The Urban Astronomer's Guide: A Walking Tour of the Cosmos for City Sky Watchers - Paperback

by Rod Mollise (Author)

This book covers the "why," "how," and "what" of astronomy under light-polluted skies. It is aimed at urban astronomers and showcases the countless objects - galaxies, nebulae, and star clusters - that can be seen in even in heavily light polluted urban skies. About half of the book is devoted to describing "tours" of the sky, with physical and observational descriptions, at-the-eyepiece drawings, and photographs. There are literally hundreds of spectacular objects to be seen from the average urban site. After dealing with equipment, locations and even urban safety, the author invites the reader to join him on his virtual "walking tours" of the night sky..

Back Jacket

Many amateur astronomers live in urban and highly developed suburban areas, and many of them believe that they can't observe deep-sky objects from such light-polluted locations.

But it isn't true.

Given the right techniques, urban astronomers can routinely observe deep-sky objects night after night - something most of us would never do if it involved driving miles into the country to find a dark site. Rod Mollise has observed the entire Messier list from his urban backyard, without high-tech equipment, using only commercially-made telescopes and simple accessories.

This is a guide to good deep-sky astronomy under bad skies.

There are literally hundreds of spectacular objects to be seen from the average urban site. After dealing with equipment, locations and even urban safety, Rod invites you to join him on his virtual "walking tours" of the night sky, with physical and observational descriptions, at-the-eyepiece drawings, and photographs.