Suggestions for reading material, star finder charts etc for beginner?

[Seamaster]

Hi, as I await delivery of my new kit it occurs to me that I don't have any reading material to start learning stuff about this hobby and what's up there?

Apart from some recorded "How the universe works" episodes I have squat!

So any suggestions for good books, magazine subs, charts, star/object finding literature that will be a good resource for a beginner?

Also apps, DVDs etc?

Thanks and remember I suck at maths so nothing that demands I go back to school and do A level physics and maths!

Neil.

[red dwalf]

Turn left at Orion is a good book,

Also I would download stellarium to your pc, shows you I real time whats In the night at your location.

[catman161]

The sky and telescope pocket star atlas is a good buy. Has plasticised pages so they don't go crinkly when you are out observing and the dew starts to form.

[Brantuk]

+1 for all the above - and you could also consider "The Illustrated Guide to Astronomical Wonders" - similar format to TLAO just a lot more of it and it's organised in astronomical seasonal order.

[Seamaster]

Thanks guys.

Also Any suggestions for books that are more geared to info about the objects and the universe at large?

What if any magazine subs should I consider as a beginner?

[catman161]

Sky at night mag is good for beginners and also (maybe a little further down the line) Astronomy Now magazine.

[Seamaster]

I think I'm going to subscribe to the Sky at Night magazine for now and see how that works for me?

I would like some books but for now the mags should help get me started and enthused!

Thanks for your replies.

I also joined the Derby and District guys on Saturday for their 40th anniversary.

Great bunch and I even got to see some sun spots and prominences!

What I really need now is a few viewing sessions with someone who knows what they're doing and perhaps to help me get the best from my new scope.

[Daz Type-R]

If your visual then you are pretty much stuffed until later in the year (when it gets proper astro dark at night) unless you make a start on the moon and planets and some of the brighter DSO's.

 

Once it gets dark at 8-9 at night and the cricket season ends then the Belper datksite meets will get in full flow (weather permitting).

[Seamaster]

Anybody got a nice "safe" free download site for Stellarium?

[Daz Type-R]

Do you mean a link?

If so then it's this.....

http://www.stellarium.org/en_GB/

[Guest Tweedledum]

Hi Neil,

 

I think I pm'd you the stellarium link when you joined, and Darren has also sent the correct link to the stellarium website. There is an android version available from the google store, but that version you have to buy. I also suggested 'sky & telescope pocket star atlas' a great small szed guide to the sky. And another vote for 'turn left at orion'.

 

Cheers

Damian

[Seamaster]

Thanks guys, now loaded onto my laptop.

Absolutely no idea what to do with it or how but hey, it's a learning curve!

[Guest Tweedledum]

Neil,

 

The first thing with Stellarium is to put in the lat & long for your current position.  You do this by moving the mouse to the left side of the program and you will see a number of options appear, select location. Enter co-ords, then set the time.

 

Stellarium can then calculate the position of the stars, planets, comets etc for you.

[BAZ]

The Neptune File, by Tom Standage. a cracking read.

 

ISBN-10: 0802713637

[Guest]

I still think there's room for a REALLY good beginner book. IN my opinion most of them try to do too much (even the good ones) and should concentrate on learning to use a telescope and leave Big Bang explanations, etc to the cosmology books.

I have some ideas in that area but cannot get a publisher interested.