An absolutely wonderful book; however, the numerous printing imperfections encountered (odd smudges, smears, and stains) have significantly detracted from the reading experience.
The book states that it was printed in China and it shows--really bad for a new book.
Perhaps whoever printed the book thought that one would be reading it mainly in the dark and would not notice the blemishes.
A five-star rating for content and 0-stars for print quality equals 3 stars total (more of less).

I always wanted to own a telescope. This was the year. I talked to people, read reviews, joined online forums...thought I knew what I was doing and bought the thing. First night out I realized - I have absolutely no clue what to look for up there!!! This book is the perfect answer to that question, as well as an extremely good beginner's guide. There is enough detail to give you the sense that you are learning a lot, but not so much detail that you feel overwhelmed and intimidated. My recommendation is buy this book BEFORE you buy a telescope or binocs or any gear whatsoever. Use the book for a while just to learn your way around the sky. They have great suggestions for where to go and how to get there after that. Highly recommended!!!

I bought this book some years ago, to see if I wanted to try amateur astronomy again. I had been given a department store telescope as a kid, and was discouraged by the fact that you really couldn't observe anything other than the moon with it. This book gave me the confidence to go out and buy a reasonably expensive telescope, and get it up and running with almost no assistance from anyone else. It opened up a wonderful hobby.

I strongly recommend giving this book to anyone with an interest in amateur astronomy. It is the best guide to getting started in something I've ever seen in my life.

If you are a beginner, buy this book immediately. It is probably fabulous for the rest of you, too. :) I am just getting started myself and have spent just a short time with it. I look forward to learning and appreciating it even more. Beginners absolutely need it. Try to read before you get a telescope, but even if you have made a purchase, will be able to help you make best use of it and help you avoid frustration.

This book is first of all beautiful with many color photographs to enhance the comprehensive text. The content is engaging and easy-to-understand.

Buy, enjoy, and have fun. Also, the book is worth the $35.00 price, but Amazon has a great discount.

If you are a beginner, buy this book immediately. It is probably fabulous for the rest of you, too. :) I am just getting started myself and have spent just a short time with it. I look forward to learning and appreciating it even more. Beginners absolutely need it. Try to read before you get a telescope, but even if you have made a purchase, will be able to help you make best use of it and help you avoid frustration.

This book is first of all beautiful with many color photographs to enhance the comprehensive text. The content is engaging and easy-to-understand.

Buy, enjoy, and have fun. Also, the book is worth the $35.00 price, but Amazon has a great discount.

A must have book for any star gazer.For either the amateur or the professional.

It came highly recommended and it's easy to see why. A very good book!

The overwhelming number of reviews for this book on Amazon is a testimonial to its stature as a classic introductory stargazing book. The fact that the reviews are uniformly positive testifies to its exceptional quality. Now in its fourth edition, Nightwatch has been introducing amateur astronomers to the night sky for over two decades. Terence Dickinson is a prolific astronomy author and this is one of his most important and enduring works.
This is essentially the same as the older editions, some of which I also own. Four new things have been added to the new edition. Tables and data have been update through 2018, there are now southern hemisphere charts (for a Northern hemisphere book, who cares?), there is an updated section on digital astrophotography and some updated information on buying a telescope. I have read many introductory stargazing books and I always find the information about buying a telescope the least interesting. More often than not, the telescope is purchased first and the book is purchased later. An extended section on purchasing a telescope after the fact, after the proverbial horse has left the barn, seems wasteful. Dickerson's section is interesting however. I have not read all his works, but I have read several and Dickerson has uniformly dismissed "go-to" telescopes in favor of "learning the sky." This may be worthwhile for the serious amateur astronomer, but the serious amateur already knows the sky. The true novice may be aided by a telescope that aids him in finding celestial objects so that his cold and dark nights don't end prematurely in frustration. The frustrated novice may never become the "serious" amateur astronomer who benefits from knowing the sky.
To my knowledge, this is the first book in which Dickerson embraces GPS-guided "go-to" telescopes which require no knowledge of the sky. In an age of light pollution when the opportunity to view the sky are diminishing for most of us urban dwellers, Dickerson acknowledges the utility of GPS telescopes which have become self-guiding and essentially "idiot-proof." If you can get it into the darkness and onto a tripod, it can find for you a celestial object. This is truly an amazing advance in amateur astronomy and Dickerson finally acknowledges and embraces this development.
As a book, this is a thorough introductory text on stargazing. It is concise and the prose is well-written. Anyone wanting to pursue astronomy as a serious hobby will undoubtedly want more, but this is an excellent starting point. And for nearly a quarter century, this is where many budding amateur astronomers have started. This text is recommended without reservations. If you want to learn the sky, start here.

