Messier and NGC Reference Manual

[Airconvent]

Hi Rich,

Not the one you bought at the borders bargain bin, but the one you use normally for obbing? It should be able to serve your purposes.

I actually have 3 books.
1. Philips Guide to Stars and Planets byPatrick Moore
2. Stars and Planets by Ian Ridpath.
3. StarGazer's Essential Handbook - The Rough Guide to the Universe by John Sealzi.

Ian Ridpath's book goes by constellation and in full colour with easy to read beginner's text. However, it does not have the full "M" list and even a smaller NGC selection. Cost : $26 although current selling price in bookshops is $40!

The second book is better with more stars and objects shown but the charts are so small they are a challenge to read even in normal light! Cost : $28.

The last book I bought from Borders fairly recently. The charts are big and there are reasonably good selection of objects shown. But for some reason, it highlights the milky way as dotted area, making reading difficult. For Scorpius, it correctly names the Butterfly and Ptolemy's cluster but does not indicate their messier numbers, i.e. M6 and M7. Price : $33.

Rich

[rlow]

the sky catalogue 2000 vol.2 which list all the NGCs and ICs

Update: this book gives listings with details of all dbl stars, variable stars and non-stellar objects (deepsky objects) shown in sky atlas 2000 ( total about 2500 DSOs). It categorise by types, eg, diffuse nebula, galaxies etc.

A good deepsky reference would be "Observing Handbook and Catalogue of Deep Sky Objects". It categorise 2050 deep sky objects by constellation and give description of what the object looks like thru a 60mm, 150mm, 250mm and 300mm scope.

For starters, I also have a listing of all Messier & Cadwell Objects. Let me know if you want a copy.

[Airconvent]

the sky catalogue 2000 vol.2 which list all the NGCs and ICs

Update: this book gives listings with details of all dbl stars, variable stars and non-stellar objects (deepsky objects) shown in sky atlas 2000 ( total about 2500 DSOs). It categorise by types, eg, diffuse nebula, galaxies etc.

A good deepsky reference would be "Observing Handbook and Catalogue of Deep Sky Objects". It categorise 2050 deep sky objects by constellation and give description of what the object looks like thru a 60mm, 150mm, 250mm and 300mm scope.

For starters, I also have a listing of all Messier & Cadwell Objects. Let me know if you want a copy.

hi richII
will take a look when we next meet for obs...heh heh