FireFly

Discovering the Cosmos

• Naturalists of the Night
• The Starry Realm

The Universe in Eleven Steps

• The Milky Way Galaxy
• Hubble Deep Field

Backyard Astronomy

• Sky Motions
• Sky Measures
• Big Dipper Signpost
• Star Brightness
• Constellations and Star Names
• Star and Constellation Pronunciation Guide

Stars for all Seasons

• The All-Sky Charts
• The Spring Sky
• The Summer Sky
• Urban Myths of Stargazing
• The Light-Pollution Factor
• The Autumn Sky
• The Winter Sky
• The Ecliptic and the Zodiac

Stargazing Equipment

• Selecting Binoculars
• Telescopes
• Frequently Asked Questions About Telescopes
• Telescope Types
• Computer-Age Scopes
• Accessories
• Eyepieces
• Factors to Consider When Selecting a First Telescope

Probing the Depths

• Double Stars
• Using Your Night Eyes
• Variable Stars
• Star Clusters
• Distances to Stars and Galaxies
• Nebulas
• Averted Vision
• Globular Clusters
• Galaxies
• Telescope Experience
• Designation of Sky Objects
• Atlas of 20 Star Charts

The Planets

• Astronomy From the City
• Mercury
• Venus
• Mars
• The Asteroid Belt
• Jupiter
• Saturn
• The Outer Planets
• Visibility of the Planets 2005-2018

Moon and Sun

• Moon Maps
• Observing the Sun
• The Moon Illusion

Solar and Lunar Eclipses

• Observing Eclipses
• The Eclipse Cult
• Eclipse Tables

Comets, Meteors and Auroras

• Famous and Infamous Comets
• Meteors
• Auroras

Photographing the Night Sky

• Astro-Imaging Revolution
• Night-Sky Imaging Techniques
• The Barn-Door Tracker
• CCD Cameras

Southern Hemisphere Night Sky

• Southern Sky Charts
• Caribbean Night Sky

Resources

Index

Preface

In the decades since the first edition of NightWatch appeared in 1983, more than a half a million copies have found their way into the hands of astronomy enthusiasts. For me, the most gratifying aspect of this successful publishing story is the feed-back I've received from so many backyard astronomers who say that the book was their primary guide during the crucial initial stages of their celestial explorations.

As in the previous revised editions, the overriding goal in this new expanded version has been to provide a complete first book of amateur astronomy. I wanted to retain the features that readers say they like, so I have not tampered with the basic structure and presentation. But extensive fine-tuning and up-dating have touched many pages. The most visible of the changes is the addition of a new chapter on the southern-hemisphere skies with a new set of charts styled after the northern-hemisphere ones in Chapter 4. This addition to the book is the direct result of requests from readers of previous editions.

As always with revised editions of my books, I have replaced many photos with either more relevant or simply superior images. Other changes include a major rewrite of the section describing astrophotography, because of the digital-imaging revolution, and a thorough update of amateur-telescope equipment and accessories to reflect many new goodies that have become available since the previous edition in 1998. Where necessary, lists and tables are updated throughout. As before, prices throughout the book are in U.S. dollars.

Although more people are now dabbling in recreational astronomy and the range and quality of equipment to pursue the hobby have never been better, a persistent foe of amateur astronomers is light pollution -- the glare spilled from street lamps, outdoor-sign illumination, parking-lot lights, building security lights and outdoor fixtures around private residences and public buildings. Any one of these sources can ruin your backyard view of the night sky. Even if your observing site is protected from direct interference, outdoor lighting in general produces giant glowing domes over our cities and towns that have beaten back the stars.

Because the glow is visibly growing every year, those who seek the natural beauty of a dark night sky must flee ever farther into the country. For many aficionados, an evening of stargazing has become an expedition. But all is not gloom and doom. The dark cloud cast by light pollution has turned out to have an intriguing silver lining. Far from diminishing interest in astronomy, urban sky glow seems to have fueled it. When our grandparents were young, a view of the night sky strewn with stars and wrapped in the silky ribbon of the Milky Way could be seen from the front porch. Today, for most people, it is a relatively rare and exotic sight, something to be talked about and cherished as a memory.

Many family vacations now include plans for dark-site star-gazing. Each year, thousands of astronomy enthusiasts gather at conventions and summer "star parties" far from city lights to share their interest. In previous editions of NightWatch, I predicted that as urban glow inexorably marches deeper into the countryside, the 21st century will see the emergence of dark-skypreserves -- areas intentionally set aside in state, provincial and national parks where there are no obtrusive lights and never will be. Well, it's already happening. At least half a dozen of these shrines to the glory of the starry night have been established (see "Astronomy Conventions and Star Parties" in Chapter 13), and many more will surely follow in the decades ahead.

