New Charles Bracken Book Weighs in at Six Pounds!

Charles BrackenCraig Bernier
30 replies751 views
Craig Bernier avatar

Hey y’all, not sure if you’re aware, but Charles Bracken has a new book coming out. It’s over 700 pages with heft, girth, and merit. Thought I’d mention since his books were essential for me when starting out, and still a staple of how I select targets and think about shooting them as an amateur. It’s called The Astrophotographer’s Universe and it looks to be a goodie. Huzzah!

(edit: I found it at digitalstars(dot)Wordpress(dot)com but I’m sure it’s available elsewhere)

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Craig Bernier avatar

The book launch looks to coincide with a new app release as well.

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Patrick avatar

Thanks very much for sharing this! I went ahead and ordered the book. Didn’t know about the app either.

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Craig Bernier avatar

Patrick · Apr 24, 2026 at 06:54 PM

Thanks very much for sharing this! I went ahead and ordered the book. Didn’t know about the app either.

Sure thing. I did the same. Book should be here soon. The app seems quite appealing, especially the different narrowband looks and the amount of information.

John Stone avatar

So buying the book also gets you the app?

Charles Bracken avatar

I hope you continue to enjoy your copy, Craig! I appreciate the support. After five years of writing, imaging, layout, etc., it’s gratifying to hear that it’s helpful.

Charlie Bracken

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John Stone avatar

Charles,

Did you see my question just above?

John Stone · Apr 24, 2026, 11:34 PM

So buying the book also gets you the app?

I’ve just placed my order for the book and am wondering about the app.

Thanks.

Charles Bracken avatar

John Stone · Apr 24, 2026, 11:42 PM

Charles,

Did you see my question just above?

John Stone · Apr 24, 2026, 11:34 PM

So buying the book also gets you the app?

I’ve just placed my order for the book and am wondering about the app.

Thanks.

The app is a separate purchase as we put a lot of development costs into it. It should be released in the next few days, but it is available in the Apple App store (same name as the book: The Astrophotographer’s Universe) for pre-order now.

Thanks for your book order! It will ship tomorrow.

Charlie

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Craig Bernier avatar

John Stone · Apr 24, 2026 at 11:34 PM

So buying the book also gets you the app?

I think they are two separate purchases, John.

Javier Temprano avatar

Where can I buy it in Europe? Thanks.

Craig Bernier avatar

Javier Temprano · Apr 25, 2026 at 03:29 PM

Where can I buy it in Europe? Thanks.

https://www.natureguides.com/books/tau

I found this link on digital stars which takes you to a UK publisher. Should do the trick.

Nazmus avatar

I got @Charles Bracken’s book at NEAF. Slowly making my way through it. Amazin gwork put into it.

Javier Temprano avatar

Craig Bernier · Apr 25, 2026 at 04:02 PM

Javier Temprano · Apr 25, 2026 at 03:29 PM

Where can I buy it in Europe? Thanks.

https://www.natureguides.com/books/tau

I found this link on digital stars which takes you to a UK publisher. Should do the trick.

Thanks.

Seany75uk avatar

Charles Bracken · Apr 24, 2026, 11:48 PM

John Stone · Apr 24, 2026, 11:42 PM

Charles,

Did you see my question just above?

John Stone · Apr 24, 2026, 11:34 PM

So buying the book also gets you the app?

I’ve just placed my order for the book and am wondering about the app.

Thanks.

The app is a separate purchase as we put a lot of development costs into it. It should be released in the next few days, but it is available in the Apple App store (same name as the book: The Astrophotographer’s Universe) for pre-order now.

Thanks for your book order! It will ship tomorrow.

Charlie

Is there going to be an Android version of the app?

Isbel Gonzalez avatar

I saw him at NEAF and he showed me the book. It looks amazing! I’m waiting for it.

Brian Boyle avatar

@Charles Bracken books got me started in this hobby.

So I am delighted to see this new publication. From the screenshots, it looks fantastic and it is a must purchase for me.

Getting it from the UK site is a little expensive at the moment (around NZD250) so I may wait for Amazon.

Everyone loves the southern hemisphere, except when it comes to posting things to it!

Any idea when it might be on the Amazon (Australian) site?

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Charles Bracken avatar

Seany75uk · Apr 26, 2026, 10:01 AM

Charles Bracken · Apr 24, 2026, 11:48 PM

John Stone · Apr 24, 2026, 11:42 PM

Charles,

Did you see my question just above?

John Stone · Apr 24, 2026, 11:34 PM

So buying the book also gets you the app?

I’ve just placed my order for the book and am wondering about the app.

Thanks.

The app is a separate purchase as we put a lot of development costs into it. It should be released in the next few days, but it is available in the Apple App store (same name as the book: The Astrophotographer’s Universe) for pre-order now.

Thanks for your book order! It will ship tomorrow.

Charlie

Is there going to be an Android version of the app?

At this point, it’s only for iPhone/iPad/Mac. We are aiming to port it to Android, but it will likely be 2027, as it’s not a straightforward app to port.

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Charles Bracken avatar

Brian Boyle · Apr 26, 2026, 07:43 PM

@Charles Bracken books got me started in this hobby.

So I am delighted to see this new publication. From the screenshots, it looks fantastic and it is a must purchase for me.

Getting it from the UK site is a little expensive at the moment (around NZD250) so I may wait for Amazon.

Everyone loves the southern hemisphere, except when it comes to posting things to it!

Any idea when it might be on the Amazon (Australian) site?

I checked how much it would cost for me to ship from the US to NZ, and it’s just as high. (Shipping is more than the book!) I don’t think we have the economics to ship a bulk order to Amazon AUS either, at least not at this point. So sorry. Half the book it southern hemisphere objects. The app will be available globally, though.

