3,000 Deep-Sky Objects: An Annotated Catalogue (The Patrick Moore Practical Astronomy Series)

This title is a comprehensive set of visual descriptions of deep-sky objects visible from the northern hemisphere. It is a record of the most extensive and systematic visual survey of the sky ever done in modern times. 3,000 deep-sky objects are listed with short descriptions of the visual appearance in the author's powerful binocular telescope. Objects in the book are organized by position for easy identification of unknown targets. Full indexes by catalog numbers and names allow searches for specific objects. The Annotated Catalog of 3,000 Deep-Sky Objects is a record of the most extensive and systematic visual survey of the sky done in modern times. The 3,000 deep-sky objects listed contain short descriptions of what these objects look like in the author's powerful binocular telescope. Objects in the book are organized by position for easy identification of unknown targets. Full indexes by catalog numbers and names allow searches for specific objects. Descriptions of objects are better than photographs for identifying deep-sky objects because the visual appearance never matches the photographic image. Nor are sketches entirely satisfactory because there is a strong unconscious tendency to draw what the observer remembers from photographs of objects. Compared to other astronomical guidebooks this book contains by far the largest number of objects viewed through a 10- to 14-inch telescope and is a 'must-have' for serious amateur and professional observers Front Matter....Pages i-xii Front Matter....Pages 1-1 The Observing Project: An Overview....Pages 3-5 Objects Chosen and Mode of Observing....Pages 7-9 Verbal Descriptions vs. Illustrations....Pages 11-11 Instrumentation....Pages 13-13 The GC/NGC Descriptions and the Herschels....Pages 15-17 Observational Parameters in the Descriptions of This Catalogue....Pages 19-25 The Visual Appearance of Deep-Sky Objects....Pages 27-33 Binocular Vision....Pages 35-37 How to Use This Catalogue....Pages 39-45 Front Matter....Pages 47-47 0 to 6 Hours: FALL....Pages 49-147 6 to 12 Hours: WINTER....Pages 149-269 12 to 18 Hours: SPRING....Pages 271-410 18 to 24 Hours: SUMMER....Pages 411-485 Erratum: 3,000 Deep-Sky Objects....Pages E1-E2 Back Matter....Pages 487-563 Annotation This book lists 3000 deep-sky objects visible from the northern hemisphere, described as they appear in the author's powerful binocular telescope. The contents are organized by position for easy identification, and indexed by name and catalog numbers