Baader Herschel, iStar Blue, Stellarvue DX, Takahashi prism, TAL, Vixen flip mirror
Eyepieces: Antares to Zeiss
The only culture I have is from yogurt
My day was going well until... people
- ChrisP90
- Earth Ambassador
- Articles: 0
- Posts: 27
- Joined: Tue Sep 03, 2019 3:13 pm
- 4
- Location: Wales
- Status:
Offline
Re: Beginner Reading Materials
Thank you, much appreciated!
Telescope: Skywatcher Heritage 130P
Camera: Canon EOS 450D
Complete Novice, hoping to build my collection and in turn my signature!
Camera: Canon EOS 450D
Complete Novice, hoping to build my collection and in turn my signature!
- pakarinen
- Inter-Galactic Ambassador
- Articles: 0
- Posts: 4013
- Joined: Fri Jun 14, 2019 3:33 pm
- 4
- Location: NE Illinois
- Status:
Offline
-
TSS Awards Badges
Re: Beginner Reading Materials
I really like TLAO. Once you're ready to move to deeper, more complex things, Sue French's Deep Sky Wonders is a great book.
I also think that binocular observing books are great resources for beginners with small scopes, especially Sir Patrick Moore's book. They don't have the details you'd find in a scope-centric book, but in the beginning too much detail might be a little overwhelming.
I also think that binocular observing books are great resources for beginners with small scopes, especially Sir Patrick Moore's book. They don't have the details you'd find in a scope-centric book, but in the beginning too much detail might be a little overwhelming.
=============================================================================
I drink tea, I read books, I look at stars when I'm not cursing clouds. It's what I do.
=============================================================================
AT50, AT72EDII, ST80, ST102; Scopetech Zero, AZ-GTi, AZ Pronto; Innorel RT90C, Oberwerk 5000; Orion Giantview 15x70s, Vortex 8x42s, Navy surplus 7x50s, Nikon 10x50s
I drink tea, I read books, I look at stars when I'm not cursing clouds. It's what I do.
=============================================================================
AT50, AT72EDII, ST80, ST102; Scopetech Zero, AZ-GTi, AZ Pronto; Innorel RT90C, Oberwerk 5000; Orion Giantview 15x70s, Vortex 8x42s, Navy surplus 7x50s, Nikon 10x50s
- ARock
- Saturn Ambassador
- Articles: 0
- Posts: 363
- Joined: Mon May 13, 2019 4:06 am
- 4
- Location: USA
- Status:
Offline
-
TSS Awards Badges
Re: Beginner Reading Materials
Stars don't change much so older editions are fine. I think newer editions of TLO have more
AR
Scopes: Zhumell Z8, Meade Adventure 80mm, Bushnell 1300x100 Goto Mak.
Mount: ES EXOS Nano EQ Mount, DIY Arduino+Stepper drives.
AP: 50mm guidescope, AR0130 based guidecam, Canon T3i, UHC filter.
EPs: ES82 18,11,6.7mm, Zhumell 30,9mm FJ Ortho 9mm, assorted plossls, Meade 2x S-F Barlow, DGM NPB filter.
Binos: Celestron Skymaster 15x70 (Albott tripod/monopod), Nikon Naturalist 7x35.
Scopes: Zhumell Z8, Meade Adventure 80mm, Bushnell 1300x100 Goto Mak.
Mount: ES EXOS Nano EQ Mount, DIY Arduino+Stepper drives.
AP: 50mm guidescope, AR0130 based guidecam, Canon T3i, UHC filter.
EPs: ES82 18,11,6.7mm, Zhumell 30,9mm FJ Ortho 9mm, assorted plossls, Meade 2x S-F Barlow, DGM NPB filter.
Binos: Celestron Skymaster 15x70 (Albott tripod/monopod), Nikon Naturalist 7x35.
- Bigzmey
- Moderator
- Articles: 8
- Posts: 7548
- Joined: Sat May 11, 2019 7:55 pm
- 4
- Location: San Diego, CA USA
- Status:
Offline
-
TSS Awards Badges
Re: Beginner Reading Materials
For the most parts older editions are just fine. I would go with one for £4.
