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Yıldızlar Altında Bir Yıl
Astronomiye merakınız olsun ya da olmasın, bu kitabı bitirdiğinizde kendinizi bir anda ilk teleskopunuzu satın alırken bulacaksınız.
Charles Laird Calia, "Yıldızlı bir gecenin huzuru hiçbir şeyde yoktur," cümlesiyle başladığı bu kitabında, yıldızlarla dolu gökyüzünde çıktığı dört mevsim yolculuğu anlatıyor. İlk teleskopu elinden bırakmasından yıllar sonra bir akşam iki küçük kızıyla birlikte bakışlarını gökyüzüne çeviriyor ve çocukluk günlerine heyecan katan tutkusunu yeniden keşfediyor. Calia bir yandan kendisine "ideal" bir gözlemevi kurmaya çalışırken bir yandan da dört mevsim boyunca yıldızları gözlemliyor. Kendine özgü eğlenceli tarzıyla, yaptığı gözlemleri, astronomi ve amatör astronominin tarihini okuyucularıyla paylaşıyor.
Ayrıca, kitabın sonunda yer alan ve uluslararası astronomi dergileri, astronomi toplulukları, Türkiye'deki gözlemevleri, amatör astronomi toplulukları gibi çeşitli konularda bilgiler veren bölüm ve tadımlık İngilizce-Türkçe sözlük sayesinde, bu kitap amatör astronomi meraklıları için vazgeçilmez bir kaynak haline geliyor.
"Gökyüzü altında dört mevsim devam eden ve amatör astronomi tarihini de keşfetmenizi mümkün kılan eğlenceli bir yolculuk. Elinizden bırakmak istemeyeceksiniz."
-The Wall Street Journal-
"Astronomi tarihine muhteşem ve eğlenceli bir yolculuk. Astronomi asla böylesine eğlenceli olmamıştı."
-Kirkus Reviews-
"Gece gökyüzünü tutkuyla izleyen herkesin kütüphanesinde mutlaka bulunması gereken bir kitap."
-Astronomy Magazine-
"Gökyüzünü anlatış biçimi oldukça ilginç, hatta zaman zaman şiirsel bir dil kullandığını söylemek mümkün... Keyifle okunuyor."
-Sky and Telescope Magazine-
Charles Laird Calia, "Yıldızlı bir gecenin huzuru hiçbir şeyde yoktur," cümlesiyle başladığı bu kitabında, yıldızlarla dolu gökyüzünde çıktığı dört mevsim yolculuğu anlatıyor. İlk teleskopu elinden bırakmasından yıllar sonra bir akşam iki küçük kızıyla birlikte bakışlarını gökyüzüne çeviriyor ve çocukluk günlerine heyecan katan tutkusunu yeniden keşfediyor. Calia bir yandan kendisine "ideal" bir gözlemevi kurmaya çalışırken bir yandan da dört mevsim boyunca yıldızları gözlemliyor. Kendine özgü eğlenceli tarzıyla, yaptığı gözlemleri, astronomi ve amatör astronominin tarihini okuyucularıyla paylaşıyor.
Ayrıca, kitabın sonunda yer alan ve uluslararası astronomi dergileri, astronomi toplulukları, Türkiye'deki gözlemevleri, amatör astronomi toplulukları gibi çeşitli konularda bilgiler veren bölüm ve tadımlık İngilizce-Türkçe sözlük sayesinde, bu kitap amatör astronomi meraklıları için vazgeçilmez bir kaynak haline geliyor.
"Gökyüzü altında dört mevsim devam eden ve amatör astronomi tarihini de keşfetmenizi mümkün kılan eğlenceli bir yolculuk. Elinizden bırakmak istemeyeceksiniz."
-The Wall Street Journal-
"Astronomi tarihine muhteşem ve eğlenceli bir yolculuk. Astronomi asla böylesine eğlenceli olmamıştı."
-Kirkus Reviews-
"Gece gökyüzünü tutkuyla izleyen herkesin kütüphanesinde mutlaka bulunması gereken bir kitap."
