Amazon.com
What is the meaning of Stonehenge? Why was the elaborate Incan city of Cuzco built? What is the significance of the Great Pyramid at the ancient Mayan city of Chichén Itz´? These ancient structures have spellbound natives and tourists alike. This mysterious architecture points to a centuries-old search for celestial order. Anthony Aveni, a professor of astronomy and anthropology, takes us on a stimulating virtual tour of these legendary constructions. He describes how they were built and straightforwardly and often humorously critiques diverse theories attempting to explain their origin and function. For example, Aveni breathes life into the mysteries of the Great Pyramid and its use as a sacred temple, sacrificial altar, and celestial calendar. Wonderfully written, the book's primary focus is the prominent role of astrology in the design and construction of ancient structures, and even entire cities.
Book Description
"Tony Aveni has written a marvelous book about how the celestial rhythms influenced the cultures of the past. . . . It makes fascinating reading for any layperson."âScience Books and Films
"Clearly, if we can know more about these people, their religion, their culture, their hopes and dreams, according to Dr. Aveni, it will make our understanding of their astronomy more meaningful."âPlanetarian
"A thoughtful analysis . . . highly recommended."âLibrary Journal
What was the meaning of Stonehenge? What was the Mayan Code? Why was the elaborate Incan city of Cuzco built? Groundbreaking archaeoastronomer Anthony Aveni offers a host of startling new insights and conclusions in this acclaimed study of three of life's most mesmerizing mysteries.
Customer Reviews:
a bit disappointing.......2001-12-25
I found this book with high hopes since I'm very interested in both astronomy and ancient civilizations, but this book's writing is just not strong enough to tie everything together. It reads like a textbook in many parts with unclear explanations to all but the scientifically adept. I wanted to know more about each of these societies and cultures (Incans, Mayans, Babylonians, etc...) but this book only scratches the surface. Despite the interesting topic and neat cover, I found the book disappointing for its lack of clear information, the necessary background and the often obtuse writing.
A new look at the stars.......1999-04-27
One of my earliest memories is of lying on my back in the snow, just looking up at the stars. I've long since lost the ability to look at stars through the eyes of a child, but Anthony Aveni's book, Stairways to the Stars, has given me a whole new way of looking at them. For ancient cultures, the night sky was an ever-present companion. They used it as both calendar and augur, to track and predict the seasons, foretell the future, and understand the present. But the night sky we see is strongly dependent on where we live. The stars and stellar events (such as eclipses) that we see change, depending on where we see them from.
In a society based on the sky, how much of the sky you can see (and what's in it) becomes critical. So what the Mayans chose to focus on will be different from what the Celts considered important. And that may have had far-reaching effects on their society. From charts of the planet Mars in ancient Mayan codexes to the role of Stonehenge as an observatory, watching the skies left lasting, tangible effects on societies.
It's an interesting, thoughtful book. I enjoyed it, even though it's not an overwhelmingly easy read. Certainly there are times when it feels like a textbook (and the section of exercises at the end certainly doesn't hurt that sense).
If you're a beginning stargazer, I'd suggest something a bit more straightforward. But if you've been looking up at the night sky for years ... or if you're interested in ancient societies, I think you'll probably find this book well worth your time. For more reviews, check out my web page at exn.ca/printedmatter
Book Description
Practical Skywatching is part of a four-book series, The Nature Companions; practical guides to observing and appreciating the wonders of the natural world. This spectacular series provides readers with a thorough understanding of topics such as skywatching, birding, natural habitat gardening, and rocks and fossils. Written in clear, accessible text by acclaimed scientists and specialists in each field, each book contains a wealth of images by the world's foremost photographers and detailed, specially commissioned illustrations. Designed for enthusiasts of all ages, The Nature Companions series is a comprehensive source of reference that belongs in the personal library of all those who are curious to learn more about the world around them.
Customer Reviews:
Good book help start in astronomy.......2006-04-16
Good book help you get started in astronomy. I got the book and it is been very useful. Gives a information in astronomy. Informs you how to buy a telescope and binoculars. Tells the basics about how to take pictures of the Moon, Stars and Planets. The book has a sky chart and give information about the different constellations, Planets, as well as other night objects to view. Like I said it been very useful for me in my research and view of the night sky.
