Stargazer's Guide to the Universe: A Complete Visual Guide to Interpreting the Cosmos - Hardcover

Kerrod, Robin

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0764158449 ISBN 13: 9780764158445

Publisher: Barrons Educational Series, 2005

Synopsis

This stunningly illustrated visual guide to the heavens deserves a place on every amateur astronomer's bookshelf. It features both sky maps and dramatic photos of all major constellations, from Andromeda to Virgo. It also provides a stargazer's excursion across the solar system, focusing on planets, asteroids, meteors, and comets. Exploring further into deep space, it presents breathtaking photos—many of them taken from NASA's famous Hubble telescope—of colliding galaxies, supernovas, and spirograph nebulae. The author advises beginners on nighttime sky-watching, whether they make their observations with the naked eye, with binoculars, or with a telescope. He also discusses unmanned space exploration, provides star maps for each month of the year, and explains such phenomena as the Big Bang and black holes. The Stargazer's Guide to the Universe is printed throughout in full color and features more than 250 photos and illustrations.

About this title

About the Author

Robin Kerrod, a Fellow of Britain's Royal Astronomical Society, writes extensively on astronomy and space, and travels the world to visit observatories and space centers. Among his previous books are Book of Constellations and The Sky at Night, both published in North America by Barron's.

From the Back Cover

[back cover]
This extraordinary book is a complete visual guide to the heavens. From Andromeda to Virgo, every constellation is examined and explained, with breathtaking photographs from orbiting astronomical observatories and deep-space telescopes—most notably NASA’s famous Hubble telescope.

A gazer’s guide to the solar system examines planets, asteroids, meteors, and comets. The main part of the book is devoted to mapping the stars. Stunning images of colliding galaxies, supernovas, and spirograph nebulae represent a cosmic light show that will amaze even the seasoned stargazer.

Each key constellation features a map that places it in context within the universe and shows its position in relation to other celestial bodies. Diagrams explaining the leading clusters and prominent stars allow readers to interpret the beautiful large-scale photographs.

Information on the visibility of each constellation is included with every entry, and a separate star schedule enables stargazers to plan their stargazing with ease no matter where they are in the world.

[front flap]
This visual guide to the cosmos is for anyone who wants to know more about the Universe and how we explore it. It deals with stars, galaxies, and solar systems, and examines and explains every constellation. Other phenomena such as black holes, comets, meteors, and asteroids are also explained. The many different ways to observe the heavens are discussed—the naked eye, telescopes, observatories, spacecraft, and even astronomical imaging. A ready-reference section shows star maps for each month of the year, as well as maps of the celestial sphere and the constellations visible at different times of the year, with the images in the book keyed to them for cross-referencing.

[back flap]
Robin Kerrod, a Fellow of Britain’s Royal Astronomical Society, writes extensively on astronomy and space, and travels the world to visit observatories and space centers. Among his previous books are Book of Constellations and The Sky at Night, both published in North America by Barron’s.

Edition details

• Publisher: Barrons Educational Series
• Publication date: 2005
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 0764158449
• ISBN 13: 9780764158445
• Binding: Hardcover
• Number of pages: 192