If you are seriously interested in astronomy, or you are a beginner or intermediate astronomy enthusiast with a telescope(or you are considering purchasing one), this fine gem of a book is a must buy. I bought the previous edition and discovered that I often return to use this book in my outdoor telescopic tours more than any other guide I own. Had I known what I now know when I first got started, this would have been the first and maybe last book I ever bought! The spiral binding is especially field-friendly as well as the heavy water-resistant cover. Don't leave home without of copy in hand of this most excellent book.

This is my first astronomy book. A great read! Up to date and concise. It helps to put perspective on everything astronomy.

Extremely good book! A lot of general knowledge for everyone but practical info for amateur astronomers too. Very good text sructure, nice photos, helpful charts and tables. Spiral-bound is quite helpful in the field.

I have owned a previous version of Nightwatch and purchased the latest version for updated information on when to view the planets and star charts. For those looking to purchase their first telescope, there is essential information on how to choose and care for your first telescope. The amount of new material and much improved printing and binding were a wonderful plus. This Guide is the best place to start your adventure into astronomy. Highly recommended.

This is the best comprehensive guide to nightime "skylooking" that I have in my library. I have the previous edition and this is much improved and very readable. I have several sky charts, astronomy books and this is the best, hands down.. Thanks Terence Dickinnson.

This is probably the best book out there for the beginner stargazer. It explains all about the different options for binoculars and telescopes (for instance, you may want to start out with "just" binoculars, and find you enjoy it more!)

Love the star charts, the illustrations, the writing...it's just great. Spiral-bound, we take it with us to every star party.

I consider myself an amateur astronomer although the last time I actively kept an observation journal was nearly 40 years ago. I do follow all events astronomical. It boggles my mind at the discoveries that science has made in the last decade. Imagine, at last count, 277 exosolar planets!

This book was ordered by my father. I bought it and received another one. This book was half of the incident that changed my life. The one I received unexpectedly was the other half.

Anyway, this is a well-illustrated and well-written guide.

I bought this book because of the great reviews amazon costumers were giving. Thanks amazon costumers, I'm glad I bought it! It gives such great information about chosing telescopes. People who have a small telescope (under 4 inches in aperture) may be a little peived about this book because the author doesn't talk very highly of small refractors bought in department stores. Not many authors do. I wish I bought this book first before buying any telescope. I say this in my review title because i highly stress it. I first bought a 70mm refractor when I knew absolutely NOTHING about telescopes (because I did no prior reading), and I ended up sending it back within a month because I started to learn more about them through websites and books. So I bought the spaceprobe 130mm (5.1 inch) by Orion, but the equatorial mount was not my favorite gadget to work with, but it's still a great tool, and it has great reviews, so I'm not going to totally trash it. This book recommends beginner scopes with great aperture and ease of use. He explains a variety of scopes, and what he considers a great buy. I sold my spaceprobe to my colleague and got a 6inch Newtonian Dob. It hasn't arrived yet, but I'm positive I made the right choice based on this book. He goes into eyepeices and everything you need to know about what to buy. Once you've read this book, you've done your homework, and you'll be more confident in buying the right items. If you're going to spend hundreds on a telescope plus accessories, make sure you're not wasting it on the wrong things. I love the glossy pages and colorful images. I highly recommend this book with "Left Turn at Orion". Buy them together if you're totally new at this. One will complement the other. If you have a small rafractor, you will love "Left Turn at Orion" because that is one of the few books that don't insult the small refractors, but tells you how to use them.