God bless you all.
WOW, This book is terrific.......2004-08-04
Its packed with all kinds of information, maps, suggestions, etc. This book exceeded my expectations. A must have for anyone interested in astronomy.
If I could have only one astronomy book, this would be it!.......2004-05-05
If I had to choose only one book on astronomy, this would be it. It contains monthly skycharts, magnitude 6 constellation charts for every constellation, 20 magnitude 8 starhopping adventures, and 8 pages of moon maps. In addition it contains a wealth of articles about such subjects as: planets, nebulas,telescopes, the history of astronomy, the space program, and explanations of a multitude of astronomy terms.
The book dedicates one or two pages to each constellation. Each constellation map shows the double stars, variable stars, open clusters, globular clusers, planetary nebula, difuse nebula, galaxies and quasars in the constellation and the surrounding area. The maps are blue background with the stars in yellow, and are easily readable at night. Along with the constellation map, there is a brief description of some of the noteable sites in that constellation. In the field you just need to find the constellation in the sky with the help of the monthly skychart, flip to that constellation in the book, and have fun finding all of its treasurers.
This book is a great field guide, as well as a great book to enjoy on those cloudy nights. Even if you are not a starwatcher, half the book is devoted to articles that will interest even the armchair astronomer.
For those who like a bargain, this book is like getting two books for the price of one. This volume is a compilation of the best of the books "Skywatching" and "Advance Skywatching". Each of these books is good in its own right, and now "Practical Skywatching" brings them together in one outstanding volume.
This is a information-packed book.......2003-04-09
This is a information-packed book. It's divided in nine chapters, but in fact you can see three parts:
The first part, with text and a lot of color pictures covers the basics of every subject you can imagine regarding sky watching: Binoculars, telescopes, cities and urban skies, software, history, every planet, binary stars, eclipses etc. etc. etc. always in just two or four pages.
The second part covers every constellation in the sky, in
alphabetical order (one constellation per page), with stars up to 6th (I guess) magnitude, highlighting the most interesting stars, nebulae etc., each one of the included features has a symbol (in the text below the map) so you can know at a glance if it is to be seen at naked eye, with binoculars or with a telescope. I should mention that it also has a 12 general skycharts, so you can always use the one according to your latitude and time of the year.
And the third part ("the Starhopping Guide") are 20 selected sectors of the sky, including stars up to 8th magnitude (deep-sky objects up to 12.5) with text and photos regarding deep sky features, double stars, nebulae etc. etc. Useful: constantly the text points out what you can expect to see with a given telescope (4", 6", 8" lens diameter).
And I have some mixed additional comments:
-I think every picture has been thoughtfully selected (no pictures just to fill space, as I've seen in other books).
-The sky maps are made by Will Tirion (so you can expect that
there is what should be there, and nothing less).
-There is a small map showing the path of sun eclipses until year 2015
-The moon is covered in 8 pages, featuring some 300 craters, mares etc.
-I liked the section about "in store test" for choosing binoculars.
-I was a little bit disappointed that the "Starhopping guide" includes many features for telescopes with an aperture of 8", and up to 16"... (of course, this is because I have a 5" aperture telescope!)
-The book itself has an uncommon size: about 6 1/2" x 11", so it's still handy to take it outdoors, but large enough to include sky maps of reasonable size.
-I see that this book includes in few words a lot of information that I've read in more detail somewhere else. I wonder how this will be taken for someone who this is her/his first skywatching book. It could be preciously treasured for years... or it could bore the the poor reader: Who knows?.
And finally, at the price offered here, it's a steal!
Average customer rating:
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A Guide To Skywatching
David H.Levy
Manufacturer: Fog City Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
 Star-Gazing
| Astronomy
| Science
| Subjects
| Books
ASIN: 1877019062 |
Book Description
Sharks and Whales is part of a four-book series, The Nature Companions; practical guides to observing and appreciating the wonders of the natural world. This spectacular series provides readers with a thorough understanding of topics such as skywatching, birding, natural habitat gardening, and rocks and fossils. Written in clear, accessible text by acclaimed scientists and specialists in each field, each book contains a wealth of images by the world's foremost photographers and detailed, specially commissioned illustrations. Designed for enthusiasts of all ages, The Nature Companions series is a comprehensive source of reference that belongs in the personal library of all those who are curious to learn more about the world around them.
