Overview

Listing more than 500 sky targets, both near and far, in 187 challenges, this observing guide will test novice astronomers and advanced veterans alike. Its unique mix of Solar System and deep-sky targets will have observers hunting for the Apollo lunar landing sites, searching for satellites orbiting the outermost planets, and exploring hundreds of star clusters, nebulae, distant galaxies, and quasars. Each target object is accompanied by a rating indicating how difficult the object is to find, an in-depth visual description, an illustration showing how the object realistically looks, and a detailed finder chart to help you find each challenge quickly and effectively. The guide introduces objects often overlooked in other observing guides and features targets visible in a variety of conditions, from the inner city to the dark countryside. Challenges are provided for the naked eye, through binoculars and the largest backyard telescopes.

Full Product Details

9780511782084

Table of Contents

Reviews

'Phil Harrington is one of the rare individuals who knows the sky and can write about it in an engaging manner. Cosmic Challenge features nearly 200 celestial hunts that will challenge you no matter how many days or years you've logged looking through a telescope. In writing this book, Harrington has produced a work of enduring value, one that should be on every observer's shelf.' Michael E. Bakich, Senior Editor, Astronomy magazine 'From noted astronomy writer Phil Harrington comes this welcome one-of-a-kind guidebook. Harrington provides page after page of observing challenges that encourage the reader to test his or her observing skills with naked eye, binocular, or telescope. With its blend of clear, descriptive narrative and detailed finder charts, this book is a pleasure to use. Cosmic Challenge belongs on the bookshelf of every serious amateur astronomer.' Glenn Chaple, contributing writer, Astronomy magazine 'Phil Harrington is a well-known astronomy writer and has published a lot of material about deep sky observing. Cosmic Challenge is his latest and probably best work to date … All-in-all this is an excellent observing guide, with something for everyone whether you observe with your unaided eyes or you have a 20 inch light bucket. It's both very readable and a proper observing guide suitable for use during an observing session. Highly recommended.' FJAstronomy.com '… an excellent addition to the collection of deep-sky books and should be on every amateur's bookshelf.' The Observatory '… an interesting and attractive book that will keep most purchasers happy and which may, eventually, become very popular indeed.' Astronomy Now

