National Geographic Backyard Guide to the Night Sky, 2nd Edition

Description

Explore the star-studded cosmos with this fully updated, user-friendly skywatcher’s guide, filled with charts, graphics, photographs, and expert tips for viewing — and understanding — the wonders of space.

Stargazing’s too much fun to leave to astronomers. In these inviting pages, “Night Sky Guy” Andrew Fazekas takes an expert but easygoing approach that will delight would-be astronomers of all levels. Essential information, organized logically, brings the solar system, stars, and planets to life in your own backyard. Start with the easiest constellations and then “star-hop” across the night sky to find others nearby. Learn about the dark side of the moon, how to pick Mars out of a planetary lineup, and which kinds of stars twinkle in your favorite constellations. Hands-on tips and techniques for observing with the naked eye, binoculars, or a telescope help make the most out of sightings and astronomical phenomena such as eclipses and meteor showers. Photographs and graphics present key facts in an easy-to-understand format, explaining heavenly phenomena such as black holes, solar flares, and supernovas. Revised to make skywatching even easier for the whole family, this indispensable guide shines light on the night sky–truly one of the greatest shows on Earth!“This guide is beautifully illustrated. It’s a nice size to throw in a purse or bag for taking to your local observatory or up into the treehouse…There’s even a section on stargazing with your children.” –Just a Secular Homeschooler
 
“Chock full of photographs, graphics, tips, and information – this book is THE book to read if you want to learn about watching the night sky and what’s in it. You can find out about what telescope to use and the various star patterns that make up the constellations. Its so interesting, you can’t help but get lost in the pages of this book – learning so much about the beautiful night sky that mesmerizes us.  I found myself completely engaged in this book – it was so much fun to read. I loved it!” –A Bookish Way of Life
 
“I have to get this book, star gazing is one of my favorite summertime activities.” –Instagram: createexploreread
“If you have any interest at all in ordering the stars when you look up this book will be a perfect start.” –Broken Teepee
 
“It is a great educational tool, beautifully illustrated, and jam packed with information on anything you could see up in the night sky…The book itself is the perfect size to throw in a bag, or even keep in the car if you are going on a road trip or somewhere to stare up at the sky.” –Diary of a Stay at Home Mom
 
“The book is an easy read, and very interesting. It’s not just about star constellations, but about many heavenly bodies (like asteroids). After reading the book, it’s easier to know what to look for in the night sky – even for an amateur.” –Man of La Book
 
“If you are even just casually thinking about stargazing this summer, this guide is a MUST HAVE. We (my husband and I) know just enough to seem like experts to our children – though it could now be argued that my older son knows more astronomy facts than I do. But now I have this book.” –Sarah Reads Too MuchANDREW FAZEKAS, also known as the Night Sky Guy, is a science writer, speaker, and broadcaster who shares his passion for the wonders of the universe through all media. He writes the popular online column “StarStruck” for National Geographic and is the author of the book Star Trek: The Official Guide to our Universe. Fazekas is a syndicated correspondent for television and radio broadcast networks, the communications manager for Astronomers Without Borders, and an active skywatching member of the Royal Astronomical Society of Canada since 1983. Co-creator of the world’s first open air augmented-reality planetarium experience in Canada, Fazekas and his team are now partnering with National Geographic to expand this ground-breaking science edutainment concept globally. He has never met a clear night sky he didn’t like.CN

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