Rating: 
Summary: Good source of information, but dated and poorly presented
Review: I found this and the other two volumes of the 3-volume set to be chock-full of useful information about astronomy in general, especially the intro sections of volume one. Throughout the volumes each constellation is descibed in detail and with the amatuer astronomer using a small scope in mind. But...the index to all three volumes is in volume 3, while the table definitions are in volume 1 only. And all celestrial locations are based on the 1950 epoch. So it's use as a star-locator is limited, and is not for field use, IMO. Hence the low score. But the celestrial descriptions alone make this required reading for amatuer astronomer's... Just make sure you get all three volumes!!
Rating: 
Summary: Excellent Introduction on Astronomy Fundamentals
Review: I was impressed with these books (set of 3 volumes) the very first time I saw them.The introduction in the first book brings a beginner up to speed on what is really happening 'out there'. For beginners and seasoned amateurs alike, it helps you to appreciate the objects in the universe, their sizes, the scale of the universe, and our place in it. They help a person to answer the question, "What do I look for?". The long introduction is both a fine tutorial, and a great review, to help one get and keep 'the big picture' in mind. The books inculde a massive amount of detailed information on objects in every constellation. They earn their own way to a place in my library.
Rating:
Summary: a must for every amateur astronomer
Review: i'm an amateur astronomer since 1985 and own the 3-volume set of burnham's handbook since 1987. believe me: there's nothing comparable to this work. eventhough it gives 1950 coordinates, it's still the most complete listing of interesting and observable-by-the-amateur heavenly bodies available. besides, its explanations and photographs are just beautiful. burnham's handbook together with a fine atlas opens you the very doors of the heavens.
Rating:
Summary: The 3-Volume Set - Good company.
Review: If I were to take a guess at the number of times I needed to consult a reference like this, I'd probably be way off - on the low side. And if I were to estimate the number of times this 3-volume set could have pulled me out of the proverbial jam, you'd probably think I was exaggerating. There is enough information in these three handbooks to keep the average amateur astronomer busy and occupied for years. Case in point: I was recently interested in generating a list of double and multiple stars compiled by constellation. No big deal, right? Open one of the Burnham's Handbooks, and go to any constellation. For example, in Cygnus alone, there are nine pages of double and multiple stars! You say you want data? There's enough data here to lock up a water-cooled calculator. I love it! There's only one thing I have an issue with: The pages are all done with type that's reminiscent of NCR mimeograph flyers back in the 50's. Computer generated type would have made the perfect finishing touch to an already marvelous work. I know, picky-picky. Each volume is affordable enough to justify the purchase of the whole set. In fact, it's rather silly that they're not sold as a set in the first place. Kind of like buying an encyclopedia a piece at a time - also reminiscent of the 50's. Though each volume is alike in its presentation of information and data, they all differ in subtle ways, which even Burnham notes at the beginning of each. I find this to be neither a device nor a flaw, but interesting to note that the author took the time to explain it. If you happen to be interested in copious amounts of data, and an abundance of information about all the objects in all the constellations, then get thee to this 3-volume set. And even if you rarely refer to it after placing it on your bookshelf, you've done a great service to your library by putting the rest of your collection in good company.
Rating:
Summary: Great bathroom material for the Deep Sky Observer
Review: Robert Burnham (NOT the former Editor of Sky and Telescope, BTW) from the 50's to the late 60's spent many years working for an observatory on the tedious project of "blink comparing" countless photographic plates. In his spare time, he made and recorded observations of thousands of the most interesting objects in the deep sky. In addition he compiled a library of observations from other great observers, as well as star lore, scientific data, and personal refleciton. The result is a hodge-podge, somewhat out of date, collection that nonethless facinates. Thousands of objects are cataloged by constellation, and hundreds are described in detail. When arriving at an object that seems to be the most familliar of its class (M13 for globular clusters, Sirius B for white dwarfs etc,.) Burham provides an essay on that class of objects (state of the art for its time, usually the 1970s)- often including very useful cross-references to other objects in that class. Most useful to the observer are the countless orbital charts of double stars. These books are an addictive way to pass the time. Most of the essays on featured objects are a few pages long, and can be read in the short "in between" moments that life is filled with. For two years I had one or more volumes of this series of three books in my bathroom, so as to pass the time a bit more productively learning about the sky. Needless to say, some of my bathroom trips grew a bit lengthy as I found myself plowing through Burnham's collection of personal observations, scientific data, and historical tales.
Rating:
Summary: A peerless classic
Review: Robert Burnham's classic work could rightfully be called the Bible of American amateur astronomers (in Europe, the Webb Society handbooks probably earn that title). Volume 1 begins with an overview of various aspects of observational astronomy, focusing on the various cataloging and classification systems used to describe stars, nebulae, star clusters, and galaxies. The remainder of the three volumes consist of chapters for each constellation. Each chapter begins with a table that give a rundown of all objects of interest in that constellation. What follows are detailed descriptions of all notable objects in the constellation. Burnham did not confine himself to scientific facts - religion, archaeology, literature, and art all find their way into the text. Time has had a toll on the accuracy of the scientific facts that Burnham gives - many distances are wrong, and the discussions of some objects, particulaly remote or highly energetic ones, are seriously outdated. Still, these three books form the backbone of my astronomy library, and have grown battered with heavy use. They make for fascinating reading both beside the telescope and in the living room.
