Double & Multiple Stars, and How to Observe Them

ASTRONOMERS’ OBSERVING GUIDES provide up-to-date information for amateur astronomers who want to know all about what it is they are observing. This is the basis of the first part of the book. The second part details observing techniques for practical astronomers, working with a range of different instruments.



Double and Multiple stars are among the most fascinating astronomical objects. They range from ‘optical binaries’ that can be easily observed with a modest telescope, to distant and complex multiple systems that challenge even professional observers.


The first part of Jim Mullaney’s book provides a comprehensive review of the different classes of double and multiple systems, along with a look at the astrophysics of these objects. This is followed by a detailed guide for amateur astronomers, describing how to observe them – using a variety of different techniques – and outlining how to record the observations.


In one book, here is all you need to observe double and multiple stars, and to understand the systems you are looking at.