John Wiley: Star Ware

5.0 Star Ware

A joy to read; Comparisons of brand name equipment; Do-it-yourself projects

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I was introduced to Phil Harrington's marvelous book back in 1998 when the second edition was in publication. Since then there have been two updated revised editions, with the 4th editon being his latest installment. The author's book is a must for those who maybe contemplating purchasing any type of astronomical equipment or accessories. The book starts off with a history of the telescope and its different incarnations, followed by eyepieces and their designs and uses. From there we move on to selecting binoculars and how to choose the best model for astronomy. The part most of us look forward to is the different brand of scopes and how they compare to each other. The scopes are listed by type, and yes, brand name! I have to admit that I'm an equipment junkie, and this was the most enjoyable part of the book. I enjoyed this so much that I ordered the very first edition, which was a hardcover edition published in 1994, and was able to read early reviews of equipment that was hot then and those that are no longer with us. Big fun!

Star Ware also has numerous do-it-yourself projects and resources that list dealers, distributors, websites, products and more. There is even a section at the rear of the book that is an equipment survey for a future publication.

If you're into astro equipment and what's available to the average amateur, this book is a "must-have ".

Highly recommended.