I’m a big fan of your images, by the way! Incredible work.

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Don Ogaard avatar

I need no information other than the author’s name to convince me to add this to my library. Thanks for the heads-up, and I am off to order forthwith!

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John Hayes avatar

Brian Boyle · Apr 26, 2026, 07:43 PM

So I am delighted to see this new publication. From the screenshots, it looks fantastic and it is a must purchase for me.

Getting it from the UK site is a little expensive at the moment (around NZD250) so I may wait for Amazon.

Everyone loves the southern hemisphere, except when it comes to posting things to it!

Brian,

I wondered if any of the methods that I use to ship stuff down to my scope in Chile might be cheaper but I ran into the same problem getting Charlie’s book to you in NZ. My initial search shows that it costs way more than the cost of the book to get it there! I haven’t totally given up so, if a miracle happens and I find a way to buy it here and ship it to you for a reasonable price, I’ll PM you.

John

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Brian Boyle avatar

John Hayes · Apr 27, 2026 at 02:31 AM

Brian Boyle · Apr 26, 2026, 07:43 PM

So I am delighted to see this new publication. From the screenshots, it looks fantastic and it is a must purchase for me.

Getting it from the UK site is a little expensive at the moment (around NZD250) so I may wait for Amazon.

Everyone loves the southern hemisphere, except when it comes to posting things to it!

Brian,

I wondered if any of the methods that I use to ship stuff down to my scope in Chile might be cheaper but I ran into the same problem getting Charlie’s book to you in NZ. My initial search shows that it costs way more than the cost of the book to get it there! I haven’t totally given up so, if a miracle happens and I find a way to buy it here and ship it to you for a reasonable price, I’ll PM you.

John

Hi John,

Many thanks to you and @Charles Bracken for the kind, helpful and supportive words. Yes, I sympathize will frieght costs to the Southern Hemisphere. US International postal rate are just eye-watering large. .[It’s why I haven’t bought anything from the US in the las three years].

I may just go ahead and order from the UK site. Not sure if the UK has VAT on books, but certainly the website doesn't seem to take any tax off for exporting outside UK. I suspect I will get slugged tax against at NZ border. Paying tax once in unfortunate, paying it twice is careless. [Sorry couldn’t resist the Wilde paraphrase, I agree with paying tax once.]

However, I really want to support Charles’ in his endeavor (I know how little one makes from book sales) and also to thank him for being much of the inspiration for me starting in this hobby rather late in life. If Amazon to the Southern Hemisphere is likely to be delayed (how ironic!) they I will just go ahead.

Northern Hemisphere carpetbaggery. You can observe our objects, steal our geographic names, but you can’t post a book. ;-)

And yes, I will probably get the app too. But I am old and I love books. Particularly those that contains maps and pictures.

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Jeffrey Kieft avatar

Ordered!

David Pastern avatar

Brian Boyle · Apr 27, 2026, 07:37 AM

John Hayes · Apr 27, 2026 at 02:31 AM

Brian Boyle · Apr 26, 2026, 07:43 PM

So I am delighted to see this new publication. From the screenshots, it looks fantastic and it is a must purchase for me.

Getting it from the UK site is a little expensive at the moment (around NZD250) so I may wait for Amazon.

Everyone loves the southern hemisphere, except when it comes to posting things to it!

Brian,

I wondered if any of the methods that I use to ship stuff down to my scope in Chile might be cheaper but I ran into the same problem getting Charlie’s book to you in NZ. My initial search shows that it costs way more than the cost of the book to get it there! I haven’t totally given up so, if a miracle happens and I find a way to buy it here and ship it to you for a reasonable price, I’ll PM you.

John

Hi John,

Many thanks to you and @Charles Bracken for the kind, helpful and supportive words. Yes, I sympathize will frieght costs to the Southern Hemisphere. US International postal rate are just eye-watering large. .[It’s why I haven’t bought anything from the US in the las three years].

I may just go ahead and order from the UK site. Not sure if the UK has VAT on books, but certainly the website doesn't seem to take any tax off for exporting outside UK. I suspect I will get slugged tax against at NZ border. Paying tax once in unfortunate, paying it twice is careless. [Sorry couldn’t resist the Wilde paraphrase, I agree with paying tax once.]

However, I really want to support Charles’ in his endeavor (I know how little one makes from book sales) and also to thank him for being much of the inspiration for me starting in this hobby rather late in life. If Amazon to the Southern Hemisphere is likely to be delayed (how ironic!) they I will just go ahead.

Northern Hemisphere carpetbaggery. You can observe our objects, steal our geographic names, but you can’t post a book. ;-)

And yes, I will probably get the app too. But I am old and I love books. Particularly those that contains maps and pictures.

As an Aussie, I can confirm that shipping costs are out of control to Australia. US shipping prices went AWOL with covid and never returned to their pre-covid rates. I used to buy a lot of music CDs off eBay US and shipping costs back then were USD $8, but are now USD $50ish.

Charles, might I suggest a digital version of the book? I know that potentially leaves the door open to piracy though, but it would be a good way to help non US residents who face hefty shipping costs.

Note: I came across this thread by accident and I’m no longer actively involved in Astrophotography for a number of health/financial reasons, but I’d still buy the book if shipping was more manageable.

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Don Ogaard avatar

I ordered it - and it was shipped (to my US address) within an hour of ordering. Expected in my PO Box in four days.

So, my very preliminary review is: absolutely excellent customer service from Mr. Bracken’s Wordpress site.

Gary avatar

Charlie,

I bought my copy directly from you at NEAIC and you signed it for me just after lunch. I have really been enjoying the book a lot. It’s sitting right next to my copy of Visible Universe.

Best Wishes!

Gary

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