-Astronomy Magazine-
"Gökyüzünü anlatış biçimi oldukça ilginç, hatta zaman zaman şiirsel bir dil kullandığını söylemek mümkün... Keyifle okunuyor."
-Sky and Telescope Magazine-
312 pages, Paperback
First published May 5, 2005
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Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
December 14, 2014
The stars will form pictures, tell stories, if you let them. They will whisper ancient tales from another night, centuries ago, an evening of kings and queens, of royal hunts and heroes that are now immortalized in the skies, an ancestral link to every past on Earth. All our forebears gazed at the same stars, a constant that has eluded us in our lives on this planet. Cities change, but the stars above them do not, and when we look up, we are looking through the lens of passing time.
This book chronicles an eventful year in the life of a backyard astronomer and inexperienced do-it-yourselfer as he attempts to build his own observatory. The author's commentary is informative, humorous and frequently touching as he discusses conversations with his mother, the ahem... astrologer.
I particularly enjoyed this bit where Calia's young daughter spies him in the backyard and opens her bedroom window to ask what he's doing outside.
"Is it clear?"
"Yes. A beautiful night."
I want to invite her out, in her jammies, and show her the majesty of the sky, but I don't. It's a school night. Parents have to toe the line, keep the rules enforced, or else the house becomes a decaying orbit, manacled to gravity.
"What are you looking at?"
"The stars. Now off to bed."
She listens and goes to sleep. But someday she will be outside, in the cool of the night, sitting on her porch as her own children rustle and ask for water. The circle will close the moment she looks skyward, as all of us must do eventually, and wonder:
What am I looking at?
This book chronicles an eventful year in the life of a backyard astronomer and inexperienced do-it-yourselfer as he attempts to build his own observatory. The author's commentary is informative, humorous and frequently touching as he discusses conversations with his mother, the ahem... astrologer.
I particularly enjoyed this bit where Calia's young daughter spies him in the backyard and opens her bedroom window to ask what he's doing outside.
"Is it clear?"
"Yes. A beautiful night."
I want to invite her out, in her jammies, and show her the majesty of the sky, but I don't. It's a school night. Parents have to toe the line, keep the rules enforced, or else the house becomes a decaying orbit, manacled to gravity.
"What are you looking at?"
"The stars. Now off to bed."
She listens and goes to sleep. But someday she will be outside, in the cool of the night, sitting on her porch as her own children rustle and ask for water. The circle will close the moment she looks skyward, as all of us must do eventually, and wonder:
What am I looking at?
October 10, 2013
What an enjoyable book! This was the 2nd time I've read this. It reminds me of my own history in astronomy.
The author takes on a year long journey of stargazing from his backyard. He tells us about his past in the hobby as a young boy and how he picked it back up after laying in the grass and watching the stars pass overhead with his daughters. This time, he falls into it a bit heavier. He starts planning an observatory to house his NEW scope(s).
He takes us through the year by telling us about the constellations and stars that are overhead, how they got their names and interesting stories about them, while at the same time, sharing with us his own story, both past and present. A very enjoyable read!
The author takes on a year long journey of stargazing from his backyard. He tells us about his past in the hobby as a young boy and how he picked it back up after laying in the grass and watching the stars pass overhead with his daughters. This time, he falls into it a bit heavier. He starts planning an observatory to house his NEW scope(s).
He takes us through the year by telling us about the constellations and stars that are overhead, how they got their names and interesting stories about them, while at the same time, sharing with us his own story, both past and present. A very enjoyable read!
September 5, 2020
I have enjoyed this book every time I've read it. Perhaps it is because the authors interest so closely mimics my own!
March 19, 2017
What a lovely good read, on a few levels. There's lots of interesting science and astronomy and history--as well as humor and introspection about families, life, and the universe. And to top it off Calia is just a plain good writer. I found this in science writing but I feel like it's more memoir, almost like a journal of a year in one mans life as he works on this project of love and contemplates what it all means, both personally and cosmically.
May 26, 2012
Nice book for anyone with an interest in astronomy. Good writing that gave me a urge to build my own observatory. A little over my head as I am a rank beginner who didn't understand all of his references.
