From beginner to intermediate

[Philip Pugh]

It seems that a lot of the best selling astronomy books are beginner books. Maybe a few beginners "fall by the waysidbe" as they get interested in other hobbies or work/family restricts their spare time.

I think one reason why beginners don't continue is that they don't know how to progress from being a beginner. I once stopped when I was 14 because I'd seen and done all I thought could be done with my modest equipment. Actually there was far more to it than I realised!

This book may help beginners who wish to see what else they can explore and it doesn't always mean spending humdreds or thousands on new kit:

http://philippugh.fortunecity.com/ScienceAndArt.html

It has a fair bit of information about all branches but there's a bit of bias towards solar observing.

[MistrBadgr]

I bought one and am now reading it.  I am into the planetary section now.

It has a lot of good information.  It is not a total encyclopedia of astronomy.

You could not get all of that in one book.  It does give a good account of many different types of astronomy.

It assumes you know something about telescopes and very basic astronomy, then fills in gaps.

It is printed of very high quality paper, is pretty well packed with knowledge, and has a large number of very high quality prints in it.

Even though it does have some numbers in places, it more or less paints a picture of the various aspects of astronomy without over-taxing ones brain with difficult concepts.  The really difficult concepts, I assume, are left for the various advanced books or college text books.

Hats off to you and all of your collaborators, Phillip!  This is a needed book, in my opinion.


Bill Steen

[Philip Pugh]

Thanks, Bill. Although my first book has been more commercially successful so far, this is the one I really wanted to do, as it aims to bridge the gap between beginner and expert. I would like to write a beginner book but can't get my current publisher to take one on. Other writers have offerred to do one, too. Steve Tonkin's "Astronomy FAQs" is rather good, though and bridges the narrow gap between raw beginners and mine. You're right that you can't cover the lot in one book. I think a lot of beginner books talk about the Big Bang when they don't tell you enough about using equatorial mounts and how to achieve focus.

[MistrBadgr]

Include in that, how to colimate a reflector, how to check and see if your refractor is colimated, how to check and adjust the colimation in diagonals (I have three diagonals and found all of them off when I actually checked them with a cheshire eyepiece.), etc, etc!!!

[Philip Pugh]

Include in that, how to colimate a reflector, how to check and see if your refractor is colimated, how to check and adjust the colimation in diagonals (I have three diagonals and found all of them off when I actually checked them with a cheshire eyepiece.), etc, etc!!!

Steve Tonkin's Astronomy FAQ addresses some of these issues. He sent me the contents list and it sounded just the sort of thing we need.

I've revised Tony Buick's book on astronomy with a digital camera and hope it comes out soon.

[MistrBadgr]

Well, I finished reading the book, The Science and Art of UsingTelescopes  by Philip Pugh.  I cannot say I read every word from cover to cover.  I mearly scanned the index, pondered the blank pages at the back of the book, and read the back cover.  Other than that, I did read all of it, including the glossary.

In the index, I did note a reference to the tooth fairy on page 118.  I thought that was a nice touch.  I must ponder the Pugh effect in the glossary for a while.  I think it is a very good read, done with a humorous touch at times, which I enjoyed.  This is a useful book that I will be glad to have in my collection.

Bill Steen

[Philip Pugh]

Well, I finished reading the book, The Science and Art of UsingTelescopes  by Philip Pugh.  I cannot say I read every word from cover to cover.  I mearly scanned the index, pondered the blank pages at the back of the book, and read the back cover.  Other than that, I did read all of it, including the glossary.

In the index, I did note a reference to the tooth fairy on page 118.  I thought that was a nice touch.  I must ponder the Pugh effect in the glossary for a while.  I think it is a very good read, done with a humorous touch at times, which I enjoyed.  This is a useful book that I will be glad to have in my collection.

Bill Steen

Thanks, Bill. Now I can see the finishing line for my next book, I'm hoping to do one aimed purely at raw beginners. This does not now include you, as yoo know your way around the sky quite well. Once you start talking "NGC" and "IC" instead of "M", you'll have overtaken me!