E-Book Overview
Here is a unique and fascinating reference book for those who want to go beyond the Messier objects! Entries for each of more than 500 deep-sky objects provide far more than the usual astronomical data - they also give fascinating facts about each object. These include physical factors, astrophysical information, evolution, unusual features - the list is almost endless.
The objects are all listed according to NGC number, i.e., in approximate order of location from west to east. This is convenient for observers because interesting objects that can be seen on a given night will usually occur within a few pages of each other in the book.
The Messier objects are of course included, but are also listed separately in Messier number order.
Astronomers can now get an insight into exactly what they are looking at, adding a new level of insight and enjoyment to deep-sky observing.
E-Book Content
Concise Catalog of Deep-sky Objects
Springer London Berlin Heidelberg New York Hong Kong Milan Paris Tokyo
W.H. Finlay
Concise Catalog of Deep-sky Objects Astrophysical Information for 500 Galaxies, Clusters and Nebulae With 18 Figures
Cover illustrations: Background: NGC 2043, by courtesy of Zsolt Frei, from CD-ROM Atlas of Nearby Galaxies, copyright © by Princeton University Press, reprinted by permission of Princeton University Press. Inset 1: NGC 3031, by courtesy of Zsolt Frei, from CD-ROM Atlas of Nearby Galaxies, copyright © by Princeton University Press, reprinted by permission of Princeton University Press. Inset 2: M80, courtesy STScI. Inset 3: NGC 2244, by courtesy of Travis Rector and the NOAO/AURA/NSF. Inset 4: NGC 6543, courtesy STScI. British Library Cataloguing in Publication Data Finlay, W.H. Concise catalog of deep-sky objects : astrophysical information for 500 galaxies, clusters and nebulae 1. Galaxies – Catalogs 2. Galaxies – C