The first edition of Terence Dickinson's night-viewer's guide Nightwatch: A Practical Guide to Viewing the Universe first appeared in 1983 and has sold over 600,000 copies, gaining numerous fans: this fourth updated edition includes all the basics on planetary positions, alignments, and conjunctions updated to reflect the current sky through 2018. Its extensive updated information includes an entire revamping of the stargazing equipment section with new recommendations and new photos. A 'must' for any avid night-time observer.

The first edition of Terence Dickinson's night-viewer's guide Nightwatch: A Practical Guide to Viewing the Universe first appeared in 1983 and has sold over 600,000 copies, gaining numerous fans: this fourth updated edition includes all the basics on planetary positions, alignments, and conjunctions updated to reflect the current sky through 2018. Its extensive updated information includes an entire revamping of the stargazing equipment section with new recommendations and new photos. A 'must' for any avid night-time observer.

Growing up on the prairies, far from any city lights, I took the splendour of our star-filled night sky for granted.

These past thirty years I've been living in the bloom of a large always-bright-at-night city skyscape. Light pollution in the suburbs means that only the nearest planets and the brightest stars are visible from our backyard. Whenever I get the opportunity to leave the city's light behind it's always a pleasant surprise to once again experience the brilliance of an unpolluted night sky.

What with all there is to see amidst such a profusion of celestial objects, it's a good idea to bring along a guide to get acquainted with all that glitters overhead. The best guide I've found so far is Terence Dickinson's "NightWatch".

Terrance has devoted his life to the study of the night sky. He has authored fourteen books on astronomy and is the editor of SkyNews, a Canadian astronomy magazine. In the 1960s and 70s he was an astronomer at two major planetariums; and since 1976, has been a full-time astronomy writer and editor.

Terrance's fascination and sense of wonderment with all things celestial is infectious. Thumbing through any NightWatch chapter makes you want to linger longer with this book. It is a real incentive to setting up a lawn chair in the backyard to spend some time staring up at the night sky.

The fourth edition of this practical guide to viewing the universe was published in late 2006. Casual night sky observers, amateur astronomers and professionals alike will marvel at the wealth of information, incredible pictures, ingeniously easy-to-use sky charts and eloquent prose found within its 192 ring-bound pages. Besides being well-engineered for outdoor use in dim light, it is simply gorgeous and would do well on display in your favourite conversational room.

I really like the fact that even if your eyes are the only equipment you own for stargazing, this guide will provide many hours of enjoyment as it takes you on a tour of the local planets and spectacle of the spring, summer, autumn and winter night sky. You won't have to travel further than to your own backyard to appreciate how informative this book can be. For those with binoculars, or telescopes and a car (to get beyond the city lights), NightWatch contains a wealth of star charts to help you probe the depths of our galaxy and those far beyond. You'll find easily navigable directions to double stars, variable stars, star clusters, globular clusters, nebula, and the galaxies.

This guide is of particular value for those considering the purchase of stargazing equipment, and who hasn't had the craving to own their own telescope. Too often though the first time buyer falls victim to purchasing a high-power department store "trash-scope" and later regrets having parted with their money. Terrence devotes an entire chapter to acquainting us with the many varieties of binoculars and telescopes. In a very understandable manner he guides us through the many factors to consider when selecting our first set of equipment.

If photography is your thing, you'll love the chapter on photographing the night sky. Cameras do a superb job of gathering and recording starlight. This fourth edition has been thoroughly updated to keep pace with the current digital revolution.

Even if you never set foot outdoors to gaze up at the night sky, this book is a wonderful educational tool for becoming more aware of galaxy we live in and our place in the universe. Spend a few hours with NightWatch and you'll find yourself always coming back for more.

Growing up on the prairies, far from any city lights, I took the splendour of our star-filled night sky for granted.