Book Description
Stargazing is an activity that lasts a lifetime. There is nothing like the thrill of glimpsing at the rings of Saturn for the first time or seeing, with the aid of a simple pair of binoculars, a fuzzy patch in the sky resolve into a cluster of sparkling stars. The Backyard Stargazer will help you discover new wonders in the night sky, whether you observe from a lounge chair in your backyard, a camp set up far from city lights, or the deck of a ship on a special stargazing cruise.
Written in a conversational, accessible style, The Backyard Stargazer is a down to earth guide to observing the night and daytime sky without having to invest in a lot of equipment.
You will discover:
- What you need to get started: a clear night, a red light flashlight, and a copy of The Backyard Stargazer to guide your observing sessions
- Seasonal star maps to help you spot constellations ,and more, year round
- Things you never knew about the Moon, Sun, and planets
- What causes an eclipse and how you can travel to see one
- How stars are born and where comets come from
- How to photograph auroras, meteors, and constellations
- What you can see with the naked eye, binoculars, and, when you're ready, a small telescope
Includes 46 easy projects for planet watching, moon viewing, and constellation spotting!
Customer Reviews:
Very comprehensive!.......2006-06-18
I bought this book after recieving my first telescope as a gift. I had no clue what I was doing with it. This book taught me to start with the basics. It includes 'assignments' that really help get you some experience. I deffinatley recommend it!
Absolutely Great!.......2006-05-23
Pat Price's book, the Backyard Stargazer may be intended for the absolute beginner, but it never once talks down to the reader. Price's lively provocative narrative inspires and informs. Plus for someone with some knowlege of the night sky, it is a welcome guide to putting it all together and making a game plan for getting serious about astronomy. I love the way the information is organized as Price takes us on a journey, giving us some historical information, then introducing us to our own solar system, the moon and the planets, stuff you can do in your own backyard without a telescope, then venturing out into deep space where all sorts of wonders await. What's really great about this book is that Price makes it seem all so accessible and takes some of the mystery out of what it takes to get to know the night sky. The book is packed with information and tons of facts; how to start observing the planets and the moon; what you can do with a pair of good binoculars (which is a lot!!); tips on what to look for in a telescope; whether or not you need to get a telescope, what's out there to see in deep space; plus wonderful sky charts and gorgeous photographs. After her introduction, Price dives right in and gives us observing projects in almost every chapter. The book is never too technical but is always entertaining and informative and because it's easy to read it never bogs down. I would think this book would appeal to all ages and if you're thinking of getting started in astronomy, whether you are an absolute beginner or have had a casual interest in astronomy all your life, this is the book for you!!
Beautiful, Easy-To-Read Beginner's Guide.......2006-04-23
As a late-comer to amateur astronomy, over the past three months I've been reading all the "recommended" beginner books for the hobby. After finishing five others, I stumbled across this book. If I had it to do all over again, "The Backyard Stargazer: An Absolute Beginner's Guide to Skywatching With and Without a Telescope," by Pat Price, is the book that I would have read FIRST--before attempting to tackle some of the other, more comprehensive astronomy "starter" pubs. In my view, this book contains everything a good first read on a subject should contain: an easy-to-comprehend discussion; easy-to-understand charts and diagrams; and absolutely beautiful photographs and illustrations. This book conveys all of the astronomy beginner "basics" using a friendly, conversational writing style. As with a gripping novel, I became eager to continue reading it all the way to the end. At less than 150 pages and fully packed with photos, I finished it in a little over a day(including copious notes). And you don't need to be taking up amateur astronomy to read this book. It is an excellent primer for anyone who wants to know more about the stars, planets, our sun, comets, eclipses, binoculars, telescopes, and astrophotography. This book tells you how and why "sky things" work, and includes star charts ("Sky Maps") to help you navigate the night sky. The appendices provide a wealth of information regarding online resources and future significant astronomical events. This book has earned my highest recommendation: BUY IT--read it--then tell a friend about it (I will.)
