Field Guide to the Night Sky (National Audubon Society Field Guides)

Nice All-Around Compact Reference

I bought this book used at a substantial discount, so I knew beforehand that some of the information would be out-of-date. Nevertheless, I think it is a nice and compact general reference. Also, I recommend that you use this book in conjunction with other references that are perhaps larger in physical size (e.g., contain larger star charts). If you supplement the material in this Audubon Guide with other sources, then this particular field guide can help you zero-in on objects you want to study in further detail when you venture out into the night sky. I think the detailed diagrams of the constellations are valuable because they identify potential objects for viewing in each constellation, such as Messier Objects or Double Stars. Additionally, the astronomical photos are first-rate - but just remember that celestial objects generally do not look that good in real-time observations due to the limitations of telescope aperture, atmospheric conditions, ambient light-interference, etc. Conclusion: This is a helpful resource in a relatively small and convenient package, but use it along with other astronomy references to get the most out of this fun hobby. Read more