Product Description

Each of the planets in the Solar System is illustrated and described in detail while the often complex process of locating planets in the night sky is made as simple as possible with unique charts and diagrams. For those new to astronomy a highly visual introduction explains many of the basic concepts and offers expert advice on the best methods and equipment for observation. A concise glossary explainsany scientific and technical terms used.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #15950 in Books
• Published on: 2000-11-16
• Original language: English
• Binding: Vinyl Bound
• 224 pages

Astronomy
The handy size, copious illustrations, maps and charts, as well as the latest in astrophotography throughout . . . practically beg[s] astronomers to take [Stars and Planets] along to star parties.

From the Back Cover
"Ridpath and Tirion are an unbeatable team. Ridpath writes concisely and movingly about the sky, and Tirion's charts are beautifully done and easy to follow. This is a superb guide to the night sky." (David H. Levy, author of Shoemaker by Levy (Princeton) and co-discoverer of the comet Shoemaker-Levy 9.)

About the Author
Ian Ridpath has been a full time writer, broadcaster, and lecturer on astronomy since 1972, having previously worked at the university of London Observatory. A fellow of the Royal Astronomical Society, he is the editor of the Oxford Dictionary of Astronomy and Norton’s Star Atlas. Ian has written or edited over 40 books, including several guides to the night sky. His writing has also appeared in newspapers and magazines throughout the world.

Customer Reviews

So Simple, Even I Can Find What I'm Looking For!
I am one of those people who has trouble finding specific constellations, and is never quite sure whether I'm looking at Jupiter or Venus. I carry around little scraps of paper from the newspaper so I can figure out which planets are visible . . . but have a hard time reading the scraps in the dark.

With this book, I can see when and where each planet will appear through 2012. I can also get all the help I need to know what constellations are up there now, and which ones will be present when.

As a result, I can finally introduce the starry heavens in an appropriate way to younger people. I already know a lot about astronomy, but the night sky was beyond me. No longer! Whew!

Although my four children did not get much help with the heavens from me, the grandchildren will receive great benefits from this resource.

Even if you are good at identifying objects in the night sky, this book will be a valuable, convenient reference for you.

Enjoy the lore that our ancestors appreciated by seeing new aspects of the night-time sky!

A Robust Guide For Stargazers
This is a classic Dorling Kindersley handbook:solid,glossy and very durable. You can thumb this to your hearts content and it will still keep its shape. A double-page spread is given to each planet with lots of facts and figures presented in a clear and colourful format. All 88 constellations are described in detail with the major items of interest to be found in each one. Sky-guides are provided for every month of the year as well.

There are some useful photographs of the constellations and the various astronomical objects they contain but I found some of these difficult to make out. Perhaps things are clearer in the field.

A well designed book that really does pack a lot in and the array of facts alone will please the astral trainspotters no end. The celestial hemispheres on the inside of the front and back covers are a nice finishing touch to an aesthetically pleasing as well as informative guide.