Scopes: Stellarvue: SV102ED; Celestron: 9.25" EdgeHD, 8" SCT, 150ST, Onyx 80ED; iOptron: Hankmeister 6" Mak; SW: 7" Mak; Meade: 80ST.
Mounts: SW: SkyTee2, AzGTi; iOptron: AZMP; ES: Twilight I; Bresser: EXOS2; UA: MicroStar.
Binos: APM: 100-90 APO; Canon: IS 15x50; Orion: Binoviewer, LG II 15x70, WV 10x50, Nikon: AE 16x50, 10x50, 8x40.
EPs: Pentax: XWs & XFs; TeleVue: Delites, Panoptic & Plossls; ES: 68, 62; Vixen: SLVs; Baader: BCOs, Aspherics, Mark IV.
Diagonals: Baader: BBHS mirror, Zeiss Spec T2 prism, Clicklock dielectric; TeleVue: Evebrite dielectric; AltairAstro: 2" prism.
Filters: Lumicon: DeepSky, UHC, OIII, H-beta; Baader: Moon & SkyGlow, Contrast Booster, UHC-S, 6-color set; Astronomik: UHC.
Observing: DSOs: 3106 (Completed: Messier, Herschel 1, 2, 3. In progress: H2,500: 2180, S110: 77). Doubles: 2382, Comets: 34, Asteroids: 255
Mounts: SW: SkyTee2, AzGTi; iOptron: AZMP; ES: Twilight I; Bresser: EXOS2; UA: MicroStar.
Binos: APM: 100-90 APO; Canon: IS 15x50; Orion: Binoviewer, LG II 15x70, WV 10x50, Nikon: AE 16x50, 10x50, 8x40.
EPs: Pentax: XWs & XFs; TeleVue: Delites, Panoptic & Plossls; ES: 68, 62; Vixen: SLVs; Baader: BCOs, Aspherics, Mark IV.
Diagonals: Baader: BBHS mirror, Zeiss Spec T2 prism, Clicklock dielectric; TeleVue: Evebrite dielectric; AltairAstro: 2" prism.
Filters: Lumicon: DeepSky, UHC, OIII, H-beta; Baader: Moon & SkyGlow, Contrast Booster, UHC-S, 6-color set; Astronomik: UHC.
Observing: DSOs: 3106 (Completed: Messier, Herschel 1, 2, 3. In progress: H2,500: 2180, S110: 77). Doubles: 2382, Comets: 34, Asteroids: 255
- Larry 1969
- Milky Way Ambassador
- Articles: 0
- Posts: 1481
- Joined: Fri May 17, 2019 12:33 am
- 4
- Location: Pittsburgh PA USA
- Status:
Offline
-
TSS Photo of the Day
Re: Beginner Reading Materials
Turn Left at Orion is a great book!
You don't need to start at the beginning either. It's broken down into seasons.
It also gives you "best viewed with" suggestions and inverted finder scope views.
I think edition 4 would be fine also.
Larry
You don't need to start at the beginning either. It's broken down into seasons.
It also gives you "best viewed with" suggestions and inverted finder scope views.
I think edition 4 would be fine also.
Larry
For visual:
10" Skywatcher collapsible goto dob, various EP's and a Celestron StarSense auto align.
For imaging:
Orion 8" astrograph 800mm @ F3.9
Eq6-R Pro controlled by APT via EQmod with an OTA mounted mini PC
Tele Vue Paracorr Type 2 coma corrector
Altair Hypercam 26C
10" Skywatcher collapsible goto dob, various EP's and a Celestron StarSense auto align.
For imaging:
Orion 8" astrograph 800mm @ F3.9
Eq6-R Pro controlled by APT via EQmod with an OTA mounted mini PC
Tele Vue Paracorr Type 2 coma corrector
Altair Hypercam 26C
- ChrisP90
- Earth Ambassador
- Articles: 0
- Posts: 27
- Joined: Tue Sep 03, 2019 3:13 pm
- 4
- Location: Wales
- Status:
Offline
Re: Beginner Reading Materials
Thanks all!
Book has been ordered! I ended up going for edition 5, thought I’d would last be longer. May feel less inclined to upgrade it as soon.
Looking forward to having a browse before my Scope is delivered for my birthday! The other half refuses to let me have it early!
