Discovery Channel: Night Sky: An Explore Your World Handbook - Softcover

Burnham, Robert

Softcover

ISBN 10: 1563318016 ISBN 13: 9781563318016

Publisher: Discovery Books, 1999

Synopsis

What has the Hubble Space Telescope revealed about our universe? How should one select and use binoculars and a telescope? What are the simple tools available to measure distances and locate objects in the sky? Night Sky, an Explore Your World ™ handbook, answers these and other questions, providing a captivating blend of information and entertainment about the awesome wonders of the universe.

Incorporating the Discovery Channel's unique, authoritative approach and acclaimed visuals, Night Sky goes beyond traditional guides by combining field identification techniques with fascinating background information and practical hands-on advice. Organized in a clear, accessible style, beautifully illustrated with more than 300-full color photographs and illustrations, and packed with the most up-to-date information by expert astrologers, this comprehensive handbook offers stargazers a wealth of information in a single portable source.

Night Sky is divided into four main sections:
"A Celestial Tour" is a helpful primer designed to help astronomy enthusiasts acquire a strong base of knowledge on the fundamentals of the universe--including a tour of the solar system, an explanation of the birth and death of stars, and an exploration of the galaxies.

"The Cutting Edge of Astronomy and Exploration" explains how astronomers observe the universe, how space probes explore the planets, and what attempts are being made to contact potential life in the cosmos.

"The Backyard Astronomer" offers practical advice on exploring the night sky firsthand--including basic equipment needs, lunar phases and eclipses, and using coordinates to pinpoint celestial objects and navigate the heavens.

"Observing the Nighttime Sky" provides four sky maps of the northern and southern sky, six bimonthly sky maps, plus an alphabetical guide to all 88 constellations.

Night Sky is sure to delight, teach, and entertain stargazers and reveal our wondrous universe as never before.

About this title

About the Author

Discovery Books worked with a distinguished team of experts, including: Robert Burnham, former editor-in-chief of Astronomy magazine and author of several books; Louie Bernstein, lecturer at the Montreal Planetarium, Wil Tirion, the world's premier sky cartographer, and Richard Barchfield, who conducts the Nightly Observing Program at Kitt Peak National Observatory in Arizona.

From School Library Journal

YA-This meaty little volume is the next stop for graduates of Jay M. Pasachoff's Peterson First Guide to Astronomy (Houghton, 1998). It is also an invaluable resource for serious stargazers. The book incorporates the Discovery Channel's acclaimed visuals to explain everything from the shapes of galaxies to determining distances between celestial objects. Photographs of the heavenly bodies are nothing short of glorious. "A Celestial Tour" presents through text, drawings, and photographs such topics as the expanding universe, the emergence of galaxies, the evolution and life cycle of stars, our solar system, and the cutting edge of astronomy. It gives readers a strong base of knowledge in the fundamentals of the universe. "The Backyard Astronomer" provides information for choosing the most useful equipment for viewing the sky as well as tips for astrophotography. "Observing the Nighttime Sky" includes instructions and helpful advice for successfully using the well-designed star charts. Each alphabetically presented map is rich with interesting information.
Cynthia J. Rieben, W. T. Woodson High School, Fairfax, VA
Copyright 2000 Reed Business Information, Inc.

About this edition

• Publisher: Discovery Books
• Publication date: 1999
• ISBN 10: 1563318016
• ISBN 13: 9781563318016
• Binding: Paperback
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 192