50 Things To See With A Small Telescope

Very user friendly book and very informative but not overwhelming for a “newbie” exploring Astronomy. I did not find the lack of color graphics to be an issue in the softcover edition. The information presented was enough for a starting point to exploring the targets. I also love the intro to telescope shopping and the Astronomer’s checklist at the beginning of the book. The diagrams are helpful to navigate finding Deep Sky Objects. I also agree with the author’s “difficulty” rating system. If you are purchasing this item you may consider purchasing the Activity Workbook by the same author to help record field notes and sketches. This would also make a perfect bundle gift if you are giving a telescope or binoculars as a gift to a beginner!

This book is a great introduction to the joys of telescope use and exploration of the wonders of the night sky. It is also inexpensive and concise. They cover everything someone contemplating the hobby would want to know and make recommendations. It is a very easy read and is a great starting point for questions about telescopes and things that one can start out viewing. I got this with a telescope and have to say the book fills in details I didn’t get from the users manual for my telescope. I’m lookibg forward to utilizing this book and the telescope for some family fun.

do-able, but you need clear skies. i live where clouds abound. still, a good read, but here is a caveat- if you only have binoculars you might want the LATEST edition. it has a yellow spot on the cover that indicates stars of particular easy viewing with binos. john read also has an activity workbook to accompany the book. for kids and up. his style of writing is to keep it simple for beginners.

This book was recommended by a friend. I am so glad that I followed through and bought it. Well written, nicely organized by season, from a knowledgeable writer - an affordable resource to have in my bag to make life easier. I will certainly check out some of his other books. He has written much on this subject

As someone relatively new to this hobby, I acquired a lot of references, both in print and electronic. I have to say that, considering the covariates of size, scope, target and usability, this may be the best one of them all. You won't have all the scientific background on the targets, so you do have to have other sources for that, but in terms of an actual quick and effective go-to reference, it can't be beat. It is honestly and competently written, by an author who does not claim anything he can't deliver, and who writes with a nice mix of competence and humility. The book is also quite new, and therefore contains up-to-date information, compared to some of the classic standards. It has given me great joy, and I plan to get the next one, geared for mid-size telescopes, as well. Highly recommended.

Fair.

There is a reason this is rated so high in the list of telescope books, namely, it is very, very good. It starts with the basic constellations and proceeds to many of the iconic objects in the night sky that we all want to see. I teach basic astronomy in schools and I do public presentations at a local observatory for kids through adults, and this is the one book I would recommend for those beginning in the hobby. I restarted a lifelong hobby with the 2013 version, and have now purchased the improved updated 2019 edition. Highly recommended! Dr. MC

A good reference and go to that compliments Read’s moon book. Usually I return free Kindle Unlimited books that I complete reading. But I’m holding on to these because I need them.