Book has been ordered! I ended up going for edition 5, thought I’d would last be longer. May feel less inclined to upgrade it as soon.
Looking forward to having a browse before my Scope is delivered for my birthday! The other half refuses to let me have it early!
Telescope: Skywatcher Heritage 130P
Camera: Canon EOS 450D
Complete Novice, hoping to build my collection and in turn my signature!
Camera: Canon EOS 450D
Complete Novice, hoping to build my collection and in turn my signature!
- pakarinen
- Inter-Galactic Ambassador
- Articles: 0
- Posts: 4013
- Joined: Fri Jun 14, 2019 3:33 pm
- 4
- Location: NE Illinois
- Status:
Offline
-
TSS Awards Badges
Re: Beginner Reading Materials
Should mention that TLAO has a web page with more charts - bino, finder, etc.
=============================================================================
I drink tea, I read books, I look at stars when I'm not cursing clouds. It's what I do.
=============================================================================
AT50, AT72EDII, ST80, ST102; Scopetech Zero, AZ-GTi, AZ Pronto; Innorel RT90C, Oberwerk 5000; Orion Giantview 15x70s, Vortex 8x42s, Navy surplus 7x50s, Nikon 10x50s
I drink tea, I read books, I look at stars when I'm not cursing clouds. It's what I do.
=============================================================================
AT50, AT72EDII, ST80, ST102; Scopetech Zero, AZ-GTi, AZ Pronto; Innorel RT90C, Oberwerk 5000; Orion Giantview 15x70s, Vortex 8x42s, Navy surplus 7x50s, Nikon 10x50s
- Markmjm
- Mars Ambassador
- Articles: 0
- Posts: 115
- Joined: Sat Jul 06, 2019 6:00 pm
- 4
- Location: California
- Status:
Offline
Re: Beginner Reading Materials
This is another reason why I like this forum. I had never heard of the book "Turn Left At Orion". However, after seeing the posts recommending the book, I checked it out on Amazon, and now I'm going to order it. Thanks
- Baurice
- Vendor
- Articles: 0
- Posts: 1321
- Joined: Sun Aug 18, 2019 10:42 pm
- 4
- Location: England
- Status:
Offline
-
TSS Awards Badges
TSS Photo of the Day
Re: Beginner Reading Materials
There is a book section here also some of us here are writers and advertise in the Vendors section.
- jwnrw
- Earth Ambassador
- Articles: 0
- Posts: 4
- Joined: Tue Sep 17, 2019 9:19 pm
- 4
- Location: Ottawa, Canada
- Status:
Offline
Re: Beginner Reading Materials
Nightwatch is another great volume. When I first bought it a year ago, I sat down and read it cover to cover twice. It is now my #1 resource. TLAO is one I am also considering, but I think there is a lot of duplication across the two.
- pakarinen
- Inter-Galactic Ambassador
- Articles: 0
- Posts: 4013
- Joined: Fri Jun 14, 2019 3:33 pm
- 4
- Location: NE Illinois
- Status:
Offline
-
TSS Awards Badges
Re: Beginner Reading Materials
If you're learning the constellations, Barry's "Discover the Stars" is good. Nice charts and goes into a little detail on some objects.
More advanced is Sue French's "Deepsky Wonders".
BTW, I just saw a clean copy of TLAO at my local Half Price Books. $13 cheap!
More advanced is Sue French's "Deepsky Wonders".
BTW, I just saw a clean copy of TLAO at my local Half Price Books. $13 cheap!
=============================================================================
I drink tea, I read books, I look at stars when I'm not cursing clouds. It's what I do.
=============================================================================
AT50, AT72EDII, ST80, ST102; Scopetech Zero, AZ-GTi, AZ Pronto; Innorel RT90C, Oberwerk 5000; Orion Giantview 15x70s, Vortex 8x42s, Navy surplus 7x50s, Nikon 10x50s
I drink tea, I read books, I look at stars when I'm not cursing clouds. It's what I do.
