Astronomy: A Visual Guide

Description

Take a look through the lens and discover the beauty and science of the magnificent night sky - and beyond. This stunningly illustrated handbook is split into eight sections which cover every aspect of astronomy. Learn about the history of discoveries in the field and astronomical phenomena, from the earliest human civilizations to the present day, and then take a lavish visual tour of the Solar System, complete with the most spectacular photographs of the planets. A definitive month-by-month guide to the night sky, with profiles of all 88 constellations, over 100 star charts covering both the Northern and Southern Hemispheres, and an almanac of astronomical events over the next decade, help you to navigate your way around the night sky, and locate stars, galaxies, and other objects. Also featuring no-nonsense advice on how to observe the skies using the naked eye, binoculars, and telescopes, Astronomy is the perfect guide for keen amateur astronomers, as well as a great reference book for the whole family.

Ian Ridpath is an award-winning writer, broadcaster, and lecturer on astronomy, 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, which is considered by many to be the amateur astronomer's bible. He has written or edited more than 40 books, including several standard guides to the night sky, and many articles on astronomy.