Product Description
Purchase includes free access to book updates online and a free trial membership in the publisher's book club where you can select from more than a million books without charge. Chapters: Triangulum, Triangulum Galaxy, List of Stars in Triangulum, Delta Trianguli, Hd 13189, 3c 48, Ngc 604, Alpha Trianguli, Hd 9446 B, Hd 9446 C, Beta Trianguli, Ngc 925, Epsilon Trianguli, Gamma Trianguli, Ngc 595. Excerpt:3C 48 3C48 was the first of many faint, starlike quasi-stellar objects which later were named quasars . 3C48 was the first source in the Third Cambridge Catalogue of Radio Sources for which an optical identification was found by Allan Sandage and Thomas Matthews in 1960 through interferometry . Jesse Greenstein and Thomas Matthews found that it had a redshift of 0.367, making it one of the highest redshift sources then known. It was not until 1982 that the surrounding faint galactic "nebulosity" was confirmed to have the same redshift as 3C48, cementing its identification as an object in a distant galaxy. This was also the first solid identification of a quasar with a surrounding galaxy at the same redshift. References (URLs online) Websites (URLs online) A hyperlinked version of this chapter is at Observation data Epoch J2000.0 Equinox J2000.0 Alpha Trianguli ( Tri / Trianguli) is a binary star in the constellation Triangulum . It has the traditional names Mothallah or Ras al Muthallah (alternate spellings Mathallah, Metallah, Ras al Mothallah, Elmuthalleth), and Caput Trianguli , from the Arabic ra s al-mu alla "the head of the triangle" and its Latin translation. Alpha Triangul... ... Read more

Product Description
Read this book if you want to.... surprise your friends . charm a date . delight your children . become an astronomy enthusiast . navigate in a survival situation . take your first steps to discovering our place in the universe. Stikky Night Skies uses a unique learning method to bring a fascinating topic to anyone with an hour to spare. We spent hundreds of hours with dozens of readers testing and refining it to be sure it will work for you.Includes a comprehensive Next Steps section with guides to the top 12 night sky objects, stargazing equipment, observatories, clubs, free star maps, space and astronomy websites, and more.For stargazers in the northern hemisphere. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (12)

Great Book for a novice
I was introduced to this book while on vacation in Tortolla. A friend had it and I started reading when I saw the abundance of stars each night.It starts out with basic star finding skills and builds to identify many different constillations. Good for all who are old enough to read.

Learn what used to be common knowledge
.
Before the light pollution of the late twentieth-century, the stars and constellations were a fairly common part of western knowledge, and the ability to navigate by the stars was a universal skill. Much of that skill and knowledge is all but lost to the larger section of western society.

This book helps to reconnect with the environment without the use of portable electronic devices.

I was able to learn the "6 Constellations, 4 Stars, A Planet, A Galaxy, And How To Navigate At Night" (Okay, I already knew the big and little dippers and Polaris...so I had a head start.)

If you are curious about the stars and constellations, there is no easier way to learn them.

If you want astronomy pictures from NASA, look here: [http://antwrp.gsfc.nasa.gov/apod/archivepix.html]

They make a great screen saver.

you can still learn at 60
What a wonderful book!!! My husband borrowed this book from a friend and after one night of use, we bought it. It is amazing how quickly you can learn the stars and constellations. They were not kidding when they said it only takes an hour...we are proof, at age 60, that it can be done!! Buy it, you won't be disappointed. Also great for kids

Stikky Night Skies is 'Bound' to work-Guaranteed!
I just returned from a sailing holiday in the Florida Keys and took Stikky Night Skies with me - The book is fantastic. The first evening out under the stars I was able to lead a pretty comprehensive tour of the night sky from the cockpit.

I had read the reviews that mention a problem with the binding but had no problems. In correspondence with the publisher they explained that an earlier print run had been problematic which has now been fully resolved.

For anyone who has a copy with a binding issue they can be reached through their own web site Stikky Dot Com. They will happily replace any title with the a binding issue a per the guarantee on the back cover.

I highly commend this title to lovers of the outdoors, campers and sailors alike.

