This guide is for anyone interested in practical astronomy but intimidated by the idea of investing in a telescope. It explores the world of remote observing, which requires nothing more than a laptop and a CCD camera. The book aims to make readers comfortable navigating the plethora of online equipment at their disposal, which will perhaps lead them to more specialized areas of study down the line. This book lists all 110 Messier objects, each one remotely imaged with clear instructions for the newcomer to help them replicate the results.

The book helps beginners get started with clear instructions. Terms such as right ascension, declination, azimuth, altitude etc., are all explained and illustrated. The different observatory sites and telescopes used by the author are introduced. For each Messier object, guidance is provided so that the appropriate telescope and camera combination can be selected. The author helps the reader identify a date and time that is appropriate to be able to image the specific Messier object being targeted.