Reviews
"Stephen James O'Meara provides an in-depth tour of the Sun, Moon and planets, showing just how much you can do using just the naked eye and binoculars...With plenty of background information on each subject, it is written well with a good pace." - Sky at Night, "The six chapters straightforwardly cover the Sun, Moon, Eclipses, planets, comets, and meteors. I was particularly impressed with the chapter on the Moon, which gives photographs at a scale really to look like the binocular Moon, at various stages of illumination, with a key to the formations. The author actually goes into a great deal of detail on his subjects, including both interesting historical sidelights and the very latest information (which is always assiduously attributed - a rarity in a book of this kind). I found very few errors indeed. ... I would recommend this book to all beginning observers. Don't consider the low page count: this is a large-format book that is excellent value." - Astronomy Now, "While the descriptions and facts should ably answer the many questions of the beginner, the book's anecdotal passages make this publication shine. The author shares his passion through selections describing his emotions such as 'I saw the spirit of the fireball dancing on its grave' when describing an aerial explosion. The mood is continually heightened such a Tolstoy character who in 'rapture and his eyes wet with tears, contemplated the radiant stare' for the comet of 1812 or Agesinax's 'all round about environed with fire she is illumined' to describe the Moon. These historical connections and the many references to ongoing research tells the reader that they share the wonder of the grandeur and complexity of Earth's immediate neighbourhood. A passion to explore the night sky burns in the hearts of many. Not knowing where to start or how to share this longing is no impediment. With bare eye or inexpensive binoculars, Stephen James O'Meara's book 'Exploring the Solar System with Binoculars' will guide you to satisfy your feelings." - Universe Today, 'Don't consider the low page count: this is a large-format book that is excellent value and I would recommend this book to all beginning observers.' David Arditti, Astronomy Now, '… written by an outstanding observer, [this book] can only be greatly recommended to all who ask themselves, for instance, how to observe easily and without ambiguities some marvels of the solar system.' Ciel et Terre, "The naked-eye or binocular observer could hardly hope for a better guide to exploring the Solar System than Stephen J. O'Meara. A skilled visual observer of vast experience and international repute, he is also an engaging and imaginative writer capable of firing the enthusiasm of observers at all levels of ability....thoroughly recommended to those wishing to maximize the potential of naked-eye and binocular observation" -, 'Stephen James O'Meara's book … is testament to one man's affliction with the shapes and colours that continually transcend the velvet backdrop of space. Through his passion, the book draws the reader into an ever changing, lively night time display.' Mark Mortimer, Universe Today, 'O'Meara, a popular and knowledgeable author renowned for his skills of observation, has succeeded in producing a comprehensive beginner's guide to viewing the Sun, Moon and planets using binoculars … The text is split into easily navigated object/phenomena sections and is copiously illustrated … I wasn't aware of some of the observational techniques described, including the conscious deployment of short spells of 'daydreaming' to be able to locate Venus (and other objects) in the daytime! So, inexperienced and experienced observers alike will learn much from this book, and I will doubtless consult it myself from time to time.' Popular Astronomy
