The Backyard Astronomer's Guide

good gift for our son

The ideal book for a beginner or someone who has bought all the kit but is not sure how to use it! Very informative.

I cannot heap sufficient praise on this gargantuan effort! Authors Dyer and Dickinson are to be highly commended for this gift to the amateur astronomic community...the sheer amount of practical information packed within this volume is enough to keep the budding ( as well as experienced ) enthusiast "woodshedding" through many a cloudy night! Telescopes of all brands and types are thoroughly examined, along with all the makes of eyepieces, digital equipment, etc...yet this isn't a mere technical treasure trove. These two guys clearly convey their passion for astronomy, along with frank, down-to-earth advice for everyone ranging from the novice to the serious amateur. If I have a single frustration, it's that this gem is far too practical a volume to be a somewhat unwieldy "coffee table" book...I want to order a second copy to chop up into manageable chapters bound individually (!) It's just that good! And did I say anything about the spectacular photographs?

This is a great book if you have even a passing interest in the stars. Lay out in the back garden and marvel.

My boyfriend is big into astronomy and took me to an observatory one night - from my first glimpse through a telescope, I was hooked. I asked him if he could recommend any books, and he said this one seemed like a good choice. After reading through the reviews, I was very excited to get it and read it - like so many others here, I read it cover to cover in two evenings.This is a fantastic book for anyone interested in getting into amateur astronomy. It doesn't complicate the topic with long, confusing words but explains things thoroughly without making the reader feel stupid. It has lots of gorgeous color photos and one of the best parts is that most of the photos were taken by amateur astronomers (the authors). The information on telescope purchasing may be a little outdated, but you can also visit [...] for updated information on that particular topic.If you are even considering getting into amateur astronomy or know someone who is, buy them this book!