Search - Seeing in the Dark on DVD

Excellent, but somewhat misleading

M. J. Staley | Tombstone, Arizona | 09/20/2007

(3 out of 5 stars)

"Based solely on content and quality, this is a five-star product. But I'm an amateur astronomer, and this DVD sets a 'trap' that I'm afraid some are going to fall into.

Specifically: You'll see someone looking into a moderately-sized telescope, and the next thing you see is full color, detailed view of some nebula or galaxy or whatever, and I'm here to tell you, this just ain't the way it works. This misleading information turns this 5-star production into a 3-star one (in my opinion), and the sad fact is, there was no need for it.

If you like what you see on this DVD, your next step is NOT to go out and buy a telescope. Go to a star party, and check out a variety of telescopes and what you can see through them."

A Visual Feast

Karen Andrews | Las Vegas, NV | 09/28/2007

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Magical and haunting, "Seeing in the Dark" is a beautifully photographed and inspirational account of the significant impact of amateurs in the field of astronomy. Even if you know little about the stars, you'll be enchanted by the imagery and engaged by the age-old question of man's place in the universe. This production should be the starting point of many interesting discussions, in and out of the classroom. Highly recommended, especially in HD."

Seeing in the Dark

J. B. Newton | Osoyoos, BC Canada | 09/29/2007

(5 out of 5 stars)

"We have watched this DVD twice now and believe it to be one of Timothy Ferris's finest. It imparts the excitement of astronomy and has been exceptionally well produced. We will watch it again, and share it with our friends. Well done!
Jack & Alice Newton,
Observatory B&B"

Outstanding overview to amateur astronomy advances today

Neil Fleming | Boston, MA United States | 09/28/2007

(5 out of 5 stars)

"As a top-end production, this show is indeed top-notch. Its narrative approach is very informative, and its content spans information on both the vast array of objects in the area of astronomy and the tools that amateur astronomers can use. The special effects are dramatic - one of my favorites being the M42 "fly-by".

In the technical arena, it does simplify some of the hobby's difficulties and complexities. For potential amateur astronomers interested mainly in visual use, this approach is less of an impact than to those perhaps wanting to get into astrophotography. Setup and good visual results can easily be obtained in under an hour of setup time. Astrophotography, on the other hand, takes a little more time both to set up and to generate an outstanding image. Duration is measured in hours to get high quality shots.

Those interested in getting into astronomy should indeed go to a few "star parties", of which there are many at this time of year (fall). At one of these, you can check out the different types of scopes and see for yourself the strengths/weaknesses, and budgetary limitations for each.

In short, this is a high-quality review of various aspects of amateur astronomy, both instructive and entertaining."