In print for over 40 years!
Now in an all-new edition.
Available at all booksellers.
A greatly revised and updated edition of the best-selling guidebook to stargazing
The fifth edition of NightWatch: A Practical Guide to Viewing the Universe (2023) has been completely redesigned with a fresh look, new images, revised star charts and updated information. The book retains all the content and advice readers have come to love.
by Terence Dickinson with Ken Hewitt-White
Foreword by Richard Tresch Fienberg, former editor in chief, Sky & Telescope
Covers of earlier editions that have inspired hundreds of thousands of readers over four decades!
What’s in the fifth edition?
With more than 800,000 copies in print, NightWatch has consistently been the best-selling guidebook to backyard astronomy for 40 years, recommended by reviewers and experienced amateur astronomers as the best source of instruction for all those aspiring to stargaze.
In this expanded 208-page edition, you’ll discover all you need to know to begin backyard stargazing, with advice on how to find your way around the sky, the best equipment to buy and what to expect to see through binoculars and telescopes.
Chapters 1 to 3
Provide an introduction to what’s in the night sky and how it moves. One entire chapter is dedicated to “The Universe in Eleven Steps,” a cosmic zoom from Earth to the edge of the known universe.
Chapter 4
Features NightWatch’s highly regarded seasonal star charts for the northern hemisphere, with pointer lines to help you easily locate the brightest stars and constellations.
Chapter 5
Provides advice for anyone looking to purchase binoculars or a telescope, with recommendations of models to buy (and those to avoid), plus tips for using computerized scopes.
Chapter 6
Presents the main categories of deep-sky objects — clusters, nebulas and galaxies — as well as an atlas of selected regions of the sky, mapping dozens of the best targets for small telescopes.
Chapters 7 to 10
Explain in simple terms what you can expect to see when observing the Moon and planets, the Sun (safely), eclipses, comets, meteors and auroras.
Chapter 11
Offers an introduction to digital astrophotography. Employing simple equipment and basic techniques, you’ll learn how to take photos of the night sky with your phone, DSLR or mirrorless camera.
Chapter 12
Celebrates the splendors of the southern-hemisphere sky for those planning a trip Down Under. Includes seasonal star charts of the southern constellations.
Designed for use indoors and outdoors.
NightWatch is helpful both as a reference book indoors and as a constellation guide under the stars at night. The seasonal charts in Chapter 4 (one pair is shown here) are ideal for learning your way around the sky.
Charts readable under red light.
The concealed spiral binding allows the book to open flat for easy use at the telescope. The 20 sky atlas charts in Chapter 6 (two are shown here) are labeled with text that works under red light, preferred for maintaining night vision.
What’s new in the fifth edition?
We’ve revised almost every aspect of NightWatch, with up-to-date information and new images.
- All-new seasonal star charts in Chapters 4 and 12.
- Revised star charts in Chapter 6 feature more deep-sky objects suitable for small telescopes.
- Most photos replaced with new images from astrophotographers and from planetary probes and space telescopes such as James Webb.
- Science information reflects the latest findings and theories.
- Updated advice on buying and using telescopes and accessories.
- A revised chapter on shooting your own astrophotos discusses current equipment and techniques.
- Information on coming astronomical events is current from now until 2035.
- Boasting 16 additional pages, this fifth edition is the biggest revision to NightWatch in its 40 years of helping stargazers get started.
For descriptions of each chapter’s content, plus sample pages, see What’s Inside.
For sky-motion animations to supplement Chapters 3 and 12, see Videos.
For our suggested steps for getting into astronomy and tips for buying a telescope, see Top 10 Steps & Tips.
For links to recommended websites and YouTube channels, see Resources.
Praise from reviewers of the fifth edition of NightWatch
“In a world of overwhelming data on smartphones and astronomy apps, and with websites hard-selling telescopes galore, what is needed is a book offering a jargon-free, step-by-step journey into what can realistically be seen in the night sky, along with some practical guidance as to how to achieve this goal. NightWatch is that book.”
— Jane Green, BBC Sky at Night magazine, December 2023
“NightWatch [received] a fresh new look for its newly released fifth edition….If you’re looking for a great all-round primer on amateur astronomy, there are few better than NightWatch.”
— Keith Cooper, Astronomy Now, December 2023
“A central aspect to this new edition is the subtle improvements to the unique seasonal star charts ….Yet it is Dickinson’s clear, jargon-free language that will continue to inspire hundreds of thousands of people around the world to take up recreational astronomy.”
— Stuart Parkerson, Astronomy Technology Today, Vol. 17, Issue 7
Praise from reviewers of earlier editions of NightWatch
“This is a wonderful, single-volume introduction to the night sky and its wonders. More than that, it’s chock-full of valuable information to help you understand how your telescope works and what all those dials and knobs do. If you only purchase one item to go with your new telescope, this should be it.”
— Gary Seronik, Sky & Telescope magazine on 08/01/2020
“The perfect introduction to astronomy and stargazing. It has been the top-selling stargazing guide for over 20 years. . . . With information that even the most experienced stargazers will find comes in handy.”
— Space.com on 04/12/2018
“This is a fantastic introductory book chock full of information and charts. Well written and engaging.”
— John Kulczyzki, suite101.com on 10/05/2010
“A paramount book of sky objects . . . easy and understandable. This practical guide is a must for the science classroom teacher, the beginning or amateur astronomer, and young and old students of the night. The author gives a sensible, realistic perspective on night sky viewing. I believe this is the best book in its field available to amateurs.”
— Teri Cosentino, The Science Teacher on 01/01/2008
“NightWatch is a clear, concise manual for backyard stargazing that also manages to convey the excitement of astronomy. . . . The best introduction around.”
— Ivan Semeniuk, New Scientist on 20/01/2007
About the authors
Terence Dickinson
. . . was a best-selling author of 14 astronomy books and hundreds of articles on the subject. In 1994, he cofounded SkyNews, Canada’s national astronomy magazine. Sadly, Terence died in early 2023, after a long battle with Parkinson’s disease, just as the fifth edition of NightWatch was being completed.
Ken Hewitt-White
. . . turned to writing full time after a 20-year career at the H. R. MacMillan Planetarium in Vancouver, British Columbia. His collaborations with Terence evolved into a strong working relationship both authors enjoyed for 21 years. Ken handled most of the revision work on this edition of NightWatch..
Alan Dyer
. . . guest authored the content for part of Chapter 5 and all of Chapter 11. Alan is now retired from many rewarding years producing planetarium shows. A former editor with Astronomy magazine, Alan is also the coauthor with Terence of The Backyard Astronomer’s Guide.
About the book
Publisher: Firefly Books
HARDCOVER, CONCEALED SPIRAL BINDING
Available from all book retailers; we do not sell the book through this website. In print only; an eBook version is not available.
$39.95
208 pages – Size: 11″ x 10 3/4″ x 7/8”
ISBN: 155407147X © 2023
NightWatch Book 