Turn Left at Orion: Hundreds of Night Sky Objects to See in a Home Telescope – and How to Find Them 4th Edition

I’ve looked at about 4 other astronomy guide books, but this one is my favorite. It’s hard to describe, but when first starting with astronomy, everything can look quite similar. This book has just the right type of diagrams to mark the guidepost stars and get you going on your way. Illustrations are there for two different types of telescope viewfinders, and one of them doubles as what you’d see through binoculars.

1) What hardware should I buy, and advice,hints, cautions for using it.A good book here, and the one often recommended online is:The Backyard Astronomers Guide by Dickinson and Dyer.2) What do the interesting objects look like through an amateur telescope.No one book is a standard popular choice on this, I like Seeing Stars by C.R. Kitchin.Although about $80 new, I bought one in very good condition used at Amazon for about $16.3) How to find the object you now wish to observe.This book, Turn Left At Orion.Which of the three types is most valuable to the beginner, I would say 3).Unfortunately as I write this the Amazon Peek Inside is useless for evaluating the book because only the first few pages can be seen and those pages tell nothing about what the book is mainly about. Google Books online will show more pages including many from the middle which will illustrate the help given for each of the 100 or so objects. Unfortunately as I write this Google Books site is showing an older edition (2000 / edition 3) which is arranged differently than the newer (2011 / 4th edition). And I think the newer edition is better in every way!Views shown for each of the 100 or so interesting sky objects:1) "where to look view" a naked eye view of a portion of the sky with a label of where the object is inside that view.The old edition will have 1 to 4 scope icons which is how great the view is through a small 3" refractor telescope.It will also have 1 to 4 Dobsonian icons representing how great the view is through a dobsonian telescope (these usually have more power and light gathering ability).The new edition adds a third icon set 1 to 4 binocular icons which is how the great the view would be through binoculars. Binocs have less power but greater width of field. The large objects look their best when you can see it all at once, i.e. the binoculars are the best device to use.The new edition will show the same "where to look" view except the view is bigger, i.e. if you measure the size of the pictureas printed on the page, in the new edition it will be more inches wide and tall. Obviously that is better.2) "in the finderscope" view S on top N on bottom W on left and E on right and an arrow pointing the direction the stars will drift over time.This is not the view thru the telescope, it is the view through the auxiliary viewing device every amateur will place on his scope with a lower power view. This makes it easy to find things. Once it is found in the finderscope, it will also now can be seen in the main telescope.The new edition has the same view. But they are all slightly different as the authors have reviewed all objects in their scopes and now have what they consider better diagrams. I.E. you may sometimes get a better idea how large each star is, and sometimes there is a few more stars shown. In other words they have done what they consider some improvement in each of these, but the changes are minor.The old edition is just about as good.3) " in a small telescope" view. N on top S on bottom E on right W on left. Upside down, but not changed right to left. This is how a 3" refractor telescope would view the object.The old and new both have a similar view. But they are all slightly different in the new edition.The old edition is just about as good.4) "In a Dobsonian view". S on top, N on bottom, E on right and W on left.This is how starfields are oriented thru a Dob. There is no star diagonal which is why the view is upside down. Also more stars will be shown than view 3. This is because Dob has a wider mirror than a refractor lens, cost for cost. The Dob gathers more light. And so weaker stars may be seen.These views are not given in the old edition. It is given for every one of the objects in the new edition.If you have a Dobsonion, (instead of a refractor) then the new edition will be of far greater use.A. Dobsonian , B. refractor, C. Newtonian, D. catadioptricBetween A. and B., the refractor is quicker to set up, lighter, more rugged, more hassle free (e.g. far less likely to ever require collimation). But the dob has bigger optics, it will see fainter stars (dollar for dollar).C. Newtonian reflector: optics like a Dob A, but mounted on a tripod like a refractor B.D. catadioptirc: Optics are a combination of lenses and mirrors , i.e. optics are a combination of A. and B. optics. And type D can be found for purchase mounted on a tripod like B (usually) but sometimes like a Dob A (especially smaller, cheaper catadioptrics).A and C are open to the sky (the internal optics can get dirtied by dust far, far, easier).B and D are have closed and sealed optical tubes. Eventually dust can enter.----------------Take what is below with a large grain of salt.My advice for someone who will have the scope stored and used at home is A.If you are going to have to pack up the scope and drive quite a ways, usually over bumpy roads, to find a dark site, I chose B.If you are going to do both a lot, then my choice would be C. or D.If you are going to have to pack up the scope and travel a short way, say to a local astronomy club meeting at a dark sky area, then I don't know, its about a tie in my opinion. If forced, I would take A. and probably a big one.There will be many folks who recommend A, B, C, or D as the best all around choice, all have their fans for use by beginners.Take everything after the ------------------- with a grain of salt. Opinions vary. But the book review above the ------ is, in my opinion, accurate and reliable.A and C are have their main optics open to the air, thus they can get dirty from dust over time.B and D have the optical tube sealed.

This offers a straightforward approach to learning about constellations and finding interesting celestial objects. It provides realistic expectations for what to find looking through small and medium sized apertures, useful in deterring frustration for not getting results like those published on the internet or in magazines. This is a great reference book for choosing something to look at in the sky.

This book is like sitting at the feet of the authors who share, in plain language, a whole body of knowledge in a kind, yet to-the-point style. All the content is substantive and appropriate for older kids through adults. It’s not a kids book, being aimed at adults, but if you’ve got a kid who is a strong reader and science minded, the reading level is fine. My 10yo and I are enjoying this together but it’s definitely Mama’s book as it’s not for the rougher environment of a kids room. He can refer to it and then take that knowledge to the telescope.Compared to an app or google etc, I’m finding this book has more info that is appropriate to my knowledge (or lack thereof) as I don’t have a physics or even strong science background. With the prerequisite of just liking science and the night sky, the way this book is written helps me bridge that gap and get up to speed so I can understand more of the conversation and share that with my child. It also makes me sound like I know what I’m talking about! Ha. I like to use it in conjunction with the app Star walk.Overall, I highly recommend this book and find it definitely holds its own even in these days of apps and google.

Recomendo pra iniciantes e experientes

It starts with the very basics of theory of how to use a telescope and then it goes to observation of Sky Objects divided in "Moon", "Planets" and "DeepSky Objects by Seasons". It can also be very useful for those who does not have a tracking mount as it provides good instructions of how to find each objects.Objects have some technical explanation and some drawings of how it is expected to see the object in binoculars and low power telescopes which is good because you know exactly what you are going to see

Love the sketches as viewed through an 8 inch dob which I have. A little heavy but no issues for me. There are a lot of positive reviews which I agree with. Good reading and reference material throughout. This book is a 'must have' accessory for amateur and seasoned astromomers alike, or anyone interested in our universe.

For identifying Sky objects.

Easy to understand - great info