NightWatch: A Practical Guide to Viewing the Universe

Price: $33.19
(as of Oct 13, 2023 06:48:25 UTC – Details)

As NightWatch, Terence Dickinson’s classic stargazing guide, neared its 40th anniversary, Dickinson worked with a small group of trusted colleagues to give this groundbreaking reference an overhaul that will take it deep into the 21st century. Longtime astronomy writer and sky observer Ken Hewitt-White led the editorial team. A central aspect to this new edition is the subtle improvements to the unique seasonal star charts that present a 360-degree simulation of the night sky on one page and identify the stars and constellations on the facing page. Yet it is Dickinson’s clear, jargon-free language that will continue to inspire hundreds of thousands of people around the world to take up recreational astronomy.

Much has happened in this popular hobby since the revised Fourth Edition of NightWatch was published in 2006. In response, the text has been substantially revised and updated throughout all 13 chapters. Moreover, the book has been completely redesigned and most of its many photographs have been replaced. A noted feature is the variety of superb astrophotos of star clusters, nebulas, galaxies and other celestial phenomena taken by accomplished amateur astronomers. Lavishly illustrated sections on the Moon and planets will inspire novice observers of the solar system. To accommodate the extensive revisions, NightWatch has grown from 192 pages to 208 pages. With the release of the Fifth Edition, we are also launching a new website, NightWatchBook.com, that will offer links to additional resources and will be regularly updated with information on new celestial events and equipment.

Since the First Edition of NightWatch was released in 1983, the most significant transformations in amateur astronomy have been in optics and technology. For all the latest on gadgets and gear, renowned astrophotographer Alan Dyer, Dickinson’s coauthor of The Backyard Astronomer’s Guide, has contributed an entirely new chapter on basic digital astrophotography. Dyer has also modernized a key portion of an enlarged chapter on stargazing equipment, creating a welcoming place in NightWatch for today’s computerized telescopes.

Stargazing enthusiasts of all levels of experience will discover much of value in an enduring reference conceived by one of the most respected names in amateur astronomy. This must-have Fifth Edition includes:

a comprehensive, all-season guide to the night sky constellation charts covering both northern- and southern-hemisphere skies, making NightWatch a truly global resource tips on choosing binoculars and telescopes and taking astrophotos highlights of major features on the Moon to guide the budding lunar explorer lists of solar and lunar eclipses, planet locations and the best lunar and planetary conjunctions to 2035 a range of resources for further study.

From the Publisher

Updated and expanded, this next-generation NightWatch features all-new chapters on equipment and astrophotography, fully revised deep-sky charts and scores of new photographs.

Astrophotography

Here is an image of the Alberta badlands at night. Low, warm lighting from a rising Moon (outside the frame) enhanced this 2-minute tracked exposure at ISO 1600 and f/2.8 (sky), blended with a 5-minute exposure at f/4 and ISO 800 (ground), all with a 15mm-35mm zoom lens and a Canon R6 on a Star Adventurer Mini tracker.

Saturn

This exceptional image was taken by the Hubble Space Telescope on June 20, 2019, when Saturn was near its annual closest approach to Earth—a distance of about 1.4 billion kilometers. Notice that the dusky inner “threads” of the otherwise highly reflective ring system are so thin that Saturn’s globe of banded clouds shines through them. Image courtesy NASA/ESA/A. Simon/M.H. Wong and the OPAL Team.

Earth

This detailed portrait of Earth was captured on May 5, 2022, by the GOES-18 geostationary satellite. Image courtesy NASA/NOAA.

Earthshine

Sunlight reflecting off Earth imparts a ghostly glow to the nightside of the Moon. Stunningly beautiful in any telescope, Earthshine is most obvious at crescent phase. Even viewed through binoculars, a crescent Moon is startlingly sharp and clear, with a few dozen craters and rugged mountain peaks plainly visible. Photo by Alan Dyer.

Solar eclipse

Etching a narrow path of totality across the United States, the solar eclipse of August 21, 2017, allowed millions to view the Sun’s gossamer corona and spectacular diamond ring effect. This montage, taken from rural Idaho, captured the two-minute totality from diamond to diamond. Photo by Alan Dyer.

Comets

Bright enough to be an attention grabber even amid city lights, Comet Hale-Bopp was first magnitude or greater throughout most of March and April 1997. This spectacular comet sported two magnificent tails. The lovely blue tail was composed of gas excited to luminescence by the solar wind, while the almost featureless white tail was particles of dust illuminated by sunlight. At its best, the dust tail spanned some 100 million kilometers. Photo by Terence Dickinson.

IN THIS EDITION

• Spectacular new images from amateur astrophotographers plus recent pictures from interplanetary probes and space telescopes

• Thoughtful restructuring and a complete redesign

• Separate paired sets of easy-to-use seasonal constellation charts for observing in the northern and southern hemispheres

• In-depth advice and tips on equipment and astrophotography

• Charts, tables and data good for use through 2035

Publisher ‏ : ‎ Firefly Books; Fifth Edition, Completely Revised and Expanded for Use Through 2035 (September 7, 2023)
Language ‏ : ‎ English
Spiral-bound ‏ : ‎ 208 pages
ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 0228104394
ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0228104391
Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 3.2 pounds
Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 11 x 0.44 x 11 inches