A Field Guide to Double Star Observing, by Joe DalSanto

Ordering Information | Contents | Comments

What's in the Guide?

Do you find deep-sky observing difficult from your light-polluted backyard? Are deep-sky objects disappointingly faint and fuzzy? Double stars are the perfect objects to observe with small telescopes from your backyard. You'll do more observing and enjoy it more because they are easy to find and easy to see. Everything you need to get started is found in "A Field Guide to Double Star Observing". It includes introductory and "how-to" chapters, four seasonal star-hops with numerous eyepiece sketches, and a catalog of over 400 doubles for small scopes with room for your observations. Softbound, water resistant cover for use at the telescope, 145 pages.

Download Joe's :

• Catalog sorted by Constellation in Adobe Acrobat format. (3 MB)
• Catalog sorted by Right Ascension in Adobe Acrobat format. (3 MB)

Contents

• Introduction to Double Star Observing
  • Observing Doubles - The Experience
  • Star Colors & Types
  • Stellar Distances and Orbits
  • A Brief History of Double Star Observing
• Observing Double Stars
  • How to Observe
  • Telescopes
  • Eyepieces
  • Accessories
  • Star Atlases
  • Observing Conditions
  • Finding Your Target
  • The Observation
  • Documenting your Observations
• An Autumn Star Hop
• A Winter Star Hop
• A Spring Star Hop
• A Summer Star Hop
• A Catalog of the Finest Stars

Comments

The Field Guide to Double Star Observing is a must have resource for Amateur Astronomers. Many of us don't go out and observe when the conditions are not ideal for deep sky observations whether it be light pollution at home or a moon-lit night. What a waste! DalSanto makes it abundantly clear in this guide just how captivating and exciting observing double stars can be.  This guide describes why stars are various colors along with many other interesting features that points the way to understanding what you are seeing. For example, did you know that Orion's Betelgeuse is a red star which is cool while Rigel is blue and super hot? This kind of knowledge makes intelligent observing possible.

DalSanto also give vivid descriptions of 400 of his 'choice' double stars that are obtainable in most of our scopes. He includes many of his sketches as well. He also takes a couple of chapters to explain observing equipment while explaining that simplicity is best.

I highly recommend this guide to fill in the rest of your nights that you can't do deep sky observations!

Andy Weeks - President,
Fox Valley Astronomical Society

It's very nice; I've very much enjoyed looking thru it, and found it very useful. I think it's great for beginners especially, but also useful for more advanced amateurs. I very much like the attitude you put into it about the fun of it, downgrading the need for advanced equipment.

Jim Kaler,
Professor of Astronomy,
University of Illinois,
Champaign, IL

It is complete and well-organized and it is a good introductory guide; yours is one of the books I'd like to have to fill the nights with projects.

John Mosley,
former Sky & Telescope columnist,
Griffith Observatory,
Los Angeles, CA

It is going to be outstanding for the beginning amateur astronomer and I am happy to see the approach of enjoying the beauty of the universe rather than a lot of technical details; I think this is an outstanding work and I am impressed with your knowledge and ability to communicate your love for the subject. I don't think there is any other monograph quite like this one. It is also significant that while it is primarily written for the beginner or novice double star observer, the excellent seasonal star-hops give the sophisticated observer something he can use as well. I think that this should be required reading for anyone who is thinking of astronomy as a hobby. It contains a lot of practical information about observational astronomy in general, and I think it makes more sense to start being a good double star observer before going off to look for galaxies and nebulae.

Gy Okeson,
National Deep Sky
Observer's Society,
Double star columnist,
Glenwood, MN

I like it. Your writing style is easy to read. It's one of the few astro things I've read that didn't make me feel stupid. I can tell a down-to-earth guy wrote it. Recently I began compiling a list of doubles to look for. Your book has made my list more complete. I like how your list is compiled; I find research very rewarding; it makes time spent at the eyepiece very productive. I like the way you stress this fact. I like your book; keep up the good work!

Joe Donahue
Rydal, PA

I just wanted to let you know how much I enjoy your book on double stars. It's very informative and well-written. I will be sure to recommend it to all my club members.It is a delightful observing guide, very well written and concise. Thanks again for a fabulous observing guide!

Steve Staley
Columbus, OH

It's going to help me greatly in my quest of double star viewing...your book, well, it's kind of like the yellow brick road to this most fascinating part of visual astronomy.

Bill Becker
Casper WY

I am really impressed with the amount of time and work that it must have taken to do this (as well as the know- ledge itself)...very impressive.

Glenn Smith
Hattiesburg, MS