As NightWatch, Terence Dickinson's classic stargazing guide, neared
its 40th anniversary, Dickinson worked with a small group of trusted
colleagues to give this groundbreaking reference an overhaul that will
take it deep into the 21st century Longtime astronomy writer and sky
observer Ken Hewitt-White led the editorial team A central aspect to
this new edition is the subtle improvements to the unique seasonal star
charts that present a 360-degree simulation of the night sky on one page
and identify the stars and constellations on the facing page Yet it is
Dickinson's clear, jargon-free language that will continue to inspire
hundreds of thousands of people around the world to take up recreational
astronomy
Much has happened in this popular hobby since the revised Fourth Edition
of NightWatch was published in 2006 In response, the text has been
substantially revised and updated throughout all 13 chapters Moreover,
the book has been completely redesigned and most of its many photographs
have been replaced A noted feature is the variety of superb astrophotos
of star clusters, nebulas, galaxies and other celestial phenomena taken
by accomplished amateur astronomers Lavishly illustrated sections on the
Moon and planets will inspire novice observers of the solar system To
accommodate the extensive revisions, NightWatch has grown from 192
pages to 208 pages With the release of the Fifth Edition, we are also
launching a new website, NightWatchBook com, that will offer links to
additional resources and will be regularly updated with information on
new celestial events and equipment
Since the First Edition of NightWatch was released in 1983, the most
significant transformations in amateur astronomy have been in optics and
technology For all the latest on gadgets and gear, renowned
astrophotographer Alan Dyer, Dickinson's coauthor of The Backyard
Astronomer's Guide, has contributed an entirely new chapter on basic
digital astrophotography Dyer has also modernized a key portion of an
enlarged chapter on stargazing equipment, creating a welcoming place in
NightWatch for today's computerized telescopes
Stargazing enthusiasts of all levels of experience will discover much of
value in an enduring reference conceived by one of the most respected
names in amateur astronomy This must-have Fifth Edition includes:
- a comprehensive, all-season guide to the night sky
- constellation charts covering both northern- and southern-hemisphere
skies, making NightWatch a truly global resource
- tips on choosing binoculars and telescopes and taking astrophotos
- highlights of major features on the Moon to guide the budding lunar
explorer
- lists of solar and lunar eclipses, planet locations and the best lunar
and planetary conjunctions to 2035
- a range of resources for further study