'Phil Harrington is one of the rare individuals who knows the sky and can write about it in an engaging manner. Cosmic Challenge features nearly 200 celestial hunts that will challenge you no matter how many days or years you've logged looking through a telescope. In writing this book, Harrington has produced a work of enduring value, one that should be on every observer's shelf.' Michael E. Bakich, Senior Editor, Astronomy magazine 'From noted astronomy writer Phil Harrington comes this welcome one-of-a-kind guidebook. Harrington provides page after page of observing challenges that encourage the reader to test his or her observing skills with naked eye, binocular, or telescope. With its blend of clear, descriptive narrative and detailed finder charts, this book is a pleasure to use. Cosmic Challenge belongs on the bookshelf of every serious amateur astronomer.' Glenn Chaple, contributing writer, Astronomy magazine 'Phil Harrington is a well-known astronomy writer and has published a lot of material about deep sky observing. Cosmic Challenge is his latest and probably best work to date ... All-in-all this is an excellent observing guide, with something for everyone whether you observe with your unaided eyes or you have a 20 inch light bucket. It's both very readable and a proper observing guide suitable for use during an observing session. Highly recommended.' FJAstronomy.com '... an excellent addition to the collection of deep-sky books and should be on every amateur's bookshelf.' The Observatory '... an interesting and attractive book that will keep most purchasers happy and which may, eventually, become very popular indeed.' Astronomy Now Phil Harrington is one of the rare individuals who knows the sky and can write about it in an engaging manner. Cosmic Challenge features nearly 200 celestial hunts that will challenge you no matter how many days or years you've logged looking through a telescope. In writing this book, Harrington has produced a work of enduring value, one that should be on every observer's shelf. - Michael E. Bakich, senior editor, Astronomy magazine From noted astronomy writer Phil Harrington comes this welcome one-of-a-kind guidebook. Harrington provides page after page of observing challenges that encourage the reader to test his or her observing skills with naked eye, binocular, or telescope. With its blend of clear, descriptive narrative and detailed finder charts, this book is a pleasure to use. Cosmic Challenge belongs on the bookshelf of every serious amateur astronomer. - Glenn Chaple, contributing writer Astronomy magazine If you're ready for the challenge, Phil Harrington has thrown down the gauntlet. - The Astronomical League I would heartily recommend this book.The book was three years in the making and it shows. A great deal of care and attention to detail has been spent. It is well written, has an interesting selection of objects suitable for all observers with varying degrees of difficulty, has good descriptions and nice charts. I don't think it is intended to be a book to work through from start to finish, but there are many ideas and gems to alight on, so just dip through and you're sure to find something of interest. - Callum Potter, J. Br. Astron. Assoc. Well presented, no nonsense, lots of content ... Overall, an interesting and attractive book that will keep most purchasers happy and which may, eventually, become very popular indeed. - Astronomy Now Online This is a book that will more than likely put you through your paces, whether you are an experienced amateur astronomer or a newbie...Cosmic Challenge is also a book worth reading for the sake of reading. It is well-written, with a pleasant, conversational 'tone,' and makes a fine way to spend evenings that have clouded over, or afternoons while waiting for the sun to go down... In the end Cosmic Challenge easily met (and exceeded) the expectations pre-publication excitement might have raised. As a result, my recommendation regarding the book is simple: if you don't own a copy yet, go out and buy one. - Thomas Watson, Cloudy Night Telescope Reviews Phil Harrington is a well-known astronomy writer and has published a lot of material about deep sky observing. Cosmic Challenge is his latest and probably best work to date... All-in-all this is an excellent observing guide, with something for everyone whether you observe with your unaided eyes or you have a 20 inch light bucket. It's both very readable and a proper observing guide suitable for use during an observing session. Highly recommended. - FJAstronomy.com

'Phil Harrington is one of the rare individuals who knows the sky and can write about it in an engaging manner. Cosmic Challenge features nearly 200 celestial hunts that will challenge you no matter how many days or years you've logged looking through a telescope. In writing this book, Harrington has produced a work of enduring value, one that should be on every observer's shelf.' Michael E. Bakich, Senior Editor, Astronomy magazine 'From noted astronomy writer Phil Harrington comes this welcome one-of-a-kind guidebook. Harrington provides page after page of observing challenges that encourage the reader to test his or her observing skills with naked eye, binocular, or telescope. With its blend of clear, descriptive narrative and detailed finder charts, this book is a pleasure to use. Cosmic Challenge belongs on the bookshelf of every serious amateur astronomer.' Glenn Chaple, contributing writer, Astronomy magazine 'Phil Harrington is a well-known astronomy writer and has published a lot of material about deep sky observing. Cosmic Challenge is his latest and probably best work to date ... All-in-all this is an excellent observing guide, with something for everyone whether you observe with your unaided eyes or you have a 20 inch light bucket. It's both very readable and a proper observing guide suitable for use during an observing session. Highly recommended.' FJAstronomy.com '... an excellent addition to the collection of deep-sky books and should be on every amateur's bookshelf.' The Observatory 'overall, an interesting and attractive book that will keep most purchasers happy and which may, eventually, become very popular indeed.' Astronomy Now