Easy way to learn to recognize constellations
A simple but effective approach, "Stikky Night Skies" teaches the reader how to recognize six constellations, 4 major stars, a planet, and how to always determine north in the night sky.Besides showing the constellation pattern and describing how to recognize it the book contains multiple pages of actually night skies to practice on.After completing the book it is fairly simple to locate each of the constellations mentioned.

I did have one problem with the book.The gluing method used to attach the cover on my copy was of such poor quality that the cover came off with just one reading.Of course it can just be glued back on with good quality hot glue, but you would expect it to be of better quality from the beginning.

Other than this one caveat, if you want to know how to recognize a handful of constellations that you can use as a base to learn other ones, you can't go wrong with "Stikky Night Skies". ... Read more

Product Description
Chapters: Andromeda Galaxy, Upsilon Andromedae, List of Stars in the Constellation Andromeda, Alpha Andromedae, Gamma Andromedae, Beta Andromedae, Upsilon Andromedae B, Ross 248, Upsilon Andromedae D, Z Andromedae, Delta Andromedae, Messier 32, Upsilon Andromedae C, Zeta Andromedae, Andromeda I, Ngc 404, Andromeda Ii, Lambda Andromedae, Hd 10307, Messier 110, List of Stars in Ngc 7686, 51 Andromedae, Groombridge 34, Phi Andromedae, Hd 166, Andromeda's Satellite Galaxies, 8 Andromedae, Omicron Andromedae, Hd 8673, 56 Andromedae, Psi Andromedae, Pi Andromedae, 14 Andromedae, Rt Andromedae, Omega Andromedae, Epsilon Andromedae, 2 Andromedae, 36 Andromedae, Wasp-1b, Ngc 891, 28 Andromedae, 65 Andromedae, Mu Andromedae, 55 Andromedae, S Andromedae, Hd 895, 12 Andromedae, 44 Andromedae, Hd 222109, Hd 224635, Hd 16028, Hd 16004, Hd 3346, Hd 2942, Hd 14622, Andromeda V, 59 Andromedae, Hd 225218, Ln Andromedae, Hr 465, Ngc 7662, 26 Andromedae, Kappa Andromedae, R Andromedae, 39 Andromedae, Hd 13931, Hd 1185, Hd 221776, Hd 222399, 11 Andromedae, Tau Andromedae, Ngc 752, Hd 220105, Hd 8801, 14 Andromedae B, Andromeda Iii, Hd 30442, Hd 2767, Hd 5788, Hd 7853, 45 Andromedae, 16 Lyncis, Andromeda Ix, Hd 6114, Gliese 179 B, Hd 223229, Go Andromedae, Xi Andromedae, 10 Andromedae, Hd 13931 B, 63 Andromedae, Hd 3883, 13 Andromedae, 66 Andromedae, Kk Andromedae, et Andromedae, Andromeda Iv, Hd 174569, Hd 1606, 7 Andromedae, Theta Andromedae, Hd 11624, ou Andromedae, Andromeda Viii, Op Andromedae, V385 Andromedae, Chi Andromedae, Hd 221246, 15 Andromedae, Adhil, Hd 222641, Nu Andromedae, Qso B0220+427, Rho Andromedae, St Andromedae, Rs Andromedae, Cg Andromedae, Ss Andromedae, Su Andromedae, Rx Andromedae, W Andromedae, V Andromedae, Rr Andromedae, Y Andromedae, Rw Andromedae, Ngc 206, Rv Andromedae, Sao 73748, Ru Andromedae, Sao 73745, Sao 73770, Sao 73747, Ry Andromedae, Sao 73756, Iota Andromedae, Sigma Andromedae, Ngc 39, Andromeda X, 60 And...More: http://booksllc.net/?id=74331 ... Read more

Product Description
A Walk through the Heavens is a beautiful and easy-to-use guide to the constellations of the northern hemisphere. By following the unique simplified maps, readers will be able to easily find and identify the constellations and the stars within them. Ancient myths and legends of the sky are retold, adding to the mystery of the stars. Written for the complete beginner, this practical guide introduces the patterns of the starry skies in a memorable way. No equipment is needed, apart from normal sight and clear skies. Milton D. Heifetz is a clinical professor of neurosurgery at the University of Southern California and visiting professor at Harvard Medical School. This is his first astronomy book. Wil Tirion is the author of numerous sky guides, including The Cambridge Guide to Stars and Planets (1997), The Cambridge Star Atlas (1996), and The Monthly Sky Guide (Cambridge, 2003).Previous Edition Hb (1998): 00-521-62513-0 ... Read more

Customer Reviews (12)

Perfect!
This book is exactly what I wanted. It has clear pictures of all the constellations and it also tells you the history on the constellations! Fun book to star at the night sky with!