Rating:
Summary: A peerless classic
Review: Robert Burnham's classic work could rightfully be called the Bible of American amateur astronomers (in Europe, the Webb Society handbooks probably earn that title). Volume 1 begins with an overview of various aspects of observational astronomy, focusing on the various cataloging and classification systems used to describe stars, nebulae, star clusters, and galaxies. The remainder of the three volumes consist of chapters for each constellation. Each chapter begins with a table that give a rundown of all objects of interest in that constellation. What follows are detailed descriptions of all notable objects in the constellation. Burnham did not confine himself to scientific facts - religion, archaeology, literature, and art all find their way into the text. Time has had a toll on the accuracy of the scientific facts that Burnham gives - many distances are wrong, and the discussions of some objects, particulaly remote or highly energetic ones, are seriously outdated. Still, these three books form the backbone of my astronomy library, and have grown battered with heavy use. They make for fascinating reading both beside the telescope and in the living room.
Rating:
Summary: A rare book to be cherished.
Review: Robert Burnham, Jr., spent twenty years at Lowell Observatory participating in a proper motion survey. During his tenure, he wrote this mammoth 3-volume work covering nearly every object visible in 2- to 12-inch telescopes. Each chapter, covering one constellation (both northern and southern hemispheres), begins with a detailed list of all stellar objects (double stars, variable stars, and deep sky objects). Then, he delves, sometimes rather deeply, into the more significant objects of that constellation, bringing together history, philosophy, and science to describe each one. His chapter on Sagittarius, for example, includes a 25-page section on the dense portion of the Milky Way blending current 1970s science with wonderful passages from Greek and Eastern philosophies, Native American legends, and the history of science. His prose for each chapter reflects the content he covers: lyrical prose when describing the "personal" aspects of observing objects, and readable, accessible language to delineate the science behind what we know about objects in the heavens. Moreover, each chapter has photographs of many of the stars and nebulae with telescopes and cameras ranging from a 5-inch astrograph to the 200-inch Hale telescope of Palomar Observatory. Yes, the book is thirty years old and a little out-of-date. And, the typewritten font looks homely. But that's part of its charm. Burnham initially self-published this very personal book from his kitchen table. Literally. (Astronomy magazine published a very interesting "self-interview" by Burnham in March, 1982 which provides some background on his struggles to get it published.) From a small-press run of looseleaf copies in binders, it became somewhat of a cult classic among amateurs because nothing as detailed like this had been published before. (True, T.W. Webb's "Celestial Objects for Common Telescopes" was available, but it was last published in 1917.) I know of no other book that combines personal, reflective commentary on "mundane" objects like the Big Dipper (officially, the Ursa Major Moving Cluster), and clear, concise descriptions of variable stars, Hertzsprung-Russell diagrams, and finder charts for objects like 3C273, the brightest quasar visible to amateur-sized scopes. (Trust me: spend the 30-minutes or so tracking this last one down at a star party and you'll have a line of folks waiting to look at a faint star-like object, the light of which left 3C273 long before the earth was even formed.) One side note: if you're interested in the rather tragic life of Burnham, search for "Sky Writer", an article by Tony Ortega, published in the Phoenix, AZ "New Times" newspaper for September 25-October 1, 1997. All readers of Celestial Handbook owe Ortega a nod for the herculean task of piecing together Burnham's life.
Rating:
Summary: A rare book to be cherished.
Review: Robert Burnham, Jr., spent twenty years at Lowell Observatory participating in a proper motion survey. During his tenure, he wrote this mammoth 3-volume work covering nearly every object visible in 2- to 12-inch telescopes. Each chapter, covering one constellation (both northern and southern hemispheres), begins with a detailed list of all stellar objects (double stars, variable stars, and deep sky objects). Then, he delves, sometimes rather deeply, into the more significant objects of that constellation, bringing together history, philosophy, and science to describe each one. His chapter on Sagittarius, for example, includes a 25-page section on the dense portion of the Milky Way blending current 1970s science with wonderful passages from Greek and Eastern philosophies, Native American legends, and the history of science. His prose for each chapter reflects the content he covers: lyrical prose when describing the "personal" aspects of observing objects, and readable, accessible language to delineate the science behind what we know about objects in the heavens. Moreover, each chapter has photographs of many of the stars and nebulae with telescopes and cameras ranging from a 5-inch astrograph to the 200-inch Hale telescope of Palomar Observatory. Yes, the book is thirty years old and a little out-of-date. And, the typewritten font looks homely. But that's part of its charm. Burnham initially self-published this very personal book from his kitchen table. Literally. (Astronomy magazine published a very interesting "self-interview" by Burnham in March, 1982 which provides some background on his struggles to get it published.) From a small-press run of looseleaf copies in binders, it became somewhat of a cult classic among amateurs because nothing as detailed like this had been published before. (True, T.W. Webb's "Celestial Objects for Common Telescopes" was available, but it was last published in 1917.) I know of no other book that combines personal, reflective commentary on "mundane" objects like the Big Dipper (officially, the Ursa Major Moving Cluster), and clear, concise descriptions of variable stars, Hertzsprung-Russell diagrams, and finder charts for objects like 3C273, the brightest quasar visible to amateur-sized scopes. (Trust me: spend the 30-minutes or so tracking this last one down at a star party and you'll have a line of folks waiting to look at a faint star-like object, the light of which left 3C273 long before the earth was even formed.) One side note: if you're interested in the rather tragic life of Burnham, search for "Sky Writer", an article by Tony Ortega, published in the Phoenix, AZ "New Times" newspaper for September 25-October 1, 1997. All readers of Celestial Handbook owe Ortega a nod for the herculean task of piecing together Burnham's life.
Rating:
Summary: Just get it!
Review: Since getting into astronomy about a year ago I've been reading like crazy! I read all three volumes of Burnham's cover to cover and I thoroughly enjoyed practically every page of descriptive text. Due to Earth's precession as well as the motions of nearby stars, the position and double star data is not completely accurate but close enough to not be a big deal to amateurs. The object descriptions are the main reason to purchase all three volumes. Just buy them, you won't regret it!
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