These past thirty years I've been living in the bloom of a large always-bright-at-night city skyscape. Light pollution in the suburbs means that only the nearest planets and the brightest stars are visible from our backyard. Whenever I get the opportunity to leave the city's light behind it's always a pleasant surprise to once again experience the brilliance of an unpolluted night sky.

What with all there is to see amidst such a profusion of celestial objects, it's a good idea to bring along a guide to get acquainted with all that glitters overhead. The best guide I've found so far is Terence Dickinson's "NightWatch".

Terrance has devoted his life to the study of the night sky. He has authored fourteen books on astronomy and is the editor of SkyNews, a Canadian astronomy magazine. In the 1960s and 70s he was an astronomer at two major planetariums; and since 1976, has been a full-time astronomy writer and editor.

Terrance's fascination and sense of wonderment with all things celestial is infectious. Thumbing through any NightWatch chapter makes you want to linger longer with this book. It is a real incentive to setting up a lawn chair in the backyard to spend some time staring up at the night sky.

The fourth edition of this practical guide to viewing the universe was published in late 2006. Casual night sky observers, amateur astronomers and professionals alike will marvel at the wealth of information, incredible pictures, ingeniously easy-to-use sky charts and eloquent prose found within its 192 ring-bound pages. Besides being well-engineered for outdoor use in dim light, it is simply gorgeous and would do well on display in your favourite conversational room.

I really like the fact that even if your eyes are the only equipment you own for stargazing, this guide will provide many hours of enjoyment as it takes you on a tour of the local planets and spectacle of the spring, summer, autumn and winter night sky. You won't have to travel further than to your own backyard to appreciate how informative this book can be. For those with binoculars, or telescopes and a car (to get beyond the city lights), NightWatch contains a wealth of star charts to help you probe the depths of our galaxy and those far beyond. You'll find easily navigable directions to double stars, variable stars, star clusters, globular clusters, nebula, and the galaxies.

This guide is of particular value for those considering the purchase of stargazing equipment, and who hasn't had the craving to own their own telescope. Too often though the first time buyer falls victim to purchasing a high-power department store "trash-scope" and later regrets having parted with their money. Terrence devotes an entire chapter to acquainting us with the many varieties of binoculars and telescopes. In a very understandable manner he guides us through the many factors to consider when selecting our first set of equipment.

If photography is your thing, you'll love the chapter on photographing the night sky. Cameras do a superb job of gathering and recording starlight. This fourth edition has been thoroughly updated to keep pace with the current digital revolution.

Even if you never set foot outdoors to gaze up at the night sky, this book is a wonderful educational tool for becoming more aware of galaxy we live in and our place in the universe. Spend a few hours with NightWatch and you'll find yourself always coming back for more.

This book is a must for anyone getting started in astronomy. I first used it to learn about differences in telescopes, then used it to guide my purchase of one and now am using it to view the sky. Nothing better that I have found for getting into star gazing. Amazon has a great price for this publication.

Dick in Arizona

When the book arrived, I could tell that it had seen rough travel. The spine of the book is made of a spiral wire which had been flattened. Therefore, the pages do not turn easily and tear at the point where the wire fits through the page. Now, the front of the book is ripped away from the pages. I believe that the book has been stacked with too much weight on top of it and the wire spiral spine was crushed, or flattened, to the point that my book was damaged. I had this book years ago and it was water-damaged, so I was replacing it. Now, I feel that I must replace it again.

When the book arrived, I could tell that it had seen rough travel. The spine of the book is made of a spiral wire which had been flattened. Therefore, the pages do not turn easily and tear at the point where the wire fits through the page. Now, the front of the book is ripped away from the pages. I believe that the book has been stacked with too much weight on top of it and the wire spiral spine was crushed, or flattened, to the point that my book was damaged. I had this book years ago and it was water-damaged, so I was replacing it. Now, I feel that I must replace it again.

