Astro Hacks book

After taking a real look at the book, I realized it's really only written
mostly for people with dobs or newtonians
or maybe SCT's and certainly beginning types. NOT refractors. It's not
worth the money I paid so I returned for full refund after scanning the
pages that actually are useful. Now that was a HACK!

"MThomas" wrote in message
news:ucyyg.144418$I61.104627@clgrps13...
After taking a real look at the book, I realized it's really only written
mostly for people with dobs or newtonians
or maybe SCT's and certainly beginning types. NOT refractors. It's not
worth the money I paid so I returned for full refund after scanning the
pages that actually are useful. Now that was a HACK!


Oh. In addition to "beginnerish" or at least "once in a while" observers,
the book would do well
with the hobbyist type or the type who likes to tinker.

It's not
worth the money I paid so I returned for full refund after scanning the
pages that actually are useful. Now that was a HACK!


I'd call that theft. But i guess not really illegal if you don't publish your scans. I had the book as well but after i found it didn't really suit me i sold it and didn't keep copies for myself. I would highly recommend the book to relative newcomers to astronomy.

-Florian

PS: Why does the topic of this book keep coming up so often?

"Florian" wrote in message
...
It's not worth the money I paid so I returned for full refund after
scanning the pages that actually are useful. Now that was a HACK!


I'd call that theft. But i guess not really illegal if you don't publish
your scans. I had the book as well but after i found it didn't really suit
me i sold it and didn't keep copies for myself. I would highly recommend
the book to relative newcomers to astronomy.
-Florian

PS: Why does the topic of this book keep coming up so often?

Ask sam wormley

MThomas wrote:
After taking a real look at the book, I realized it's really only written
mostly for people with dobs or newtonians
or maybe SCT's and certainly beginning types. NOT refractors. It's not
worth the money I paid so I returned for full refund after scanning the
pages that actually are useful. Now that was a HACK!

Now that's a scam ;-)

I bought it last week, read it, thought that while it was worth the
money it's not for advanced amateurs. I feel it would make a good
apendix to Turn Left at Orion's 'Telescope, Care and Feeding' section.
Ideal for newcomers.
jc

jc wrote:

I bought it last week, read it, thought that while it was worth the
money it's not for advanced amateurs. I feel it would make a good
apendix to Turn Left at Orion's 'Telescope, Care and Feeding' section.
Ideal for newcomers.
jc



Unfortunately the majority of books target beginners!

Observing resources I use include:

o The Astronomical Calendar (current year) by Guy Ottewell

o Sky Atlas 2000 Deluxe & Companion
o Uranometria 2000.0 (versions 1 and 2) and Deep Sky Field Guide
o Millennium Star Atlas
o XEphem (not a book)

o O'Meara's books
o Hirshfeld & Sinnott's books
o Luginbuhl & Skiff -- Observing Handbook
o Third Reference Catalog of Bright Galaxies
o Current Astronomical Almanac
o various Moon atlases

o Sky & Telescope
o Online resources, many of which are linked here
http://edu-observatory.org/eo/observing.html
http://edu-observatory.org/eo/starcharts.html

When in the back yard I can access any of this stuff at a
moments notice.

But at a dark sky site, I usually don't take much more
that a star chart I have make in planning the observing
session and whats in my head.

MThomas wrote:
After taking a real look at the book, I realized it's really only written
mostly for people with dobs or newtonians
or maybe SCT's and certainly beginning types. NOT refractors. It's not
worth the money I paid so I returned for full refund after scanning the
pages that actually are useful. Now that was a HACK!

Hi:

I'd call that something else, but that's just me.

Peace,
Rod Mollise
Author of:
Choosing and Using a Schmidt Cassegrain Telescope
and
The Urban Astronomer's Guide
http://skywatch.brainiac.com/astroland
The Annual SCT User Imaging Contest is Underway!
http://www.rothritter.com/contest/2006/