Gazing at The Backyard Stargazer.......2006-04-02
There's a lot to learn when it comes to astronomy but you must have a good understanding of the basics and that's exactly The Backyard Stargazer gives us. Starting with a nice introduction to the history of astronomy, we take our first step out under the sky. Under the stars, we're shown how to observe the night sky; how to read its air quality, how dress properly, the use of a red filtered flash light and how to relax when observing.
Now we're ready to use that knowledge for an evening's stargazing, what should we be looking for? Here the author takes us through the easy things like the moon the planets and the sun followed by nebulae, star clusters, galaxies and other members of the celestial zoon and, of course stars and constellations
Throughout The Backyard Stargazer, we're given tid bits to think about such as light pollution, astronomical history, how to safely look at the sun or the stars got their names.
Like any good guide, The Backyard Stargazer, doesn't tell us everything. We have to undertake some self guided studies. At the end of each chapter, we're given some homework to do that augment's the chapter.
For many of us its all about the tools and chapter 10: Adding Optics fill the bill nicely. Here we can drool and dream about the perfect telescope or how to choose a good pair of binoculars.
Capter12 is another favourite: Astro Travel. Astronomical Bed and Breakfasts and astronomy tours have become quite a niche market of late and getting larger and this chapter just touches on things the travelling astronomer can do.
This book is a great book for the budding astronomer. It's one that can be read in a weekend but will take a lifetime to absorb.
Buy it!
Customer Reviews:
What Is With All The Negativity?.......2006-02-23
If you are interesting in astronomy, or just bought your first telescope, buy this book (or its soft cover twin A Guide to Backyard Astronomy). Period. It is a perfect launching point to explore the stars. Some may complain that the maps are not complete, but the entire point of this book is to start you on the road to stargazing, and it has plenty for a budding astronomer to work with without being overwhelmed. Heck, I still use it and find it much more user friendly than many other books. Ignore the negativity and enjoy the book. For the price there should be no argument. I suggest looking up the reviews on its softcover identical twin, A Guide To Backyard Astronomy, for a more honest review.
Buy it! ...unless,.......2005-07-12
Ten years ago, if you were someone who had never looked into a telescope, or couldn't find the North Star even with the Big Dipper emblazoned on the clear night sky right in front of you, one might question the wisdom of your decision to buy this type of book. After all, it includes instructions to navigate a telescope to a number of obscure Messier objects that you can't even see with the naked eye. The fact is, today anyone willing to invest a considerable chunk of spare change, say $1500 plus, can go out and buy a motorized telescope equipped with an internal computer that, along with a compass and a GPS system, automatically aligns the entire rig with the push of a button. From there, viewing these same Messier objects is as simple as programming your coffee maker. Needless to say, what was yesterday's advanced technology is today's ..umm, coffee maker.
This book is a pleasurably condensed beginning astronomy course, with each short section covering a broad range of subjects - from the birth and development of astrophysics and the state of exploration in the solar system (Voyager and Hubble) to some technical considerations, such as a brief synopsis of the electromagnetic spectrum and the physics of red-shift. From here it more than briefly covers the tools of the trade, from binoculars to telescopes (including "Go-To" technology) to astrophotography, and includes a very informative section on buying a telescope. Then follows an ample chapter on the Solar System covering the Sun, Moon, and the planets and their satellites. All this fairly light reading is wrapped up with a chapter covering all the other lights in the sky, including meteors, asteroids, double and variable stars, clusters, nebulas, novae, etc., and discussing with some detail their technical aspects. Somehow, each page, though jam-packed with information, still manages to include at least two relevant pictures or graphics. The deep space pictures are simply gorgeous.
