"The quality of the deep-sky images is outstanding—a tribute to the various photographers as well as the book's printer. But it's the written word that will make or break a book like this, and Sue's writing is superb... [For] an occasional stargazer, a serious observer, or anyone in between, you won't go wrong with
Deep-Sky Wonders
. This is a great introduction to deep-sky stargazing for novice and experienced amateur astronomers alike."
—Mercury
, publication of the Astronomical Society of the Pacific
Sue French writes the popular column "Deep-Sky Wonders" for
Sky and Telescope
magazine and also teaches deep sky observation. She has earned a loyal following among enthusiasts and is welcomed by beginners for her skill at presenting astronomy in an understandable way. After selling 10,000 copies of
in hardcover, we expect a good response for this paperback edition at an accessible price.
is a collection of 100 of French's best "Deep-Sky Wonders" columns originally published in
, which has a monthly readership exceeding 100,000. The book is organized by season and subdivided into months for a total of 100 in-depth tours of the deep sky. Each deep sky tour illuminates little-known seasonal wonders that lie off the beaten path.
Features include:
Full-color photographs and detailed sketches of each deep sky tour
Descriptions of double and variable stars, star clusters, nebulae, galaxies and exotics
Historical and scientific background of particular interest
A tabular listing of the deep-sky sites
Color charts showing the position of each target in the night sky
An index to all of the deep-sky objects covered.
also features a variety of challenging objects that encourage observers to test the limits of their equipment and skills. Suitable for beginner and intermediate small-scope astronomers as well as large-scope viewers and astrophotographers, this book will be greeted enthusiastically by all
readers. It is also an outstanding introduction to deep-sky viewing for novice observers.