Terence Dickinson
Yarker, Ontario
May 2006

 

[Nightwatch was] a clear, concise manual for backyard stargazing that also managed to convey the excitement of astronomy. This fantastically revised edition continues that tradition, but now includes sky maps for observers in the southern hemisphere and a guide to celestial phenomena up to 2018. The best introduction around.
- Ivan Semeniuk  New Scientist  2007 01 20

Renowned author and astronomer Terence Dickinson took Grade 5 and 6 students from the [North Bay] area through the universe to make snowballs from water and ice particles that make up Saturn's rings, and visit the red liquid methane lakes of its moon, Titan.... "I'm hoping that they'll walk away with excitement about the universe," he said." It's a subject that young people are not discarding. They're living with it. They're interested in it. And they know a lot."
- Maria Calabrese  The North Bay Nugget  2008 09 11

Aspiring stargazers will find everything that they need to unlock the secrets of the night sky in this newly updated edition. Public and school libraries will certainly want to update their collections with this book.
- Amy Luedtke  VOYA  2007 06

A "must" for any night-time observer.
- Diane C. Donovan  The Midwest Book Review  2007 03 01

A great overall book for the stargazing hobbyist.
- Mike Lynch  St Paul Pioneer Press  2006 12 17

General interest introduction to astronomy now in its fourth edition... bends the mind with information.
- Barbara Julian  Victoria Times-Colonist  2007 01 14

This is probably the best handbook for the beginning astronomer.
- Drew Monkman  The Examiner (Peterborough)  2007 12 11

New, better-quality photos; amped-up sections on astrophotography and using amateur telescopic equipment; and a new chapter on the skies visible from the Southern hemisphere.
- Lynn Andriani  PublishersWeekly.com  2006 09 05

This fourth edition of the essential guide for amateur stargazers is newly updated, lavishly illustrated...and packed with facts...and a cosmic closet-full of other astronomical delights. For anyone who ever looked up and wondered what's out there, Nightwatch puts the heavens at your fingertips.
- Neil Pond  American Profile  2006 11 26

It may be hard to justify upgrading from later printings of the third edition, but NightWatch remains one of the best sourcebooks to introduce beginning astronomers to the night sky -- and to keep them interested.
- Stuart J. Goldman  Sky and Telescope  2007 01 01

[Globe and Mail 2006 Holiday Gift Book selection] Remains perhaps the best book available for amateur astronomers, and makes fascinating browsing even if you never put eye to telescope.
-   Globe and Mail  2006 12 09

NightWatch remains the best single source on sky watching and astronomy equipment for the backyard enthusiast.
- Randy Groundwater  Windsor Star  2006 12 10

This classic title has revisions in every chapter.
-   Mercury  2006 11

[Review-of-previous-edition:] Absolutely the best book for beginners.
-   Library Journal  2003 05 01

[Review-of-previous-edition:] A great all-round astronomy guide.
- Glenn Chaple  Astronomy  2002 12 01

[Review-of-previous-edition:] Easily the best in its field. ... Highly recommended for all libraries.
-   Choice  1999 04 01

[Review-of-previous-edition:] Highly recommended as the best of its kind.
-   Journal of the Royal Astronomical Society of Canada  

[Review-of-previous-edition:] This is a book you can confidently recommend to anyone who is just starting out in astronomy.
-   Astronomical League  

A paramount book of sky objects... easy and understandable. This practical guide is a must for the science classroom teacher, the beginning or amateur astronomer, and young and old students of the night. The author gives a sensible, realistic perspective on night sky viewing. I believe this is the best book in its field available to amateurs.
- Teri Cosentino  The Science Teacher  2008 01

With this book, viewing the night skies can become fun again, and a family affair.... A must-have book, to stimulate interest in the heavens above, and away from video games and less productive activities.
-   Shelf Life, Tenth Anniversary Edition  2008

If Canadians look at the sky more than anyone else in the world, it's thanks to one of our own....NightWatch, now in its fourth edition, has become a staple in many Canadian cottages and amateur astronomers' bookshelves along with his popular The Backyard Astronomer's Guide. The book has also quietly gone on to be the bestselling stargazer's guide in the world, having been translated into Spanish, Italian, Greek and other languages, and selling a stead 25,000 copies or more a year around the world.
- Ian Elliot  The Whig-Standard  2008 06 07

This book is widely regarded as the essential guidebook for beginning stargazers. If you buy this book for no other reason that to help you find the North Star, so that you can take images of Star Trails, then it'll be worth your money.
- Garry Black  Garry Black Photography (GarryBlack.com)  2006

Another must-have....
- Becky Ramotowski, SkyWatch  My San Antonio Times (mysa.com)  2008 12 08

This is a fantastic introductory book chock full of information and charts. Well written and engaging, it is sure to provide all the information to get Dad started looking at the night sky.
- John Kulczyzki  suite101.com  2010 05 10