"It is not the instrument but the person who uses it who unravels the mysteries of the skies." So wrote Clay Sherrod in his pitch to the hobbyist who might be wondering what comes after Messier’s list.

Caldwell and Herschel notwithstanding, astronomy’s appeal to the amateur is the constant opportunity to stand, alongside the professional, on the verge of discovery. To do so, methodology for compiling data must be learned, and that is where beginner books sign off and this manual signs on.

Scientific tutorials have the potential to be clear as mud and dry as desert dust but, here,  the conversational style of the narrative and the logical order of its content is refreshing. Easy formulae and elegantly simple diagrams make the measurement of a comet’s tail a piece of cake. But that’s just the tip of the iceberg as this work is totally without filler. Each morsel of experience be it fact, hint or potential pitfall is ideally placed for relevance and, even if you never submit a variable star report, it all serves to make you a more knowledgeable observer.

To be fair, you should know that Dover republished this 1981 release, unabridged.
Fortunately, the techniques described for data collection and reduction apply equally well today and, while optics have evolved, the equipment suggestions remain valid. In fact, Thomas Koed’s contributions on SLR astrophotography and the polar alignment of equatorial mounts are thorough enough to see most film buffs through the night.

By the author’s own admission some areas  received little or no attention. Most obvious is the virtual lack of double star coverage. That might seem to be a natural topic yet only brief mention is made in the Lunar Occultation chapter. And, while the section on transit timing is top-notch the entire focus is on craters and planetary features with no reference to the Jovian moons, shadow transits, and those rare but important trips across the Sun by Venus and Mercury. Lastly, the index is somewhat sparse though skimming the glossary does make for excellent revision.

Handy appendices round out this manual with conversion charts, submission forms, and projects to get you started. Whether you want to contribute to science or just improve your skills, this is a guide to help you get the most from your scope.  It may not be a cure for aperture fever but, for the price, it’s a darn good remedy.