Reach for the stars
Stargazing is the practice of observing the night sky and its
contents – from constellations through to planets and galaxies.
Stars and other night sky objects can be seen with the naked eye,
or seen in greater numbers and in more detail with binoculars or a
telescope.
Stargazing For Dummies offers you the chance to explore
the night sky, providing a detailed guide to the main
constellations and also offering advice on viewing other night sky
objects such as planets and nebulae. It’s a great introduction to a
fun new hobby, and even provides a fun way to get the kids outside
while doing something educational!
* Gives you an introduction to looking at the sky with binoculars
or a telescope
* Offers advice on photographing the night sky
* Without needing to get your head around mind-bending theories,
you can take part in some practical physics
If you’re looking for easy-to-follow guidance on getting to know
the night sky, Stargazing For Dummies has you covered.
Table of Content
Introduction 1
Part I: What’s Up? Getting Familiar with the Night Sky 7
Chapter 1: The Changing Sky 9
Chapter 2: Look Up! Your First Stargazing Trip 23
Chapter 3: Binocular Astronomy 39
Chapter 4: Your First Telescope 57
Chapter 5: Taking It Further: Astrophotography 81
Part II: Joining the Dots: Learning Your Way Around the Night Sky 91
Chapter 6: The Fixed Stars 93
Chapter 7: The Wanderers 105
Chapter 8: The Constellations 131
Chapter 9: Mapping the Skies 149
Part III: Star Hopping 165
Chapter 10: Northern Polar Constellations 167
Chapter 11: Stars of December, January and February 183
Chapter 12: Stars of March, April and May 211
Chapter 13: Stars of June, July and August 241
Chapter 14: Stars of September, October and November 271
Chapter 15: Southern Polar Constellations 293
Part IV: The Part of Tens 309
Chapter 16: Ten Targets for New Stargazers 311
Chapter 17: Ten Things to Look for under a Dark Sky 315
Index 321
About the author
Steve Owens is a freelance science writer and presenter with a passion for astronomy. He has been the recipient of the ‘Campaign for Dark Skies’ Award for Dark Sky Preservation, and he was nominated for the Arthur C. Clarke Award for public science engagement.
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