Planetary Nebulae and How to Observe Them is for amateur astronomers
who want to go beyond the Messier objects, concentrating on one of the
most beautiful classes of astronomical objects in the sky.
Planetary nebulae are not visible to the naked eye, but they are a
fascinating group of telescope objects. This guide enables a user
equipped with an average-sized amateur telescope to get the best out of
observing them. Topics covered include their astrophysical make-up,
history of their discovery, classification and description, telescopes
to use, filters, and observing techniques - in short everything anyone
would need to know to successfully observe planetary nebulae.
The book describes the various forms these astronomical objects can take
and explains why they are favorite targets for amateur observers.
Descriptions of over 100 nebulae personally observed by the author using
telescopes of various sizes are included in the book. Readers can create
their own observing program or follow the list of these captivating
objects, many of which are found within our own Milky Way Galaxy.