The last 98 pages of the book are my favorite part - a `starhopping' guide highlighting some twenty selected sections of the sky (each generally covering the area of an average constellation). Each section has a comprehensive map and a number of photographs to aid the aspiring astronomer. With each destination is a recommendation of how to view it (i.e. naked eye, binoculars, or telescope) and includes considerations such as necessary field of view, recommended power, and required aperture. After all, you don't want to waste your time trying to discern the arms and dust lanes of M61 (a face-on but dim spiral galaxy in the constellation Virgo) armed only with a 6 inch reflector.
The inclusion of the word `Advanced' in the title of this book will likely scare off a number of potential buyers. The decision to use it certainly involved a calculated risk by the publishers. I consider myself a knowledgeable beginner at best, (I'm purchasing my first telescope as I write this review) and I found this book to be almost spot-on for my needs. In fact, it played no small part in inspiring my purchase, and this in the face of my dear wife's protests.
Bottom line: If you're an armchair wannabe astronomer who's susceptible to the occasional weakness for impulse buying, and your unsympathetic spouse has imposed a moratorium on larger purchases for the foreseeable future, don't buy this book. On the other hand, perhaps spending a punitive night or two "sleeping on the couch" might not seem so bad if you happen to wake up in the middle of a starry night.
Advanced Skywatching is good, but there is one better.......2004-05-05
Advanced Skywatching is a good book. But the book "Practical Skywatching" gives you two books for the price of one. It literally contains the best of the books "Skywatching" and "Advance Skywatching" in one reference
Very Nice.......2000-07-14
Time was, the Nature Store was everywhere in Canada, and you could depend on them for just the right Xmas gift or whatever. That's gone now, but they left the excellent Nature Company Guides behind.
This is the book of those who have gone beyond "the stars are up there" stage but aren't at the Hawking level yet. I loved the crispy photos and the straight from the shoulder directions (not pretentious or dumb). I recommend it highly if you want something with a little more meat to it.
A book that anyone with an interest in astronomy should read.......2000-03-18
This book is very helpful, even if you are just an amiture astronomer like me. This book tells you how to navigate through the Heavens. It tells you what stars you can see, the dates that you can see them, even the times that you cansee them. This book tells you what to look for when buying a telescope, how to spot a trash scope, and what types are good to purchase for your needs. This book tells about anything that you need to know, from nebulas and double stars, to planets and black holes. Advanced Skywatching tells you almost anything you want to know. This is a book that no astronomer, begining, advanced, or professional, should be without.
Average customer rating:
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A Year of the Stars: A Month-By-Month Journey of Skywatching
Fred Schaaf
Manufacturer: Prometheus Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
Astronomy
| Astronomy
| Science
| Subjects
| Books
Cosmology
| Astronomy
| Science
| Subjects
| Books
Star-Gazing
| Astronomy
| Science
| Subjects
| Books
General
| Science
| Subjects
| Books
Rocks & Minerals
| Nature & Ecology
| Science
| Subjects
| Books
Cosmology
| Physics
| Science
| Subjects
| Books
Astronomy
| Astronomy
| Professional Science
| Professional & Technical
| Subjects
| Books
Cosmology
| Astronomy
| Professional Science
| Professional & Technical
| Subjects
| Books
ASIN: 1591020921 |
Book Description
One look at a starry night sky is often enough to arouse an individual's curiosity and generate a desire to discover the wonders of the heavens. But how do you learn the identities of all those stars and constellations and when they appear? What is a planetary nebula or a globular star cluster--where do you find them and how do you tell them apart? Acclaimed popular science writer Fred Schaaf has created this eloquent guide that both beginners and veteran skywatchers will find rewarding.
According to Schaaf, the secret to learning astronomy is to begin with one night and one part of the sky or one constellation and then let the passing nights add to your framework of knowledge and sights. To that end, after a introductory primer covering the basics of astronomy, the rest of the book uses a month-by-month organization, highlighting the constellations, stars, meteor showers, and other special phenomena visible each month, with many fascinating insights into the science, history, and lore of various celestial objects. Schaaf's many years of writing for "Sky & Telescope", the "Old Farmer's Almanac", "Mother Earth News", and other publications make him the world's leading expert in the monthly format of astronomy sights and the perfect guide through the year of the stars.
