Many books cover permanent astronomical objects, but few consider
transient, out-of-the-ordinary astronomical phenomena. This book covers
a wide range of topics, from the partly-predictable to the totally
unpredictable. At one end: of the scale, it gives advice on the best
ways to observe meteors, and at the other end:, it describes the best
methods for undertaking painstaking searches for new comets and
supernovae. The book also includes material about phenomena that occur
in the lower atmosphere, such as "ozone eaters", nacreous clouds, and
solar and lunar halos.