Choosing and Using a Refracting Telescope (The Patrick Moore Practical Astronomy Series)

If you are looking for a book to provide the ins and outs concerning refractors, stop here. And if you like to read a well written book would like to acquire knowledge concerning refracters, you have the right book.Unlike a lot of offerings in this area, this book is well organized, well illustrated, and well written. We are provided with a good, abridged history lesson on the subject of the refractor. Then the writer gets a bit technical without losing the reader. He explains how the refractor works, the inherant problems concerning that type of scope, and how those problems were addressed by various craftmen. He then provides reviews of various scopes.Nothing is perfect, so I suppose there had to be problems. And it was at this point some strange issues appeared. I am somewhat confused by the scopesvthe writer choose to review. Now, this maybe due to the approach and style of writing the author choose to use, an informal approach to the subject. None the less he neglects some scopes that I feel should have been included in his reviews. An example is the 90mm long tube achromate. The 90mm is a very popular choice for a beginners instrument and also for observing planets. Yet this scope is not mentioned. On the other hand, he spends an inordinate amount of time on some scopes that are so rare it is doubtful they should rate that much written space. This approach was confusing to me and forced me to backtrack through the book to see what I must have missed. Unfortunately, I have not missed a thing.It’s hard to see the writers purpose given the inconsistancies in his choice concerning the scopes he choose to review and the space allotted to each scope. It would have been helpful if he had provided some type of chart or list with some stats. Even more to be point, shorter more concise reviews of a wider scope selection would have been more pleasing to the reader.Even with those misgivings I still rate this as a very good book. You seldom find an offering in this area that provides this level of info.Do, Anyone wanting to know more about refractors or would like a nice short reference work, would do good to get this book.

Neil English has a passion for refractors and he isn't afraid to sing its praises!Nowadays, it would seem that refractors have taken a back seat to more popular, compact designs like the Schmidt-Cass, Maksutov, or amateur astronomy's workhorse, the Newtonian. But Mr. English pleads the case for the iconic refractor and the quality of its still superior images. He covers every design type with in-depth chapters ranging from; the history of the refractor, the traditional classical f/15 refractor, instruments of faster ratios, special dispersion glass, apochromatics, and the future of the refracting telescope. English also devotes chapters to the refractor's peculiarity of design and presents a strong case as to why the venerable, classical f/15 refractor still reigns supreme. The closing chapter covers the classical refractor's more recent popularity and quiet comeback.Neil English loves refractors and his enthusiasm sometimes leaps off the page. But, his work is methodical and he backs his observations and examples with hard evidence, calling on optical experts and professional astronomers to rally for his cause.If you are a hardcore refractor man, Neil English is preaching to the choir. If you are considering purchasing a refractor, this book is a revelation. If you like telescopes, this book is simply a joy to read.I have been a dedicated refractor owner, and user, for more than 34 years. Looking through a long focus, "classical" refractor for the first time is an experience that is truly sublime. And, it stays with some amateur astronomers for a lifetime.

If you are thinking about buying a refractor telescope, read this book first. By the time you are done, you will understand the differences and similarities between Achromatic and Apochromatic refractors and which type is best for you. You will learn about the types of "glass" used in refractor lenses and why some kinds of glass are better than others. This is important because the type of glass used on the telescope has a direct bearing on its ability to snap to focus and diminish or eliminate false colors. The kinds of glass used also has a direct impact on your checkbook. Generally speaking, the better the glass, the more costly the scope.Choosing and Using a Refracting Telescope was published in 2011 and is pretty much up-to-date in its product information, particularly in regard to which telescope manufacturers are leaders in their field. The book covers telescopes of all sizes and prices and makes comparison shopping much easier. I particularly like the fact the Mr. English speaks his mind about why one scope may be better than another and he is not hesitant to make recommendations. Neil English is also an excellent writer so reading the book is a pleasant experience. He takes difficult subjects and presents them in such a way that even amateur astronomers can understand them. I rate this one 5 stars.

Generally an OK read if you love refractors (as I do) and have several (as I do), but the author seems to bias achromatic refractors, although there is nothing inherently wrong with that as I love them too, also having owned several. However what *is* wrong is there are several misleading statements quoting owner hyperbole and comparisons with no empirical evidence as fact which could be doing potential purchasers a disservice. Email me if you want the misleading statements corrected by someone who HAS empirical evidence of such, or just want to know what they are.

I've just finished reading this wonderful, comprehensive review of the world of refracting telescopes at the present time. As a telescope owner it has given me ideas on how to upgrade my existing instrument to get much more out of it. It's a pity that a paperback book like this is so expensive, but I don't suppose there are economies of scale to be made.Bill Samson

Neil English has produced an informative and very useful guide to the way that refractors are designed, and how best to make use of the different types. His descriptions are sufficiently technical to facilitate understanding, but not so technical as to overwhelm the lay reader. An excellent read!

Great information with practical examples. The Author had big experience with a lot of refractors and wrote lots of reviews.

This is an excellent book.I bought it to help me make my first choice of a refractor telescope, and as a complete novice I found it good but a litle overwhelming - I never realised it was such a complex subject!If you already have some knowledge of refractor telescopes and understand all of the technical terminology then I am sure this book will be a "breeze" for you to read and enjoy.For me as an absolute beginner to astronomy and telescopes it is a very helpful reference that I will keep on my shelf and refer to it for many years to come, and as I "grow into it" and understand more it will become an ever more usefull point of reference.