The Astronomical Companion

This is a great resource for either the beginning hobbyist, or the well-experienced professional. Ottewell is a master geometer, and the crown jewel of the book is his series of drawings, showing, in great detail, the structure of the Universe, from a larger and larger perspective. Each sphere has a small sphere drawn in the center, which represents the previous sphere. Each drawing also labels the well-known objects which we can see from Earth. Some unusual features include a distance-scale chart, a treatment of the difference between the actual and the apparent, a discussion of the various planes used to chart the sky, and he also does a wonderful job covering comets, asteroids, and other 'transitory' phenomena. An exemplary book; if you like astronomy, this one is essential, as it offers a wonderfully accurate perspective. ( Amazon customer)