Excellent Reference Book
This book is an excellent reference and supplement to existing materials.It gives not only constellations, but the major navigationsal stars (e.g. Arcturus, Capella, Spica, etc.) assoicated with the asterisms.It also gives good tips about locating these objects.I give this book a good recommendation.

Fun!
This guide is so easy to use!It has maps of the sky for the different times of year.
Very worth it!

Simply Fantastic
A superb introduction to Astronomy.I would consider myself just shy of a subject matter expert and I purchased it to introduce it to my wife.It is a great introductory piece that covers the basics.It does not include all the detailed specifics that some people look for.It is short and to the point, but it will really keep the reader turning the pages.If only I could use this to teach from! I love the lore aspect of the book as it helps to also educate on Greek mythology.

Suits me.
I like to look at the constellations in my backyard. In other books, the constellations are presented separately, and you have to guestimate where they are. This book shows you one constellation, and then shows you how to line up the stars for the next one. For example, most people can find the big dipper, and from there most people can line up the stars on the front of the dipper part, and be directed to the North Star.Well, this book shows that if you follow the curve of the handle, you can find the star Arturus, in the constellation Bootes.All the constellations in this book are connected this way, so that you don't have to guess where they are anymore.Every constellation points to another.

Also, most books have the stars on a dark blue background with black writing. It's hard to read.This has the stars white, on a light lavender background, so the black and white writing stands out much better.All in all, it make the diagrams much easier on the eyes.I am going to try to learn one constellation each night. ... Read more

Product Description
What star is that? Where is the Southern Cross? Who was Orion? Answering these questions and many more, this book will become an essential traveling companion for amateur astronomers heading abroad. Its unique simplified maps make it easy to find the constellations in the southern hemisphere skies, and the stars within them. Clear instructions guide the user on how to gauge sizes and distances, and move easily between constellations. This new edition has been updated with additional mythology information, and a list of the planet positions up to 2016. Of value to all ages, this book introduces the patterns of the starry skies in a memorable way. No equipment is needed to use this practical guide: apart from normal sight and clear skies. Beautifully illustrated, this is an ideal introduction to unfamiliar stars that will have astronomers of all levels gazing at the skies with ease. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)

Not a bad title
Picked this up to help learn the constellations of the southern sky. For that purpose it certainly is a good read and a nice title. It wont point you to many deep sky objects or much from the various deep sapce objects catalogs however so if you are looking to purchase this for the purpose of finding DSOs then you should probably look elsewhere and go for some quality DSO style star charts instead.

Take this one with you
I take a trip to the Southern Hemisphere on occasion and have been looking for a good compact guide to bring along with me.I find the simplified star charts really useful to get myself quickly oriented. I don't need a full blown super detailed star atlas with all kinds of unnecessary detail and clutter that I'm unable to use, and this one fits the bill in that respect.

It also covers basic mythology of the Southern Skies and makes an excellent companion to it's sister work on the Northern Skies.

If your more interested in deep sky objects of the Southern skies you'd be better off looking elsewhere as this book only lightly discusses DSO's.

Learning the Southern Sky
After deciding to go into the Observational Astronomy hobby, I have been denying experts' advise for months. Although being almost a rookie, "start with a pair of binoculars", "plan your session ahead" and so on seemed trivial to me. This book helps the reader to solve which is probably the very first lesson to begin with: "learn the sky". In addition to that, it is dedicated to the Southern Hemisphere, trascendental for those who live "below" the equator. "A walk through the Southern Sky" easily and friendly explains how to reach minor constellations starting at the major ones. From Orion and Canis Major, precise highways are traced to reach Canis Minor, Cancer, Lepus and so on. From Crux and Centauri, to Vela and so on. I had started with a friend's computerized scope, and always thought that "starhopping" would be imposible for me under light-polluted skies. Probably one of the major goals of the authors is having proved me wrong. Again, if I could, anybody can! ... Read more

Product Description
the nightly appearance of the stars their arrangement in the sky their regular risings and settings through the course of the year have been a source of ... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)

An excellent translation, with one big flaw
This book serves very well as a translation and commentary for the Catasterismi of Pseudo-Eratosthenes and the Poeticon Astronomicon of Hyginus.I would recommend this book to the scholar and archeoastronomer.

