Part 3: Advanced Observers
by Richard Rosenberg
Here we discuss materials useful for the advanced observer, by which we mean a large telescope user (8-inches or more). No longer satisfied with the “top 40” well-known objects, the advanced observer hunts out the “faint fuzzies” — those clusters, nebulae, and galaxies at the limit of vision.
Many resources mentioned previously are still quite useful here. I mention especially Guy Ottewell’s yearlyˆàASTRONOMICAL CALENDAR, Phil Harrington’sˆàSTAR WAREˆàand hisˆàweb site, and some of the more advanced guides and atlases that appeared in theˆàprevious article.
This is a good place to mention a resource I’ve neglected up to now — newsgroups on the web. These are collections of individuals with a common interest who send e-mails to each other.ˆàYAHOO! GROUPSˆàhas hundreds of astronomy-related newsgroups.ˆà These groups may be made of general observers, owners of particular scopes, people who like to sketch astronomical objects at the eyepiece.ˆà You’ll probably find a group of interest.
Guidebooks
A list of books for the advanced observer must begin withˆàBURNHAM’S CELESTIAL HANDBOOKˆàby Robert Burnham, Jr. (3 volumes, Dover; $19.95 each). Organized in alphabetical order by constellation, a large number of deep-sky objects are listed by category (double stars, variable stars, clusters, nebulae, galaxies). What makes the book famous is its often-expansive commentary on objects of special interest to the author.
Another book I enjoy isˆàSTAR-HOPPING, by Robert Garfinkle (Cambridge University Press; $32.99). After general observing tips and a description of how to star-hop at an advanced level, 1 – 3 tours are described for each month. These are very extensive and objects vary from bright stars to obscure deep-sky objects. This book is to observing what the “Hubble Deep Field” is to astrophotography — an area of the sky is examined in minute detail.
TheˆàSKY WATCHER’S HANDBOOKˆà(James Muirden, editor; W. H. Freeman; $35), covers all aspects of observing at an advanced level.ˆà Planets, meteors, comets, deep-sky objects, novae/supernovae, photography, photometry and astrometry are covered.
Star Charts
An atlas to suit the advanced observer isˆàURANOMETRIA 2000ˆà(2 volumes, plus a field guide; Willmann-Bell; $49.95 each volume; $59.95 for the field guide), which displays stars to magnitude 9.5 and over 30,000 deep-sky objects.ˆà The field guide serves as an extensive index.
Even more complete is theˆàMILLENNIUM STAR ATLASˆà(3 volumes; Sky Publishing; now $149.95 in softcover) with stars to magnitude 11 and up-to-date star positions and magnitudes taken from the Hipparcos satellite.ˆà There are over 10,000 deep-sky objects displayed.
Websites
THE NGC-IC PROJECTˆàis a wonderful web site for info on the New General Catalogue and Index Catalogue. These are compendiums of deep-sky objects somewhat fainter than the Messier objects. The original catalogues are on-line in their entirety.ˆà Or enter an item (say NGC 1234) and get a photo (if available), its coordinates, magnitude, description and so forth. Check out the best set of advanced astronomy links I know of.
CapellaSoft (the maker of SkyTools software) maintains theˆàSKYHOUNDˆàwebsite. Updated monthly, there is an Observer’s Page, describing the faint fuzzies best seen this month, currently-visible comets, and there’s a feature article, as well as links to other “heavy-duty” observer web pages.ˆà (More resources on comets will be found inˆàPart 4.)
TheˆàHAWAIIAN ASTRONOMICAL SOCIETYˆàweb site has a lot of great stuff for anyone interested in astronomy. For the advanced observer in particular, there is an on-line DeepSky Atlas. For nearly every constellation, you have maps suitable for both the naked-eye and a large-telescope.ˆà The latter maps are complete to magnitude 10, with deep-sky objects to magnitude 12.ˆà In addition, there are photos, descriptions, and finder charts for selected objects.
Regrettably, one area of observing I have not covered is astrophotography, as I have little knowledge in this area. Perhaps someone better suited than I can provide information in a subsequent article.ˆà Lookˆàhereˆàfor Sky & Telescope articles on the subject.
In theˆàfinal installment,ˆàwe’ll cover some miscellaneous areas — reference works, astronomy magazines, virtual “observing” on your computer, and how to keep track of what’s up.