=============================================================================
AT50, AT72EDII, ST80, ST102; Scopetech Zero, AZ-GTi, AZ Pronto; Innorel RT90C, Oberwerk 5000; Orion Giantview 15x70s, Vortex 8x42s, Navy surplus 7x50s, Nikon 10x50s
- raybiker73
- Earth Ambassador
- Articles: 0
- Posts: 8
- Joined: Tue Oct 01, 2019 1:47 am
- 4
- Location: Brady's Bend, PA USA
- Status:
Offline
Re: Beginner Reading Materials
I'm just getting started as well, and in addition to TLAO, which is really good, I also picked up a copy of "50 Things to See with a Small Telescope" by John A Read. It's a great book and seems to have gotten me off on the right foot. Hope this helps!
- helicon
- Co-Administrator
- Articles: 584
- Posts: 12274
- Joined: Mon May 06, 2019 1:35 pm
- 4
- Location: Washington
- Status:
Online
-
TSS Awards Badges
Re: Beginner Reading Materials
I think you'll enjoy TLAO. The sketches of what one sees at the eyepiece are very helpful.
-Michael
Refractors: ES AR152 f/6.5 Achromat on Twilight II, Celestron 102mm XLT f/9.8 on Celestron Heavy Duty Alt Az mount, KOWA 90mm spotting scope
Binoculars: Celestron SkyMaster 15x70, Bushnell 10x50
Eyepieces: Various, GSO Superview, 9mm Plossl, Celestron 25mm Plossl
Camera: ZWO ASI 120
Naked Eye: Two Eyeballs
Latitude: 48.7229° N
Refractors: ES AR152 f/6.5 Achromat on Twilight II, Celestron 102mm XLT f/9.8 on Celestron Heavy Duty Alt Az mount, KOWA 90mm spotting scope
Binoculars: Celestron SkyMaster 15x70, Bushnell 10x50
Eyepieces: Various, GSO Superview, 9mm Plossl, Celestron 25mm Plossl
Camera: ZWO ASI 120
Naked Eye: Two Eyeballs
Latitude: 48.7229° N
- pakarinen
- Inter-Galactic Ambassador
- Articles: 0
- Posts: 4013
- Joined: Fri Jun 14, 2019 3:33 pm
- 4
- Location: NE Illinois
- Status:
Offline
-
TSS Awards Badges
Re: Beginner Reading Materials
Definitely helps manage your expectations so you're not expecting to see Hubble-quality views.
=============================================================================
I drink tea, I read books, I look at stars when I'm not cursing clouds. It's what I do.
=============================================================================
AT50, AT72EDII, ST80, ST102; Scopetech Zero, AZ-GTi, AZ Pronto; Innorel RT90C, Oberwerk 5000; Orion Giantview 15x70s, Vortex 8x42s, Navy surplus 7x50s, Nikon 10x50s
I drink tea, I read books, I look at stars when I'm not cursing clouds. It's what I do.
=============================================================================
AT50, AT72EDII, ST80, ST102; Scopetech Zero, AZ-GTi, AZ Pronto; Innorel RT90C, Oberwerk 5000; Orion Giantview 15x70s, Vortex 8x42s, Navy surplus 7x50s, Nikon 10x50s
- LDW47
- Jupiter Ambassador
- Articles: 0
- Posts: 245
- Joined: Sat Aug 17, 2019 5:57 pm
- 4
- Location: north bay,ontario,canada
- Status:
Offline
Re: Beginner Reading Materials
Get a copy of NightWatch a very comprehensive book that explains all aspects of this great hobby in laymans terms not just where to find sky objects. It does incl. excellent sky maps of both the northern and southern hemispheres. I believe the latest is the 4th or 5th edition ?ChrisP90 wrote: ↑Thu Sep 12, 2019 4:00 pm Hey All,
I’ve been looking online at some reading material to give me some basic knowledge before my first scope arrives. I’ve seen some good reviews mainly on “turn left at Orion”.
Is this the go to book for a beginner or are there alternatives that people recommend?
Is it worth paying £25.00 for edition 5, over paying £4 for edition 4.
I know it’ll have updates but as a beginner, how important will updated tables and charts be?
Thanks again guys!
Create an account or sign in to join the discussion
You need to be a member in order to post a reply
Create an account
Not a member? register to join our community
Members can start their own topics & subscribe to topics
It’s free and only takes a minute