Practical Astronomy

By Storm Dunlop

Attractive, clearly written and includes all that a beginner would need to know to get started.
--Popular Astronomy

A concise, illustrated guidebook for amateur astronomers.

Practical Astronomy covers all the basics amateur astronomers need to know. It explains how to observe, whether with the naked eye, binoculars or a small telescope, and where and when to look. Aspiring astronomers will be able to get outside right away by finding constellations and visible planets before locating more challenging phenomena.

The book features:

Full coverage of comets, planets, major stars, constellations, nebulae, the Milky Way and other galaxies The best of the new telescopes and accessories for beginning astronomers Planetary and solar eclipse tables Spectacular color photographs and clear and informative diagrams Star charts Maps by renowned celestial cartographer Wil Tirion The latest images captured by the Hubble Space Telescope.

Practical Astronomy is organized in two parts:

Part 1 Beginning Astronomy explains how to navigate the sky by "constellation-hopping," how to use star maps and planispheres, and how to record observations with drawings and photographs.

Part 2 Exploring the Sky looks in more detail at all the objects the amateur can view, from aurorae and meteors (shooting stars) to the Moon, Sun, planets and comets, and beyond to stars, nebulae, the Milky Way and other galaxies.

Practical Astronomy is an ideal astronomy how-to manual for beginners.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1770851437
• ISBN13: 9781770851436
• Release Date: September 2012
• Publisher: Firefly Books
• Length: 208 Pages
• Weight: 0.60 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.6" x 4.9" x 7.7"

Customer Reviews

A Compact, Concise and Easy to Read Title for the Newcomer

If you are expecting a highly detailed introductory book on astronomy, you may be a bit dissapointed with this title. What this title excells in is being a concise "carry anywhere convinently" handbook covering almost all of the topics a novice would need to refer to in the field or elsewhere.The book excells in providing "practicle" information that one can actually use, along with simple yet satisfactory explanations to some of the technical ascpects of astronomy ... like begining astronomy, a primer on telescopes, how to get around the night sky, recording observations, natural phenomena, planetary observations, starcharts etc.This book does not cover advanced aspects of the hobby like CCD astrophotography, exposure timings etc but it was not intended to, as these are topics better covered by more specialized books.Overall this book is good at what it was intended to do, introduce you to astronomy, explain it simply and well to the novice or even perhaps as a refresher to intermediates, and cover most of the basics in a manner that will not overwhelm you perhaps keeping one interested in the hobby for a long time to come.