However, reading from the text, it is clear that this book is primarily a labor of translation rather than Astronomy.In order to identify stars, Condos compared the texts of Pseudo-Eratosthenes and Hyginus to that of Ptolemy's Almagest.If she could not positively comfirm the identity of a star by cross-referencing it through Ptolemy, she simply left it unidentified in her translation (designating it with a ?).A clear example of the problem with this came when she tried to identify the three stars in Orion's head as lambda, ?, and ?.In this case, if she had a simple star atlas in front of her (like Norton's), she would have been able to easily identify the two unknown stars as phi-1 and phi-2.The sky hasn't changed that much since the time of the Greeks and an atlas might have been helpful to Condos in her work

So, yes, this is a recommendable book, but keep in mind that Condos' translation was made through referencing ancient texts alone without a proper study of the actual sky and stars upon which the texts were based.This flaw isn't fatal, but it is significant enough for me to dock one star and recommend that the reader have an atlas of his or her own to reference when using this book.

More scholarly than entertaining.
Star Myths is an excellent sourcebook - for a serious student. If you're looking for entertaining and engaging writing, look elsewhere. If you want a learned (if brief) overview of how the Greek and Roman constellations were named, by whom, and what stars are contained therein, then you've got the right volume!

Theony Condos, the translator, draws mostly on two prime sources; Poeticon Astronomicon (Poetic Astronomy), attributed to Hyginus; and Catasterismi (The Constellations), by Eratothenes. In the introduction, Condos discusses the backgrounds of Hyginus and Eratothenes, their influences and sources, and some supporting and relating works by their contemporaries and historical peers. Moving on from the (mercifully!) brief introduction, Condos procedes directly to the heart of the matter, and launches into an alphebetized listing of the major 'western' constellations, each with a idealized line-drawing of the constellation and its namesake image, a brief discussion of the associated legend(s) as discussed in the primary works, and a translators commentary. Primary stars, where possible, are indicated by their symbols (rather than spelling out their names) in the text. This last I found most frustrating, for while a serious scholar of Latin and Greek would recognize these symbols immediately, I found myself struggling to interpret them.

This book comes with fairly extensive end notes and appendicies, useful to the student looking for more insight. While I find this volume to be useful in a limited way, it's really aimed towards the more serious student, and not to the casual sky-watcher. If you want an education on the origins of the Western European constellations, this is a good place to start, though it's not the ultimate word on the subject. However, if you want to identify that intriguing cluster of bright lights in the nighttime sky, you'll probably want to go elsewhere.

recommendable book
This is a very interesting and readable book. I hope to read HYGINUS' "The MYTHS of Hyginus" once translated by M. Grant in 1960. I think the latter is more interesting to read for the fans of Greco-Romanmythology. ... Read more

Product Description
It's a beautiful, clear night and you decide to look up, once again, at the thousands and thousands of stars you have seen all your life. Each is anonymous in the vast sweep of the heavens. It's impossible to distinguish one bright star from another, one constellation from the next, without help.

Here it is. The product of 20 years face-to-face with the sky in all latitudes of this blue planet, The Great Atlas of the Stars was created to give the lay-person and amateur astronomer a map of the principal constellations and grand stars seen in the whole Northern Hemisphere. It covers the 30 most important constellations of the 88 visible from Earth.

These 30 constellations are the most rich and beautiful. Here you will find the most brilliant (and pretty) stars and remarkable nebulas and galaxies, that are the most interesting to observe. Each receives a full-page "identity card" which features the known characteristics: distance, luminosity, dimensions. For each of the constellations, 3 to 6 principal stars are shown in detail and located in a map of their sector of the sky.

Opposite the "identity card" page is a magnificent full color photograph of the constellation and its background of starry sky. Between the two is an overlay of clear mylar. Printed on the mylar overlay are the names of the elements of the constellation, and the connections between them.

Lastly, numerous photographs of staggeringly beautiful nebulae and starscapes, retrieved with the latest telescopes and space technology, put the individual constellations in the larger perspective of the night sky.