Complete with beautiful maps, drawings, photos, a very useful glossary, and Schaaf as a guide, this is the perfect book for the amateur astronomer or anyone curious about our place in the universe.
Customer Reviews:
Nice for the field, or arm chair astronomer.......2006-10-22
The Nature Company Guides "Skywatching", 1996, 288 pages provides a nice text for use in the field, or at the armchair. The presentation is very attractive as the artwork, poetry, and pictures of stellar objects are wonderfully done and relate well to the material. The seven chapters include; Skywatching Through the Ages, Stars and Galaxies, Skywatching Tools and Techniques, Understanding the Changing Sky, A Guide to the Sky, A tour of the Solar System, and Probing the Universe.
The field strength is provided in the chapter "The Guide to the Sky" covering both northern and southern hemispheres. For each hemisphere are six (6) semi-monthly pair of D-charts (North and South, each 9"x5") showing stars to 4.5 magnitude. Next, 88 Constellations are described and shown in detail (1-2 pages for each). For each constellation there is a star map showing DSOs and stars up to 6.5 magnitude. Text describes the constellation myth with picture, 4-8 more significant DSO with pictures, and icons (eye, binoculars, telescope) indicating minimum optical aid for viewing. Heavy paper and turtle back binding support use in the field.
Armchair use is supported by the other chapters and will give the beginner adequate coverage of many topics.
A good introduction to astronomy.......2006-08-19
This book is a multifaceted introduction to astronomy. I used it as the text in an observation-oriented astronomy class, and the students loved it. Overall, I would rate it at 3-4 stars, but let me evaluate its 5 focuses individually. As an exposition of general astronomy, I give it 4-5 stars. It is attractively illustrated and clearly written, an engaging and informative introduction to astronomical principles.
As an instruction book for beginning observing, it deserves 2-3 stars. It gives a good idea of many of the basic observing techniques but has shortcoming in the section on choosing equipment. First, it bases choice of binoculars on the irrelevant theory of exit pupils and incorrectly recommends 7x50 binoculars. A field comparison readily shows that 10x50s outperform 7x50s. Second, the book suggests in a grossly oversimplified way that equatorial mounts are the most desirable. This is incompatible with the book's supposed orientation toward beginners, who should avoid this specialized mount in favor of the simple, sturdy altazimuth.
As an observer's guide it rates 4 stars: there is a fine list of objects to look for in binoculars and small telescopes. The description is ample, and the number of objects is enough to keep you busy for quite some time. However, the indications of what can be seen in an instrument of a given size should be taken with a certain skepticism. They describe features that can be seen by a skilled observer with first-rate eyes under a rural dark sky in very good atmospheric conditions and do not represent what the novice in a suburban backyard is likely to see.
It contains one of the better 6th magnitude star atlases on the market, which rates 3 stars. There are 88 charts, one for each constellation in the sky. Although colored, they are clear and usable with a red flashlight. Adjacent charts (constellations) are clearly marked and, as charts are arranged in alphabetical order, it is easy to navigate directly from one chart to the other without the intermediate step of an index. My one complaint is that on a given chart only the stars of the featured constellation are shown to magnitude 6.5. Stars in adjoining constellations are shown only to 5.5. This can present problems because sometimes an observer uses star fields which cross constellation boundaries. The atlas, of course, has the limitations inherent in any 6.5 magnitude work.
The observer's guidebook can stand alone for use with a separate atlas. Here, then, is my recommendation: except for the section on buying equipment, Skywatching is a fully competent all-in-one book for the beginning astronomer. When it comes time to upgrade, keep Skywatching as your guidebook, but for the atlas, I would recommend the excellent yet affordable 7.6 magnitude Sky and Telescope Pocket Sky Atlas.
Nice intro to amateur astronomy.......2004-07-14
I picked this book up practically on a whim from the clearance table at a local bookseller, and was very pleasantly surprised at how good of a book it is after getting it home.
It starts with a brief history of skywatching, and then moves on to describing many of the types of objects that can be found in space - stars, galaxies, supernovas, black holes, pulsars, star clusters, variable stars, nebulae... along with explainations of what they are and why they look the way they do.
After that the book talks about basic skywatching techniques, from simply spotting things with the naked eye, and the basics of binoculars and telescopes.
After all this, you're then taught the basics of how to read a star chart, including the rather nice basic charts that are included in the book for both Northern and Southern hemispheres.
At the most basic level you can use the charts to see what constellations are in the sky above you that night, which will help in learning the different constellations, and then as you advance a little you can use the approximate location to help locate items with a telescope.
Further details are given about each constellation, first discussing how it got its name, and then going into details about interesting items that are in the area of that constellation, such as nearby nebulea, galaxies, or star clusters.
Also included are details about each of the planets in our solar system, and a resource directory for those interested in further reading.
Along with all this great info, the book is chock full of beautiful photography, art, and well-drawn charts.
Definately one of the best ways to start out for someone who's recently become interested in the skies above.
Skywatching is a good book, but there is a better one.......2004-05-05
Skywatching is a good book. But the book "Practical Skywatching" gives you two books for the price of one. It literally contains the best of the books "Skywatching" and "Advance Skywatching" in one reference.
a constellation guidebook.......2002-11-09
.... Primarily a constellation guidebook. Charts by Wil Tirion. Charts are mag 6, scale is 27mm per 10 degrees and each chart covers an area 4 hr RA by 45° Dec. A fair amount of sky surrounding each constellation chart helps with orientation. Has 100 pages of science, how to, equipment and data tables including nearest stars and brightest stars. Lots of good science with excellent visuals. All sky maps for every month. Several notable objects described in each constellation provide a wide variety, however many would not be found with a moderate telescope. Good charts, but could label more stars and plot more objects. Moon maps and a limited section on the planets. Excellent bibliography and list of resources. Overall a good choice as a constellation guidebook and astro science book.
Product Description
Was there ever life on Mar? Will Earth be hit by an asteroid? Are there any other solar systems? Advanced Skywatching guides you through the mysteries of the universe and tells you everything you need to know about becoming a proficient backyard astronomer. The heavens call to you, and circle around you, displaying to you their eternal splendor
Product Description
A comprehensive, indispensable guide to the magic and mystery of the heavens, from the glow of the night's first star to the splendor of distant galaxies. Very thorough book on astronomy and extremely profusely illustrated. Terrific book!6 1/2" x 11" x 3/4".
Customer Reviews:
an excellent introduction.......2006-02-03
So you have questions about stargazing but you don't know where to start? Look no further than this excellent guide. "Skywatching" begins by discussing the interesting history behind astronomy. The history is given a thorough treatment but is not overly done. The author includes just enough to build on the fascination we already have as attested by purchasing this book. I believe the most valuable part of this book is the main content which names and explains all of the constellations and points out neighboring celestial objects... many of which are visible to the naked eye or binoculars. One of the interesting things I've learned about this fascinating hobby is that you don't need to run out and buy a $2,000.00 telescope to enjoy it. Armed with this book, a plainesphere (star map) and an inquisitive mind you have more than enough to get started and to continue a lifelong hobby whether you plain to get very serious about it or just remain a closet astronomer.
Books:
- Stokes Beginner's Guide to Birds: Eastern Region (Stokes Field Guide Series)
- Thank God I Had a Gun: True Accounts of Self-Defense
- The Art of Ratatouille
- The Audubon Backyard Birdwatcher: Birdfeeders and Bird Gardens
- The Audubon Backyard Birdwatcher: Birdfeeders and Bird Gardens
- The Backyard Astronomer's Guide
- The Backyard Bird Feeder's Bible: The A-to-Z Guide To Feeders, Seed Mixes, Projects, And Treats (Rodale Organic Gardening Book)
- The Bastard of Istanbul
- The Birds of East Africa: Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi (Princeton Field Guides)
- The Birds of Pennsylvania
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Skywatchers : A Revised and Updated Version of Skywatchers of Ancient Mexico
Skywatchers, Shamans & Kings: Astronomy and the Archaeology of Power (Wiley Popular Science,)
ANCIENT ASTRONOMERS (Exploring the Ancient World)
Echoes of the Ancient Skies: The Astronomy of Lost Civilizations
