This star guide enables astronomers to choose a class of object, and for any month of the year find an observation list that begins with the easiest through to progressively more difficult targets. Following detailed descriptive summaries of each class of object, it includes extensive lists of deep-sky targets which are classified according to type of object. Amateur astronomers of all levels will find this book invaluable for its broad-ranging background material, its lists of fascinating objects, and for its power to improve practical observing skills while viewing many different types of deep-sky objects.

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Chapter 1: Introduction The type of objects. Observing the night sky. Binoculars and telescopes. Magnification. Resolution. The limiting magnitude. The field of view. Effects of the Atmosphere. Transparency. Seeing. Light pollution. Dark adaption and averted vision. What to wear. Taking notes. The science of astronomy. Angular distance. The date and time. Coordinate astronomy. Distances in astronomy. The magnitude of objects. Star maps. And finally.- Chapter 2: Stars Stellar classification. The spectral sequence. The brightest stars. The nearest stars. Stars classified by their spectral classification. Coloured stars. Red stars. Double stars. Triple, quadruple and multiple stars.- Chapter 3: Star Clusters The life and times of a star cluster. Open clusters. Globular clusters. Stellar associations and streams.- Chapter 4: Nebulae Introduction. Emission nebulae. Reflection nebulae. Dark nebulae. Planetary nebulae. Supernova remnants.- Chapter 5: Galaxies Introduction. Galaxy structure. Hubble classification of galaxies. Observing galaxies. Spiral galaxies. Barred spiral galaxies. Elliptical galaxies. Lenticular, peculiar and irregular galaxies. Galaxy clusters. Groups and clusters of galaxies.- Chapter 6: Faint, Far Away and Invisible Introduction. The centre of our galaxy. Galactic centre. Stellar black holes. Quasars. Gravitational lensing. Lensed quasars. Extra solar planets.- Appendices: Light filters. Books, magazines and organizations.