As authoritative as it is beautiful, The Great Atlas of the Stars will be consulted again and again by students, amateur astronomers, teachers and anyone who wants to know more about the stars. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (14)

The best, hand down for amateurs.
This atlas makes finding and learning about constellationsand it's many counterparts easy for anyone interested in astronomy. The pictures are beautiful and accurate fir the typical telescope- over $100.

Not truly an Atlas
This is really a series of outstanding photos of 30 selected constellations of the sky. Selected stars or objects in these photos are interestingly narrated.This is not really a map of the complete celestial sphere and there are no declination lines, no hour circles, and no ecliptic.Imagine, if you will, a book calling itself the Great Atlas of the United States.However it consists of beautiful, interestingly narrated maps of only 30 of the states, each separately shown. Not shown: latitude, longitude, and position relative to the rest of the country. However if locating the constellation in question is already solved elsewhere and if you want to explore interesting objects therein, then this is an outstanding book.

Beautiful, useful, clever and highly informative
This book captures the majesty of many of the heavens' greatest delights in beautiful astrophotography -- and shows you exactly where these objects are using a clever system of maps and transparent overlays.Keep it by your telescope at night to plot out your viewing, or on a cloudy night do your viewing right there on the page.Also great for casual readers/viewers who are simply curious about what's up there.

The transparencies are incredibly useful -- you see photos of the stars as they appear to your eye in the sky, with objects of interest circled and noted to guide you to closer views and detailed information.A smart, simple way to guide you through the night sky.I wish it covered even more objects, but it is reasonably comprehensive.

My only complaint (the reason I gave it 4 rather than 5 stars) is that the spiral-bound pages are not quite thick enough at the binding edge, so after a year or two of use, especially on some dewy nights, some pages started pulling out.(I got a second copy to remain pristine, and use the messy one by the scope.)

Strongly recommended for anyone interested in astronomy, regardless of whether you have access to a telescope.But beware: you'll want access soon!

The Great Atlas of the Stars
This book is just wonderful. Love the overlays to help with the locating of the constellations.Thank you.

Amazing
I have this book, and its heping me with my studies and night watching. This book, has a really amazing way to explain, to view and to make a sence for you while watching the heveans, espacially for the beginners! ... Read more

Product Description
A DRM free eBook.

# Exploring Stars And Galaxies

* Telescopes and Light
* Exploring the Stars
* All About the Sun
* About Galaxies
* Exploring the Solar System
* Visiting the Planets
* Reflecting on the Moon
* What About Comets and Meteors
* A Discussion on Blackholes
* How Stars Die
* About Our Planets Part 1
* About Our Planets Part 2
* How to Recognize the Constellations
* Poor Maligned Pluto
* Astrology - Fact and Fiction ... Read more

Product Description

Customer Reviews (2)

Great for teaching about the stars
This book is a big hit in our house.It is great for the child who really likes to watch and learn about the stars and can also grab the interest of someone who is new to the constellations.

Helpful
I teach 3rd grade and one of the standards is that they have to know different constellations.This book was very helpful to give the stories behind the constellations' names.They enjoyed the pictures and the myths. ... Read more

Product Description

Customer Reviews (6)

Constellations Book
My Grandson (age 5) is delighted with this book. I think any child of any age, interested in the Constellations would be very happy with this book!

Low level introduction...for the youngest kids
I was disappointed when the book arrived. I thought it would be for a beginner.Not fairy-tale like.

It is a good idea, but should be upgraded to a novice introduction to constellations.The constellations do not even closely represent the "actual" starry night.

Colorful way to introduce children to the night sky
I purchased this book as a donation to my daughter's school library.The glow-in-the dark illustrations attract children to the book, while the brightly illustrated drawings help the reader to visualize what the ancients were imagining when they designated the constellations.Each constellation includes a short story about the creature or object it represents (primarily Greek mythology). My only complaint about the book is that the proportions of the stars are considerably off in some of the illustrations, which could hinder the use of the book as a learning tool for children actually wanting to locate constellations in the real night sky.