'Phil Harrington is one of the rare individuals who knows the sky and can write about it in an engaging manner. Cosmic Challenge features nearly 200 celestial hunts that will challenge you no matter how many days or years you've logged looking through a telescope. In writing this book, Harrington has produced a work of enduring value, one that should be on every observer's shelf.' Michael E. Bakich, Senior Editor, Astronomy magazine 'From noted astronomy writer Phil Harrington comes this welcome one-of-a-kind guidebook. Harrington provides page after page of observing challenges that encourage the reader to test his or her observing skills with naked eye, binocular, or telescope. With its blend of clear, descriptive narrative and detailed finder charts, this book is a pleasure to use. Cosmic Challenge belongs on the bookshelf of every serious amateur astronomer.' Glenn Chaple, contributing writer, Astronomy magazine 'Phil Harrington is a well-known astronomy writer and has published a lot of material about deep sky observing. Cosmic Challenge is his latest and probably best work to date ... All-in-all this is an excellent observing guide, with something for everyone whether you observe with your unaided eyes or you have a 20 inch light bucket. It's both very readable and a proper observing guide suitable for use during an observing session. Highly recommended.' FJAstronomy.com '... an excellent addition to the collection of deep-sky books and should be on every amateur's bookshelf.' The Observatory 'overall, an interesting and attractive book that will keep most purchasers happy and which may, eventually, become very popular indeed.' Astronomy Now Phil Harrington is one of the rare individuals who knows the sky and can write about it in an engaging manner. Cosmic Challenge features nearly 200 celestial hunts that will challenge you no matter how many days or years you've logged looking through a telescope. In writing this book, Harrington has produced a work of enduring value, one that should be on every observer's shelf. - Michael E. Bakich, senior editor, Astronomy magazine From noted astronomy writer Phil Harrington comes this welcome one-of-a-kind guidebook. Harrington provides page after page of observing challenges that encourage the reader to test his or her observing skills with naked eye, binocular, or telescope. With its blend of clear, descriptive narrative and detailed finder charts, this book is a pleasure to use. Cosmic Challenge belongs on the bookshelf of every serious amateur astronomer. - Glenn Chaple, contributing writer Astronomy magazine If you're ready for the challenge, Phil Harrington has thrown down the gauntlet. - The Astronomical League I would heartily recommend this book.The book was three years in the making and it shows. A great deal of care and attention to detail has been spent. It is well written, has an interesting selection of objects suitable for all observers with varying degrees of difficulty, has good descriptions and nice charts. I don't think it is intended to be a book to work through from start to finish, but there are many ideas and gems to alight on, so just dip through and you're sure to find something of interest. - Callum Potter, J. Br. Astron. Assoc. Well presented, no nonsense, lots of content ... Overall, an interesting and attractive book that will keep most purchasers happy and which may, eventually, become very popular indeed. - Astronomy Now Online This is a book that will more than likely put you through your paces, whether you are an experienced amateur astronomer or a newbie...Cosmic Challenge is also a book worth reading for the sake of reading. It is well-written, with a pleasant, conversational `tone,' and makes a fine way to spend evenings that have clouded over, or afternoons while waiting for the sun to go down... In the end Cosmic Challenge easily met (and exceeded) the expectations pre-publication excitement might have raised. As a result, my recommendation regarding the book is simple: if you don't own a copy yet, go out and buy one. - Thomas Watson, Cloudy Night Telescope Reviews Phil Harrington is a well-known astronomy writer and has published a lot of material about deep sky observing. Cosmic Challenge is his latest and probably best work to date... All-in-all this is an excellent observing guide, with something for everyone whether you observe with your unaided eyes or you have a 20 inch light bucket. It's both very readable and a proper observing guide suitable for use during an observing session. Highly recommended. - FJAstronomy.com

Author Information

Philip S. Harrington is the author of eight previous books for the amateur astronomer, including Touring the Universe through Binoculars, Star Ware, and Star Watch. He is also a contributing editor for Astronomy magazine, where he has authored the magazine's monthly 'Binocular Universe' column and 'Phil Harrington's Challenge Objects', a quarterly online column on Astronomy.com. He is an Adjunct Professor at Dowling College and Suffolk County Community College, New York, where he teaches courses in stellar and planetary astronomy.

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