Visual Deep Sky Observing

Observations and sketches of the Deep Sky

Links

Here are some links to my favourite deep sky-related websites. Also, you will find listed books and magazines, as well as other resources connected with deep sky astronomy. All links open in a new window.

Websites:

Personal home pages:

Tutorials, etc

  • Andy's Shot Glass (US) Brilliant website full of information and video tutorials on subjects such as collimation, mirror cleaning, observing and so on.

Info:

  • WEBDA (SUI) A site devoted to stellar clusters in the Milky Way and Magellanic Clouds
  • Messier45.com (NOR) Mikkel Steine's website with resources for the deep sky observer. Includes a list generator, etc.
  • NGC/IC Project home page (US) Corrects the various errors in the New General and Index Catalogues. Large links page

Forums:

  • Cloudy Nights Forum (US) A forum for amateur astronomers, covering all aspects of amateur astronomy.
  • AmAstro Yahoo Group A retromoderated mailing list dedicated to the discussion of amateur astronomy, with an emphasis on observing.
  • Astrosketch A moderated, members-only list dedicated to sketching astronomical objects, from the Moon and planets to the Deep Sky.
  • Ice In Space (AUS) Australian astronomy forum, but worthwhile for Northern Hemisphere observers, too, especially those of us who have been there or those who wish to go there. 
  • DeepSkyHunters A Yahoo Group dedicated to the exchange of useful information between amateur and professional astronomers.
  • Telescope Junkies (US) Telescope forum full of useful info and advice 
  • Our Dark Skies Excellent small amateur astronomy forum 
  • Starstuff Small forum for astronomy and alternative living discussion. As an atheist it's nice to be able to discuss the stupidity of religion and creationism with similarly-inclined folks without invoking the wrath of the forum powers-that-be! 

 

Star Parties:

Clubs, Societies and Groups:

 

Fighting Light Pollution:

 

Software:

  • GraphDark Richard Fleet's program showing where the sky is dark, at what time and how long for. Excellent software which can be downloaded.
  • AstroPlanner Another excellent bit of software which is downloadable for a small fee or for free (depending on your conscience!).
  • Hallo Northern Sky Another free downloadable chart program.
  • MegaStar Expensive, but good.

 

Equipment:

Books and periodicals

Books:

  • Hickson Group Observer's Guide by Alvin Huey, published by the author and available from him via his website
  • Abell Planetaries Observer's Guide by Alvin Huey. Details as for the Hickson Group Observer's Guide
  • The Night Sky Observer's Guide Volumes 1 and 2 by Kepple and Sanner, Willmann-Bell,1998
  • Observe the Herschel Objects published by the Astronomical League
  • Observe Herschel II published by the Astronomical League
  • Visual Astronomy of the Deep Sky by R.N. Clark. Published by Cambrige University Press, Cambridge and Sky Publishing Corporation, Cambridge, MA 1990
  • Galaxies and the Universe by D. Eicher Published by Kalmbach Publishing Co., Waukesha, WI, 1992
  • Stars and Galaxies by D. Eicher. Published by Kalmbach Publishing Co., Waukesha, WI, 1992
  • The Webb Society Deep Sky Observer's Handbooks:
  • Volume One: Double Stars; Volume Two: Planetary and Gaseous Nebulae; Volume Three: Open and Globular Clusters; Volume Four: Galaxies; Volume Five: Clusters of Galaxies; Volume Six: Anonymous Galaxies; Volume Seven: The Southern Sky. This series is now, sadly, out of print, but secondhand copies should be obtainable.
  • The Messier Album by E. Kreimer and J. Mallas. Published by Sky Publishing Corp., Cambridge, MA, 1978
  • Observing Handbook and Catalogue of Deep Sky Objects, by C. Luginbuhl and B. Skiff, Cambridge University Press, 1990
  • Hartung's Astronomical Objects for Southern telescopes 2nd Edition, by D. Malin and D.J. Frew. Published by Melbourne University Press, Melbourne, 1995.
  • Deep Sky Reisefuehrer : Nebel, Sternhaufen und Galaxien mit eigenen Augen entdecken (Deep Sky Travelguide: Discover Nebulae, Star Clusters and Galaxies with your own eyes) by Ronald Stoyan, published by Oculum, Erlangen, Germany, 2000. German text, but great drawings make it worth purchasing for anyone.
  • Year Round Messier Marathon Guide by H. Pennington, published by Willmann-Bell, Richmond, VA, 1998
  • Atlas of Deep Sky Splendors by H. Vehrenberg, published by Treugesell-Verlag, Dusseldorf, 1967. Not sure if this is still in print.
  • And I guess I have to mention this little publication! An Introduction to Visual Deep Sky Observing by Faith Jordan (yep, me). Published by, and obtainable from, the Webb Society, 1999
  • Astronomical Sketching: A Step-by-Step Introduction (Patrick Moore's Practical Astronomy) by Richard Handy, Sol Robbins, Erika Rix, Jeremy Perez and David B. Moody. Published by Springer-Verlag, New York, 2006

Most books can be obtained from Amazon

 

 

Star Atlases:

  • Uranometria 2000.0 Volume 1: The Northern Hemisphere to -6 degrees and Volume 2: The Southern Hemisphere to +6 degrees by W. Tirion, B. Rappaport and G. Lovi. Published by Willmann-Bell Inc, Richmond, VA, 1987
  • Sky Atlas 2000.0 Sky Publishing Corp., Cambridge, MA
  • Millennium Star Atlas. Sky Publishing Corporation, cambridge, MA, 1998. Very expensive this one!

 

Magazines and Periodicals:

  • Astronomy (USA), Kalmbach Publishing Co., Waukesha, Wisconsin. Monthly. Found in most decent newsagents.
  • Amateur Astronomy Magazine (US) Published by Charlie and Margie Warren, Nashville, TN, USA. Subscription only.
  • Astronomy Now (UK), Pole Star Publications Ltd. Monthly. Found in most UK newsagents.  
  • The Deep Sky Observer (UK). Journal of the Webb Society (subscription only). Quarterly.
  • Sky and Telescope (USA) Sky Publishing Corp., Cambridge, MA. Monthly. Found in most newsagents.
  • Deep Sky magazine (USA). Unfortunately no longer in print, but back issues may be available from the publisher (as Astronomy magazine). It was one of the best ever deep sky magazines and an invaluable reference source if you can get your hands on back issues.
  • The Observer's Guide (USA), published by AstroCards. Also out of print in magazine format, but has been resurrected in book form as the Night Sky Observer's Guide in two volumes (see "Books").
  • Ciel Extreme (France) Small French publication but covering numerous deep sky observing topics. French Language. Also a website (see Links above).
  • Interstellarum (Germany) Unfortunately also no longer in print, but back issues may be available.
  • Ursa Minor (Finland). Finnish Language astronomy magazine with much Deep Sky content.

And there's these:

 

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