September 16, 2025
I really loved this book - the dreaminess and gentle tone, and humor. So lovely. I didn't catch it all, so I may have to go through and reread it - maybe out loud to my husband. I love how the author took us through the year, and interwove his past history. His mother, an astrologer, was very intriguing. Great dialogue. Such a beautiful, well-written book. I'm so glad I stumbled on it.
November 5, 2023
Half interesting half not, liked how personal it was
"The questions in cosmology and fiction are similar. They deal with origins, the thread and arc of a life: whether it's a character or a galaxy, it doesn't matter. The motions are the same. Life, a muddling middle age, death."
"The questions in cosmology and fiction are similar. They deal with origins, the thread and arc of a life: whether it's a character or a galaxy, it doesn't matter. The motions are the same. Life, a muddling middle age, death."
December 29, 2019
3.5 Stars. This book is a good personal intro to astronomy. The author describes the re-awakening of his love of astronomy in his mid-40’s, shortly after 9/11.
September 5, 2022
This book is absolutely outstanding. Very much in the way Peltier’s Starlight Nights is. I really loved this book. Would love for the author to do another book.
October 6, 2015
I think the author's purpose of The Stargazing Year was to interest anyone who loves astronomy. I also think he was trying to prove a point by having a good talking relationship with his mother and still talking about constellations for the reader. When he does this it makes the reader able to connect t the book and understand what the author is trying to say. While I read this book I noticed the author talking a lot about his life but, he was still able to tell stories about astronomy.
The theme of this book is to do what you want to do and not what someone else wants you to do. When his mother wants him to do astrology and he wants to do astronomy, it's hard on the author because he still wants to make his mother happy. Also I think that the theme is to do-it-yourself. The author is inexperienced and he manages to build his own observatory.
This book is written in narrative form. The story is narrative because he is constantly talking about the stars. Also he is having conversations with his mother at the same time about astronomy and his life. The author also explains struggles he has had with his family while studying astronomy.
I really liked this book because I enjoy learning and looking at stars and constellations. I also like this book because I can relate to some struggles and things he went through of trying to do what he loved to do. I rate this book five out of five because I thought it was an amazing book. I would recommend this book to a friend if they have an interest in constellations and real life things the author has to say.
The theme of this book is to do what you want to do and not what someone else wants you to do. When his mother wants him to do astrology and he wants to do astronomy, it's hard on the author because he still wants to make his mother happy. Also I think that the theme is to do-it-yourself. The author is inexperienced and he manages to build his own observatory.
This book is written in narrative form. The story is narrative because he is constantly talking about the stars. Also he is having conversations with his mother at the same time about astronomy and his life. The author also explains struggles he has had with his family while studying astronomy.
I really liked this book because I enjoy learning and looking at stars and constellations. I also like this book because I can relate to some struggles and things he went through of trying to do what he loved to do. I rate this book five out of five because I thought it was an amazing book. I would recommend this book to a friend if they have an interest in constellations and real life things the author has to say.
February 12, 2013
A really good read. It has more to do with the life of the author and the struggles he went through to return to astronomy and of his mother who tried to make him believe in astrology. Even though it had a lot about his life, the way he weaves stories about the constellations were incredible. Calia went through each month and how the sky changes over the course of a year and the markings of the sky that, even a amateur astronomer, could follow. I really enjoyed the book and find I know have an easier time finding DSO, the planets, certain hard-to-follow constellations and other objects that I never knew existed.
February 20, 2018
I'll state it plainly: perhaps the best, purest backyard astronomy book ever written. A brief review cannot do this masterpiece justice. I was entranced on page 1, and never let go. With the eye of an astronomer, heart of a writer, and soul of a poet, Calia pours philosophy, science, and emotion into a recipe that simultaneously inspires, comforts, provokes, and reveals. Laughter and tears suprised me throughout this reading journey. As an amateur astronomer, I reveled in relatabilty, yet found so many perspectives reimagined. As a science writer, I observed a beautiful flow of words and thoughts that's quietly stunning, dare I say even Sagan-esque. Many books allow you to see, or understand our cosmos; only the greatest allow you to FEEL them. "The Stargazing Year" belongs to that special class.
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews