Skywatching : The Ultimate Guide to the Universe - Hardcover

David H. Levy

9780007199211: Skywatching : The Ultimate Guide to the Universe

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 000719921X ISBN 13: 9780007199211

Publisher: Collins, 2005

A comprehensive family reference guide to all the amazing phenomena of our night skies, with helpful charts and detailed photography This comprehensive introduction to our night skies has been written by a team of expert astronomers. Their collective experience, combined with a straightforward, no-nonsense approach creates the perfect guide to understanding galaxies, eclipses, the moon and constellations. Our solar system is brought to life through extraordinary images, and our night skies made easy to understand with colourful charts. Visually exciting and always informative, Skywatching covers both the historical and scientific aspects of astronomy. * Leads you through our immediate Solar System with the Sun, the Moon and the planets * Takes you into deep space, revealing the stars, galaxies and nebulae * Comprehensive bi-monthly star charts that can be used anywhere in the world, with constellation charts showing 85 star formations * Useful information on the equipment used for skywatching, from the huge optical telescopes used by professional astronomers to makeshift observatories

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About the Author:

DAVID LEVY has discovered 21 comets since 1984 - eight from his own backyard and 13 others as part of the Shoemaker-Levy team at Palomar. He also writes a column for 'Sky and Telescope', is the author of eight books, and the winner of the 1993 Amateur Achievement Award, which recognized his contribution in the field of astronomy. DR JOHN O'BYRNE lectures in the School of Physics at Sydney University. He has a broad range of theoretical interests and is a Secretary of the Astronomical Society of Australia. WIL TIRION drew the sky maps and constellation charts for this publication. He started making star atlases as a hobby in1977 and in 1983 he became a full-time sky cartographer. ROBERT BURNHAM has been an amateur since the late 1950s. His main interests revolve around observing the Moon and planets by telescope but he also enjoys reading about cosmology. An active amateur geologist and birder, he is at present the Editor in Chief of 'Astronomy' magazine.

From Library Journal:

Levy, a noted comet hunter and amateur astronomer, provides the text for this volume in a new guidebook series. Profusely illustrated, Skywatching has been well designed to advise and encourage the potential "backyard" astronomer. Brief background explanations speed the reader through relevant topics such as the history of astronomy, types of stars and other celestial objects of interest to skywatchers, and techniques and equipment for the amateur. The core of the book features a series of seasonal sky charts to be used in conjunction with a generous alphabetical arrangement of constellation maps. Viewpoints for both northern and southern hemispheres are represented, with the sky's offerings accessible through binoculars, small telescope, and the naked eye clearly set out for any approximate latitude and time of year. Although the ever-varying motions of the planets are necessarily omitted, the creators of this guidebook have supplied more than enough inspiration to send readers out in search of a sufficiently dark, unobstructed view of the night sky. For general readers. [Another volume in the "Nature Company Guide" series, Birding, is reviewed on p. 84.-Ed.]-Patrick Dunn, East Tennessee State Univ. Lib., Johnson Cit.
--Patrick Dunn, East Tennessee State Univ. Lib., Johnson City
Copyright 1995 Reed Business Information, Inc.

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