The Herschel Objects, and How to Observe Them: Exploring Sir William Herschel's Star Clusters, Nebulae, and Galaxies (Astronomers' Observing Guides)

Amateur astronomers – particularly deep-sky observers – are always on the lookout for new observing challenges. The Herschel Objects, and How to Observe Them offers the exciting opportunity of retracing the steps of the greatest visual observer and celestial explorer that ever lived. This is a practical guide to seeing the most impressive of Herschel’s star clusters, nebulae and galaxies. There has never been – and as of the time of submitting this proposal there still isn’t – an observer’s book devoted to the Herschel objects. The US-based Astronomical League has for several years sponsored a "Herschel Club", reflecting the interest amateur astronomers have in this important but less widely known listing. The Herschel Objects, and How to Observe Them covers more than 600 of the brightest of the objects that Herschel saw, with detailed descriptions and images of 150 to 200 of the very best for viewing with amateur telescopes. Contents......Page 10 Preface......Page 7 Acknowledgments......Page 9 Part I: William Herschel's Life, Telescopes and Catalogs......Page 16 From Musician to Stargazer......Page 17 Uranus and The King's Astronomer......Page 18 Caroline and Sir John......Page 19 Explorer of the Heavens......Page 20 A Telescope-Making Business......Page 24 The Small and Large 20-Foot......Page 26 The Great 40-Foot......Page 27 Double and Multiple Stars......Page 29 Star Clusters, Nebulae and Galaxies......Page 30 Miscataloged Objects......Page 32 The GC, NGC, and NGC 2000.0......Page 33 Dark Adaptation......Page 35 Averted Vision......Page 37 Visual Acuity......Page 38 Magnification and Field of View......Page 39 Sky Conditions......Page 40 Record-Keeping......Page 42 Finding Them......Page 43 Personal Matters......Page 45 Part II: Exploring The Herschel Showpieces......Page 47 Bootes......Page 48 Canes Venatici......Page 49 Coma Berenices......Page 51 Corvus......Page 52 Delphinus......Page 53 Draco......Page 54 Leo......Page 55 Lynx......Page 56 Ophiuchus......Page 57 Pegasus......Page 58 Perseus......Page 59 Sextans......Page 61 Ursa Major......Page 62 Virgo......Page 63 Andromeda......Page 68 Camelopardalis......Page 69 Cassiopeia......Page 70 Cepheus......Page 71 Corvus......Page 73 Cygnus......Page 74 Draco......Page 75 Eridanus......Page 76 Hercules......Page 77 Ophiuchus......Page 78 Orion......Page 79 Puppis......Page 80 Sagittarius......Page 81 Taurus......Page 82 Ursa Major......Page 83 Virgo......Page 84 Andromeda......Page 85 Antlia......Page 86 Camelopardalis......Page 87 Canes Venatici......Page 88 Cetus......Page 90 Cygnus......Page 92 Fornax......Page 94 Orion......Page 95 Sagittarius......Page 96 Sculptor......Page 98 Triangulum......Page 99 Ursa Major......Page 100 Cassiopeia......Page 101 Cepheus......Page 102 Coma Berenices......Page 103 Gemini......Page 104 Monoceros......Page 106 Ophiuchus......Page 107 Perseus......Page 108 Sagittarius......Page 109 Sculptor......Page 110 Andromeda......Page 111 Auriga......Page 112 Camelopardalis......Page 113 Cassiopeia......Page 114 Monoceros......Page 115 Puppis......Page 116 Taurus......Page 117 Vulpecula......Page 118 Cassiopeia......Page 120 Monoceros......Page 121 Puppis......Page 123 Taurus......Page 125 Vulpecula......Page 126 Andromeda......Page 127 Cassiopeia......Page 128 Coma Berenices......Page 129 Gemini......Page 130 Hydra......Page 131 Leo......Page 132 Sagittarius......Page 133 Virgo......Page 134 Virgo......Page 135 List of Overlooked Showpieces......Page 136 Auriga......Page 137 Cassiopeia......Page 138 Cygnus......Page 139 Monoceros......Page 140 Orion......Page 142 Sagittarius......Page 143 Taurus......Page 144 Where Did They Go?......Page 145 Some "Nonexistent" Herschel Objects......Page 146 Canis Major......Page 147 Cygnus......Page 148 Puppis......Page 149 Taurus......Page 150 Vulpecula......Page 151 "The Construction of the Heavens"......Page 153 Making the Photon Connection......Page 155 1. Herschel Clubs......Page 157 Books and Manuals......Page 159 Journal and Magazine Articles......Page 161 3. Target List of 615 Herschel Objects......Page 162 About the Author......Page 177 H......Page 179 T......Page 180 W......Page 181

Amateur astronomers - particularly deep-sky observers - are always on the lookout for new observing challenges. The Herschel Objects, and How to Observe Them offers the exciting opportunity of retracing the steps of the greatest visual observer and celestial explorer that ever lived. This is a practical guide to seeing the most impressive of Herschel's star clusters, nebulae and galaxies.

There has never been - and as of the time of submitting this proposal there still isnt - an observer's book devoted to the Herschel objects. The US-based Astronomical League has for several years sponsored a Herschel Club, reflecting the interest amateur astronomers have in this important but less widely known listing. The Herschel Objects, and How to Observe Them covers more than 600 of the brightest of the objects that Herschel saw, with detailed descriptions and images of 150 to 200 of the very best for viewing with amateur telescopes.

"The Herschel Objects and How to Observe Them offers an exciting opportunity to retrace the footsteps of Sir William Herschel, discoverer of Uranus and arguably the greatest visual observer and celestial explorer that ever lived!" "Following a biography of Herschel's life and times, a look at his various handmade telescopes, an overview of his classification system, and techniques for viewing his discoveries, this practical observing guide then reviews the most impressive of his star clusters, nebulae, and galaxies." "More than 600 of the brighter Herschel objects are listed, and there are detailed visual descriptions and images of some 200 of the very best sights for viewing with backyard telescopes."--book jacket Amateur astronomers are always on the lookout for new observing challenges. This exciting book retraces the steps of the greatest visual observer and celestial explorer who ever lived. This is a practical guide to locating and viewing the most impressive of Herschel’s star clusters, nebulae and galaxies, cataloging more than 600 of the brightest objects, and offering detailed descriptions and images of 150 to 200 of the best.