Discover the “Secrets of the Deep Sky”
by Brian Ventrudo, Publisher, One-Minute Astronomer
The Moon. Jupiter and Saturn. Mars and Venus and a few showpiece objects like the Pleiades star cluster.
These are the easy sights.
But there’s much more to see in the night sky. Galaxies and globular star clusters. Colorful double and multiple stars. And diffuse, dark, and planetary nebulae that mark the birth and death of countless millions of stars in the Milky Way.
Of course, finding these fainter sights can be a little intimidating to new stargazers.
Now, there’s an easier way. As you read this page, you’ll discover how to build an extraordinary level of observational skill that few can match, regardless of your current skill level. And you’ll enjoy astonishing sights in the deep sky of the northern AND southern hemisphere that most people can scarcely imagine.
You’ll also learn how to…
• Navigate your way around the sky to find any object you wish, whether a star, nebula, star cluster, or galaxy
• Increase the reach of your telescope many times over with the selection of the right low-cost accessories and observing techniques
• Understand a little of the science behind stars, star clusters, nebulae, and galaxies… even if you haven’t taken a science course since high school
• Observe with confidence and skill some of the most beautiful sights in the heavens.
These skills (and many more) are revealed in Secrets of the Deep Sky, a detailed program from One-Minute Astronomer. This program gives you a step-by-step approach to enjoying hundreds of star clusters, nebulae, and galaxies… the so-called deep-sky objects (or DSO’s) that so many advanced amateurs observe intently night after night.
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“I have purchased and downloaded Secrets of the Deep Sky. The book is great, well written and just the right amount of detail!” – Dave G., Ontario, Canada“This guide has obviously been created with a lot of care and expertise. I can see things now I’ve never see before. Thank you!” – Niles J., U.K.
How To Find Any Object in the Heavens
You begin with simple and intuitive explanations to help you easily master the layout of the night sky so you can find any deep-sky object you wish. You’ll discover…
• How the stars, moon, and sun move across the sky from day to day and month to month, and how these movements influence what you see each night
• A simple but powerful analogy that will help you understand the celestial coordinate system… an essential skill for finding faint objects in the deep sky
• An amazingly easy way to estimate distances in the sky, from a full 90-degree span to the tiny fractions of a degree used to measure the separation of tightly-spaced double stars
• A 6-step technique for reading a simple star map— and how to use a full-sky map to find the major constellations in all four seasons, in both the northern and southern hemispheres
And to make sure you’ve got the basics down, Secrets of the Deep Sky contains mini tours of the night sky, one tour for each season for both northern and southern hemisphere observers. These tours will help you understand what kind of deep-sky objects are most easily seen during each season. And they include full-sky star maps to help you find your way around any time of year.
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Read what people are saying about One-Minute Astronomer…
“I wanted to send you all a quick note for this incredible information. I have learned so much and enjoyed it immensely. Thanks for enriching my experience of the night sky.” – P.W., Louisiana, U.S.A.
“I enjoyed your insights immensely. You haven’t sent anything that I didn’t learn from. Many thanks and keep up the good work!” – J.W., Perth, Australia
“What a terrific service One-Minute Astronomer offers the community. Your contribution is very much appreciated… you are making a difference!” – E.J., British Columbia, Canada
“Space is such a vast place. But the info you send is very well presented and easy to follow” – D.C., South Africa
“This is so wonderful to read! You add excitement and wonder to my life. Thank you for publishing this interesting information!” – S.G., Iowa, U.S.A.
“You have brought the sky much closer, and for this, I thank you.” -G.N., Ireland
Master the Art of Using a Telescope
Of course, without a telescope, or at least a pair of binoculars, you’re limited to just a few objects beyond the solar system (other than stars, of course). So Secrets of the Deep Sky guides you through the pros and cons of the major types of telescopes for deep-sky observing.
You’ll learn how to find the best telescope for your money. You’ll discover why, in some cases, the biggest telescope isn’t always the best telescope. And why refractors, once used only by lunar and planetary observers, are now the favorite choice of many deep-sky observers.
You’ll also discover…
• How to select eyepieces for deep-sky observing of all types, including wide-field eyepieces for extended objects like nebula, and high-power eyepieces for smaller sights like planetary nebulae and double stars
• Money-saving alternatives to the more expensive eyepieces on the market (you could save hundreds of dollars with these tips alone)
• The truth about the four major types of light pollution filters, which ones are right for you, and which are a waste of money for a visual observer
• The pros and cons of the two main types of finder scopes available today, and which one is best for you
• Go-To mounts… are they only for those too lazy to learn the sky? Or are they an indispensable tool for the amateur astronomer
And you’ll learn how to use the most important optical instrument of all… your eye. You’ll get essential details that will help you coax detail out of even the smallest telescope, including…
• How your eye has evolved to see two different kinds of light, and what it means to you as an astronomer
• How to condition your eye to detect the maximum amount of faint light (fail to do this, and even the most expensive telescope is almost worthless)
• Simple accessories to keep unwanted stray light out of your eye (and why stray light will instantly ruin a night of stargazing)
• One simple technique that will increase the sensitivity of your eye by 20-40x… in less than a second
• Which type of red light is best for seeing your way around in the dark without ruining your night vision
Secrets of the Deep Sky also shows you to evaluate atmospheric conditions to help you plan your observing session for the night to get the best use out of your precious observing time.