A Glow In The Dark Guide to the NIght Sky
This is an interesting book for youg children.
We had to wait for a very overcast day to darken the room enough to see the glow. The kids liked it.

great introduction to constellation gazing
Each two page spread introduces a constellation, gives a brief synopsis of the story, and illustrates the constellation.The embedded stars glow in the dark, so you can turn off the lights and view what the constellation looks like in the night sky.The glow in the dark feature helps imprint the pattern of the stars in each constellation on your brain with the added drama of "and now let's turn off the lights and see...."The inside flaps of the book offer a picture of the constellations without illustration but with the stars connected. ... Read more

Product Description
Star names, the zodiac, constellations; folklore and literature associated with heavens. The basic book of its field. Fascinating reading solidly based on years of thorough research into astronomical writings and observations of the ancient Chinese, Arabic, Euphrates, Hellenic and Roman civilizaitons.
... Read more

Customer Reviews (8)

Adult level reference
I was looking for a book for a 13 yr old who is just getting started in astronomy. I wanted to show how mythology and ancient beliefs came to be the basis for naming stars & constellations.This book does that but is far too involved for a beginner.
Great for someone who can wade through lots and lots of references andcomplicated explanations.It is more like a college reference book with Latin, Greek, & Arabic names and definitions. Dover Publications, 555 pg. of small print, a reprint of an original printing of 1899.
Would be interesting for someone with lots of time and patience or for students who need detailed information on the connections between astrology and astronomy.

Superb reference
This is the best reference I have ever seen on the star names and their history.Written in the 1880's this is a compendium of Eastern and Western star names, from China through Medieval Europe.Each constellation is discussed as to it's own history, and the star names are then discussed in turn.Anyone interested in historical astronomy (and related fields such as ancient navigation techniques or astrology) will find this work worth its price many times over.

The book further discusses fairly different historical astronomical traditions such as the attempt in the Middle Ages to rename the constellations after Biblical figures.Consequently it may be of interest to general historians as well.

All in all, this book helps the skies come alive with history in a way that other books I have read do not.

Star Names, thier lore and meaning.
I do a short talk on the stars and find that this book along with others is very useful. It can be a bit diffecult to work out what is going on but once you have it is a great bookand enables one to be able to add to thier stars stories. Just choce one subject at a time, for example the severn sisters is about 15 pages but you can pick which bits that you want and still have a heap of information. So just read through it and adapt it to what you want, loadsand loads of info.
mikemasey.

A Classic.Now and Forever
I have owned this book for years, and bought another for a friend.The skies are richer for my having this book.

An Unparalelled Reference Work
While the text is a bit dated-- Allen wrote in the late 1880s-- it is a fantastic book for people interested in the history of the names of the stars. It also includes thousands of entries for stars that are no longer so well-known by name. (How many people can name the "pointers" in the Big Dipper, for example?)

The only downside is that anyone who reads it had better have at least a basic grasp of the classical Greek alphabet. To be fair, when Allen wrote this book most college-educated people had exactly that, and Latin besides. So sometimes he seems to assume that everyone can read Greek and leaves it at that (an edition with a set of transliterations would be most helpful).

But after some struggle with learning the Greek alphabet (I couldn't really sight-read it), I found this to be a hugely rewarding book.

I'd tell people to just start with the constellations they know, as the book is organized by constellation. For anyone who isn't already an astronomy buff, the stars that have been moved from one constellation to another (as a result of the International Astronomical Union finally "fixing" the boundaries in 1930) to be less of a problem than it might be--most stars that had that happen are pretty faint to begin with. And anyone familiar enough to even know that the boundaries have changed will have no trouble locating such stars in the sky by their coordinates and Flamsteed numbers.

Another thing: Allen's scholarship, while very good, also suffers a bit from 100 years worth of archeological and ethnographic data that has been gathered since. But I only caught the discrepancies in areas I had happened to read about before--and even then it took a bit of digging to see why something didn't "feel" right. But unless you are a classical scholar or expert on the Middle East's ancient history it won't matter much.

Yet what I liked best about it was the prose. It is a wonderful example of that musty old style that reminds one of (mythical, perhaps) days when an Oxford don could study a chosen field, losing himself in its beauty and detail. Allen sounds every inch the pedant, and I loved that. It is like reading some of the better work of Arthur Conan Doyle, or H.G. Wells, or Verne. It brings one back to a time when the pace was a bit slower. That alone makes this a worthwhile read.

