Peterson First Guide to Astronomy, Second Edition

The Peterson First Guide to Astronomy provides an introduction to astronomy for beginners, featuring photographs taken from the MESSENGER spacecraft and predictions for meteor showers, comets, and eclipses. The book encourages readers to go out into the field, using the maps that show the positions of the stars throughout the year as a guide. This edition maintains the easy-to-use condensed format of the original, and makes it easy to proceed to the full-fledged Peterson Field Guide to Stars and Planets for more in-depth information.
 

Jay M. Pasachoff (1943-2022) was the Field Memorial Professor of Astronomy and the Chair of the Astronomy Department at Williams College. He is the author of the Peterson Field Guide to Stars and Planets, as well as numerous textbooks and trade books on astronomy, weather, and more.