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</o:shapelayout></xml><![endif]--></head><body lang=EN-US link=blue vlink=purple style='word-wrap:break-word'><div class=WordSection1><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;color:#E46C0A'>Hello,<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;color:#E46C0A'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;color:#E46C0A'>James Yoder here, I am a co-author of a new Free PDF book called the <b>Star Hopper’s Guide to the Galaxy</b>. I though you might want to pass this information along to your club.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;color:#E46C0A'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;color:#E46C0A'>Thanks!<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;color:#E46C0A'>James Yoder<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt'>The Star Hopper’s Guide to the Galaxy is a free PDF book created for astronomers in the northern hemisphere who do not have a GoTo telescope or are interested in finding objects using the star hopping technique.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt'>The book along with additional resources can be downloaded from the ArtCentrics website at <a href="https://artcentrics.com/books/">https://artcentrics.com/books/</a><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt'>The book primarily consists of star hop instruction sheets developed by Jim Mazur that were initially made available on his website<a href="https://skyledge.net/"> Skyledge.net</a>. This compilation contains over 170 instruction sheets with over 250 objects. Each sheet contains two star charts; the first chart is used to help orient you to the night sky and immediate area around the target using familiar constellations or asterisms such as the Big Dipper, the Summer Triangle, or the Great Square of Pegasus. The second chart is a detailed road map on how to hop to the highlighted objects. Information on the targeted objects is provided, as well as a small image of the object, when available.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt'><img border=0 width=365 height=482 style='width:3.802in;height:5.0208in' id="Picture_x0020_4" src="cid:image001.png@01DBCB34.EB3FDA90"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt'>The book is organized by constellations and the targets within the constellation. Each constellation has a page that summarizes the targets in the constellation along with a table listing basic information on each of the objects. The table includes the name of the object, the type of the object, links to the finder chart (within the book, and on the <a href="https://skyledge.net/">Skyledge.net</a> website), aliases for the object, and some basic stats such as magnitude, separation (in the case of multiple stars), surface brightness, and size. A chart highlighting the constellation is also provided on the page along with online links to Wikipedia articles where more information on each of the targets can be found. The constellation summary page is followed by an image gallery where images for many of the targets are provided for reference.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt'><img border=0 width=379 height=482 style='width:3.9479in;height:5.0208in' id="Picture_x0020_3" src="cid:image002.png@01DBCB34.EB3FDA90"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt'>The book was specifically developed to be printed out so it can be taken out in the field. One can print out sections as needed, or print the entire book and place it in a binder or have it spiral bound. Additional functionality is available when utilizing the book on a PC or smart device such as an iPad. Many links with additional information are available throughout the book with the purpose of providing in depth information either in preparation of a viewing session, or additional research after a viewing session.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt'>The book is copyrighted under the <a href="https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/">Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0</a> law, so it can be freely printed and distributed provided there is no profit involved.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt'>We think this book will be a valuable tool to help the observational astronomer have a productive viewing session.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt'>James Yoder, Andrea Matthias, Jim Mazur<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></p></div></body></html>