... Read more

Product Description
Constellations are not new to astronomy. Even before the era of printing, patterns of stars have been recognized by humans and their histories have been passed on from generation to generation, culture to culture. This book is the ultimate constellation reference book. Finally, a book exists that brings together a variety of information about constellations, including: the size, visibility, and relative brightness of all eighty-eight constellations; former locations of extinct constellations; the number of visible stars in each constellation; and more. Using tables, this information is presented in the first part of the book so that constellations can be readily compared and a general view of them developed. In the second part of the book, each constellation is taken in turn, with a star chart and map illustrating the associated celestial figure, supported by a comprehensive list of essential properties. This highly illustrated volume provides the most complete reference to date covering all aspects of the constellations and will be helpful for astronomers, both amateur and professional, educators and science writers. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)

If your just learning, try a different book.
If you're just getting started, this is not the book for you.It's a little deeper than I expected.Still a good book, but stay clear unless you're already experienced in this topic.

Practical uses of the book
As a serious amateur and frequent lecturer, I have found the Cambridge Guide to the Constellations serves multiple purposes.As a guide for understanding the boundaries and key features of the constellations, it has no equal.It provides significant detail in concise useable capsules.This is exactly what is needed when planning a night of observing or a lecture to any audience.In addition, the author has provided us with numerous significant facts, lists, and historical anecdotes which can enrich our understanding and provide quick material for lectures or special presentations.I rarely plan a talk without first referring to this book.It will be a ready reference to all astronomers for many years

A must-have book for constellation information
This book lists all the constellations and tells a little about each one of them, such as its location in the sky and where it can be seen. It also has many lists, like the brightest stars, the closest stars, Ptolemy's constellations, meteor shower dats, the navigational stars, Biblical references to stars and constellations and much, much more.

I run a planetarium and this book has provided me with more practical knowledge about the sky than almost any other single book in my library (which is extensive). I highly recommend this book to anyone with an interest in learning more about the sky and having a multitude of handy reference facts at your fingertips ... Read more

Product Description

Since the very beginning of astronomy, people have looked up sky and constructed patterns – the constellations – out of the almost random scattering of stars in the night sky. The fact that the constellations are still used to day reflects not their historical origins, but their usefulness in identifying bright stars in the rotating dome of the sky. Most people (and all astronomers) are familiar with, for example, the constellation of Orion and can thus easily point to Betelguese and Bellatrix as being Orion’s "shoulders". It is the pattern made by the constellation that makes them easy to identify.

What applies to big groups of stars can also be applied to smaller ones, and this book provides a set of memorable mini-constellations to help in identifying and remembering stars in the binocular or low magnification telescopic field.

Suitable for observers using binoculars and medium size telescopes, this catalog includes star pictures, dot-to-dot outlines of the objects ( on a negative photograph for clarity ), and an artistic image next to the star patterns. Size, stellar magnitudes, and coordinates are provided, along with north direction, star-hopping instructions & Sky Atlas 2000 references.

There are sixty-seven "pattern asterisms" in this catalog. Most are easy to see in sixty millimetre binoculars, and few are what observers describe as "challenging".

The imaginative observer will surely begin to develop a new insight into star patterns, and will start seeing patterns of his own, under this catalog's influence!

Customer Reviews (1)

Finding asterisms has been a blast!
I purchased this book after accidently finding the more famous of asterisms, the "coathanger," a few months ago. While astronomy naturally provides educational and more hard-core scientific pursuits, this book addresses the more joyful aspects of the hobby. It makes it easy for those entering the hobby by providing them with a low-stress method of learning some easier and larger targets. I like the way the asterisms are shown in several examples, each. The author uses artwork, starcharts and line drawings, giving the reader a clear pattern to search for. I found about four or five my first night out. Most importantly, they have helped me learn the night sky in more depth than I had previously. ... Read more

