The clearest, most accessible guide to observing the night sky.

Introducing the Handbook of Stars and Planets - the perfect beginner's guide to the night sky!
With a highly visual introduction that explains the basic concepts of astronomy and gives advice on the best methods and equipment for observation, including binoculars and telescopes, exploring the cosmos and more has never been easier or more accessible. Each of the planets in the Solar System is described and illustrated in detail, with images taken from space probes as well as from the ground, showing them as you can expect to see them.

More than 160 star charts were made especially for this book by the Royal Greenwich Observatory. There is a separate detailed chart for each of the 88 constellations, adding up to a complete atlas of the sky. The text for each constellation reveals its history and mythology and lists notable stars, galaxies, nebulae, and other objects. Alongside the constellation profiles is a month-by-month guide, including a set of charts and a user-friendly text guide that picks out the highlights above your head each month.

Soar into the pages of this awe-inspiring astronomy book to explore:

- Introduction section provides an accessible primer on the basics of astronomy and sky-watching
- Equipment section includes a guide to the main kinds of binoculars, telescopes, and camera equipment
- Practical advice also includes observing the sky with the naked eye
- Profiles of planets and constellations include colour-coded data tables, delivering fast facts for quick reference
-Accessible text explains concepts clearly and guides the reader from beginner to intermediate-level astronomer

This newly-updated guide to the Solar System includes new discoveries, revised data, and the latest images from space probes! The revisions to constellation and monthly sky guides include new data on stars and other objects such as galaxies, as well as a refreshed guide to binoculars, telescopes, and cameras. Complete with jargon-free text written by one of the foremost popularisers of astronomy and an authority on the history of constellations, the DK Handbook of Stars and Planets is the perfect introduction to stargazing! So whether you're a budding astronomer or an intermediate space-savvy, this great guide to the night sky is suitable for children aged 12+ and adults alike, and promises something for everyone to explore, discover and love!

About the Author
Ian Ridpath is one of the world's leading authorities on starwatching. His articles have been published in newspapers and books all over the world, and he has written more than 40 books. He is currently the editor of Norton's Star Atlas (the longest-established star atlas in the world) and of the Oxford Dictionary of Astronomy. He is also the editor of The Antiquarian Astronomer, the journal of the Society for the History of Astronomy. Ian is a Fellow of the Royal Astronomical Society and a member of the International Astronomical Union (IAU).


Book Information
ISBN 9780241558560
Author Ian Ridpath
Format Paperback
Page Count 224
Imprint DK
Publisher Dorling Kindersley Ltd
Weight(grams) 420g
Dimensions(mm) 215mm * 145mm * 12mm