The Science of the Deep Sky Made Easy
Secrets of the Deep Sky also takes you through the basic science of stars, star clusters, dark, diffuse, and planetary nebula, double and variable stars, and galaxies.
Why is it important to understand a little of the science behind the sights in the night sky?
Because, like priceless historical artifacts, many deep-sky objects are most impressive not only for what you see, but also what you can understand and imagine. A giant elliptical galaxy some 40 million light years away might look like a faint smudge in the eyepiece of a small telescope. But it’s far more impressive when you know it’s the sum total of the light from 2 trillion ancient stars!
Secrets of the Deep Sky gives you quick, concise summaries of the scientific principles behind the most common deep-sky sights, including…
• The basic science behind why stars have different colors (and the answer to the question I’m frequently asked… why there are no green stars)
• The most important tool used by professional astronomers use classify stars
• How stars evolve through their life cycle, and examples of stars at each stage you can easily see from your observing sight
• Types of commonly observed variable stars you as an amateur can observe, and how to can use a basic knowledge of these stars to help professional astronomers with their research
• The nature and composition of dark and diffuse nebula which harbor the building blocks of brand new stars and planets
• The origins and nature of the two main types of star clusters you can see with your telescope
• The three main galaxy shapes you’re likely to encounter, and what the shape of a galaxy tells us about its evolution and size
You’ll also get a simple yet completely accurate explanation of how astronomers measure brightness (a common source of confusion among beginning stargazers who are looking deeper into the sky).
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Click Here to Download the Table of Contents and Introduction To “Secrets of the Deep Sky”
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Personal Tours of the Most Beautiful Objects in the Heavens
Secrets of the Deep Sky is written by the expert amateur astronomers at One-Minute Astronomer, an online astronomy newsletter that’s read by more than 25,000 amateur and professional astronomers and science educators all over the world.
Simply put, Secrets of the Deep Sky is the most concise and informative guide available for download to stargazers who wish to see the beautiful and fascinating sights of the deep sky.
Secrets of the Deep Sky also introduces you to more than 40 objects visible to northern and southern observers that are representative of each type of object you’ll find in the deep sky.
You’ll discover…
• Lovely face-on and edge-on spiral galaxies that give you a glimpse of what our own Milky Way looks like from a great distance.
• Planetary nebulae… the last gasp of dying stars… visible from both hemispheres in the summer and winter sky
• Splendid open star clusters of sparkling blue-white stars along the plane of the Milky Way, including one cluster that’s only a few million years old
• Massive globular clusters, called the “elder statesmen” of the galaxy, which are stable clusters of hundreds of thousands of ancient stars almost as old as the universe itself (one of these clusters shows the effects of having a black hole at its center)
• Double, triple, even quintuple star systems resolvable with a backyard telescope; plus, a few oddball stars that defied classification and explanation by astronomers for decades
• And shattered remnants of massive stars that blew up as supernovae, the most violent event known in the universe.
Your Guide to a Lifetime of Deep-Sky Wonders
Secrets of the Deep Sky gives you all the know-how you need to visually observe the astonishing sights in our own Milky Way and beyond into the depths of intergalactic space.
You learn about the sky and how to find your way around. Equipment and accessories to get the light into your eye. And the skills needed to see the maximum amount of detail with whatever equipment you have at your disposable.
Secrets of the Deep Sky is delivered to you instantly in PDF format (no printed copies). Based on the themes covered in the pages of One-Minute Astronomer, this e-book is 176 pages of solid information, advice, and essential images and maps to get you started observing right away.
When you order Secrets of the Deep Sky, you’ll get, at no additional cost, the full 4 hour and 12 minute digitally-recorded MP3 version of the entire book to play on your iPod or digital music player or burn onto a CD.
The recorded version gives you all the benefits and expertise contained in Secrets of the Deep Sky without tying you to your computer screen. Take the recordings with you in the car, on the bus, or simply listen to them while taking a stroll at sunset, preparing yourself for another evening peering into the endlessly fascinating night sky.
You get the 176 page course and all recordings for just $29.00… less than the cost of a couple of take-out pizzas. A tiny price for a lifetime of visual deep-sky observing that will bring you challenge, excitement, and the deep satisfaction of seeing beyond our own tiny planet into the astonishing wonders of deep space.
You can try Secrets of the Deep Sky at absolutely no risk to you. If, after 60 days, you don’t think it’s helped you save hundreds of hours of trial-and-error frustration, or saved you hundreds of dollars on equipment selection, just let me know and I’ll send you a full refund. No questions asked. So you have nothing to risk.
Whether you have a small 80 mm refractor or a big 12-inch Dobsonian, whether you live in the northern or southern hemisphere, or in the big city or the middle of the desert, Secrets of the Deep Sky offers you a way to enjoy some of the most splendid sights in the night sky.
Don’t miss this opportunity. Give Secrets of the Deep Sky a try today, and see for yourself of the magnificent wonders of the Milky Way and beyond.
Sincerely,
Brian Ventrudo, Ph.D.
Publisher, One-Minute Astronomer