Contents

pp vii-xii

Preface

pp xiii-xiv

Part I - Amateur astronomy

pp 1-2

1 - Using this book effectively

pp 3-5

2 - Observing sites and conditions

pp 6-22

3 - The Moon, the Sun, and eclipses

pp 23-41

4 - The planets

pp 42-61

5 - Comets, asteroids (minor planets), and artificial satellites

pp 62-79

6 - Constellations

pp 80-86

7 - Stars – identification, nomenclature, and maps

pp 87-111

8 - Stars – physical properties

pp 112-122

9 - Double and multiple stars

pp 123-131

10 - Variable stars

pp 132-143

11 - Clusters, nebulae, and galaxies

pp 144-164

Part II - 200 interesting stars and deep-sky objects

pp 165-166

12 - How these objects were chosen

pp 167-170

13 - The January–February sky (R.A. 6h–10h)

pp 171-182

14 - The March–April sky (R.A. 10h–14h)

pp 183-196

15 - The May–June sky (R.A. 14h–18h)

pp 197-204

16 - The July–August sky (R.A. 18h–22h)

pp 205-222

17 - The September–October sky (R.A. 22h–2h)

pp 223-234

18 - The November–December sky (R.A. 2h–6h)

pp 235-247

Appendices

A - Converting decimal minutes to seconds

pp 248-248

B - Precession from 1950 to 2000

pp 249-251

C - Julian date, 2001–2015

pp 252-254

Index

pp 255-268