Whats great about this book is not just the content, about which all other reviews have been raving anyway, but its paper, spiral binding and hard cover.
The glossy paper makes it readable even if you shine a low-energy red light on it. The spiral-binding allows you to flip thru the pages easily while you hold the book folded in 360 degrees. And the hard-bound cover enables you to hold the book with one hand over your head while you shine the torch on the book with other hand and gaze at the stars above.

I gave this book to two NERDY boys. One [11] wants to be a race car designer, and one [16] wants to be an engineer . . . along with two telescopes.

These boys [and their parents] were really happy.

The book is so rich in illlustrations and a great gift for kids that love SPACE stories like Star Wars and Star Trek.

This is an excellent guide to astronomy for beginners. I have wanted to name the stars for decades and never found anyone that could help. This book corrected all that and within a week I could name all the constellations and had a thirst to look further at the clusters and galaxies etc that can be seen with a telescope. The book has clear star maps for different seasons of the year. It is mainly northern hemisphere based but has a southern hemisphere chapter also. There are helpful chapters on what telescopes are available and which are most suitable for beginners. Help is there for ideas on star photography and a exhaustive list of related links and resources. An excellent book.

I am the proud owner of the previous edition of NightWatch and when I noticed an updated edition of this "friendly guide" for amateur astronomers, on Amazon, I ordered it ASAP. I was pleased by the updated pictures and information on the latest telescope technology. This is one of the best books of it's kind on the market. Easy to use star maps and a friendly presentation of facts for anyone to enjoy. If the wonders of the night sky attract you, then this book is a "must buy". Terence Dickinson presents astronomy in a fun and informative style second to none.

This is an exceptional book of introductory through intermediate levels of astronomy sophistication. The author has continued in his enthusiastic style of presenting a wide spectrum of information through pictures, charts, and discussion. It is beautifully illustrated, current, and user-friendly. In a very short order, a novice will be feeling comfortable with the field of astronomy from a practical stance, and the more experienced will be impressed with the quality that will still appeal to them. This is one book that needs to be on your shelf.

"Nightwatch" is simply the best introduction to astronomy that you're likely to find. One of the early chapters, "The Universe in Eleven Steps", is, by itself, worth the price of this book. It illustrates Terence Dickinson's unique writing and communication style that escorts the reader to an understanding of some of the more complex concepts within astronomy.

Bought this as a gift for my grandson and almost kept it for myself. I am a retired science teacher and this is one great book. I would recommend this for every beginner.

This book is superb. I am just getting into astronomy and this book really helps with a lot of good information without being overly technical. If you are thinking of getting into astronomy get this book first it might help keep you from making a mistake on your telescope or binocular purchase. Highly recommended

I am new to astronomy, so I ordered this book which was recommended to me. I am extremely happy with it. It is clear and concise, and the language is easy to read. Excellent book if you are new to astronomy.

This is book is so good, you'll regret reading it. Let me tell you why. This is the book that got me started on astronomy. Two telescopes, sleepless nights spent under the stars, and 4 years later; I am $5000 poorer but much more enriched...all because I read this book. Perfect for any beginner, but even this "old head" had to buy the new edition (this is the 4th) since my old one is being passed on to my Dad's house (with our old 6 inch Discovery telescopes reflector) in South Dakota. Great beginner star charts..when I am not chasing the faint fuzzies, I use these charts as a default. Seriously..one of the best Astronomy books out there!

I can't say "thank you" enough to Terence Dickinson for this book. His writing is so engaging, and he makes things very easy to understand. The star maps are fantastic and the photos are stunning. Perhaps the most important thing to me, though, was the section on buying a telescope. As I was in the market for a new scope, and hadn't even looked through a scope in nearly 6 years, I really needed some advice. I'd never even heard of a Dobson telescope until I read this book. I was especially intrigued by Mr. Dickinson's comment on his not understanding why more people don't own Dobsons, as they provide large aperture for relatively low cost. I started doing more research after reading this, and today I am the proud owner of a 10" Dobson scope, an Orion Intelliscope XT10. That part aside, though, I've had many hours of enjoyment from "Nightwatch" and know it will be one of my constant companions for many years.