Human vision and the night sky : hot [i.e. how] to improve your observing skills /

Amateur astronomer Borgia has assembled a book aimed at intermediate amateur astronomers. The first chapter concentrates on human vision and techniques to improve nighttime observing. Other introductory chapters concern equipment and its use. The remainder consists of individual sections on astronomical objects (e.g., moon, sun, individual planets, stars, galaxies). The bulk of each chapter seems like a rehash of material found in introductory astronomy textbooks. The recommended observing projects--although packed with some interesting observational details--consist of standard activities (e.g., the Galilean satellites of Jupiter), rare events (e.g., total solar eclipses), difficult and/or unlikely projects (e.g., discover a new comet), or projects for which insufficient information is given for completion (e.g., variable stars or Messier marathons). The author chose to illustrate the book with photographic images he had taken himself, but many are of poor quality. More diagrams would have been nice. For example, the Hertzsprung-Russell diagram is described verbally on one page and illustrated poorly on another but not referenced on the first. The book cannot be recommended to the beginning amateur or student who wishes to improve practical observing skills. ^BSumming Up: Not recommended. M.-K. Hemenway University of Texas at Austin