Product Description
Lost Stars identifies the "lost stars" of Bayer, Lacaille, Flamsteed, and other pioneering astronomers of the 17th and 18th centuries, and explains how and why these stars seem to have disappeared from modern star catalogues and atlases.In a style that will appeal to the novice as well as the seasoned astronomer, the author provides an introduction to early modern astronomy.Lost Stars reviews the composition and history of the 88 constellations recognized by the International Astronomical Union.In an account for each constellation the author includes a synopsis, in chart form, that tells the reader at a glance how many lettered or numbered stars there are in the constellation, the magnitude and catalogue numbers for those stars, and who first lettered or numbered each star.The author then describes the stars that have been "lost" or mislabeled and explains, in detail, their troublesome status. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Filled from cover to cover with charts and catalogues
Lost Stars by Morton Wagman (Professor of History, Kingsborough Community College - CUNY) informatively explores a fascinating aspect of astronomical history. The first modern star atlas and catalog, Uranometria, was published in 1603 by Johannes Bayer; yet in subsequent entries, Bayer's meticulous method of cataloguing became forgotten or garbled, and many of the stars he labeled were "lost", forgotten, or misplaced. Lost Stars is an exhaustive effort to reconstruct the information concerning troublesome and easy-to-overlook stars from the pioneering catalogs of Johannes Bayer, Nicholas Louis de Lacaille, John Flamsteed, and other early astronomers. Filled from cover to cover with charts and catalogues, as well as profusion of historical notes especially pertaining to famous constellations, Lost Stars is a unique and seminal body of academically sound work which will be especially appreciated by amateur and professional astronomers alike. No professional or academic History of Astronomy collection can be considered complete without the inclusion of Morton Wagman's Lost Stars. ... Read more

Product Description

Customer Reviews (6)

useful and informative
Over the few years that I've owned this book, it has proven to be one of the most consistently useful reference books in my library. I bought it because I am an astrologer who had, up to that point, been familiar mostly with computer models of the heavens and ephemeri, but wanted to begin learning to identify the major constellations, especially the zodiac, and the major stars by sight. I like that this book gives charts, useful information about how to find stars or constellations (such as the fact that the belt of Orion points to Sirius and other pointers like this), some of the meanings of the names of the stars, and even a little mythology and some beautiful photos of deep space objects. It also contains a good explanation of the precession of the equinox, a subject that can be confusing. I appreciate that this astronomical text, on the rare occasions when it does mention astrology, is non-judgemental (a nice change from some astronomers who are sometimes judgemental of astrology even though they have not actually studied the subject.)

An exceptional introduction to the constellations
As someone new to astronomy, I wanted to get a book that gave me an overview of all the constellations, what deep sky objects I would expect to find and where. Though this book doesn't deal with the planets or the moon, as far as the constellations go, I thought this book was a standout. From the alphabetical constellation maps (color-coded for each hemisphere) where every major star is named, to overviews of each constellation, to the illustrations! (no photographs) of major objects along with particular constellations, to mythological depictions from the Hevelius atlas, to the big dipper provided as scale, to advice and hints for beginning astronomers, to a general introduction to the celestial equator and star types, one is provided with a very good map of the night sky in a well designed format.There is lots here to keep a beginning stargazer occupied.

Just the ticket?
I'd been searching for a reference guide that was both well composed and conveniently sized - the larger atlases are fine for layout on an observing table, but there are numerous times when I'd like something a little more portable. I think I found one.

Diminutive in size, this book is big on useful and concise information. Although any text may be short on vibrant wit, its English translation maintains enough vitality to hold its own where it counts - completeness and essential accuracy. It's also colorful, attractively formatted, and extremely easy to browse. It should prove beneficial to both the novice and veteran observer.

This would be a good addition and a useful reference to any amateur astronomer's library. Highly recommended.

Eye-catcher and informative, an excellent guide.
This is an excellent guide. An eye-catcher with nice diagrams, maps,charts and pictures that will help you to find your way in the sky. Useful wheter you are in the northern or southern hemisphere, the Guide provides easy to understand tipson how to locate stars and constellations on the celestial sphere from anywhere in the world. It has detailed celestial maps and sections for each constellation from Andromeda to Vulpecula, showing which stars will be visible through different types of telescopes. A pictorial section points out some of the best known deep space objects and how to find them, and it also contains some references to the lore and mythology of each constellation. A well done work and an informative an easy to handle Guidebook for everyone who wants to get familiar with the nightsky.

Great Book
This book is a great review and description of the constellations. It explains their names, history and a description of what they mean.Be aware this is a reference book not a textbook.But if you enjoy skywatching this is a great field guide. ... Read more