The Backyard Stargazer: An Absolute Beginner's Guide to Skywatching With and Without a Telescope

by Patricia Price

Stargazing is an activity that lasts a lifetime. There is nothing like the thrill of glimpsing at the rings of Saturn for the first time or seeing, with the aid of a simple pair of binoculars, a fuzzy patch in the sky resolve into a cluster of sparkling stars. The Backyard Stargazer will help you discover new wonders in the night sky, whether you observe from a lounge chair in your backyard, a camp set up far from city lights, or the deck of a ship on a special stargazing cruise. Written in a conversational, accessible style, The Backyard Stargazer is a down to earth guide to observing the night and daytime sky without having to invest in a lot of equipment. You will

Genres: Reference, Science, Nonfiction

168 pages, Paperback

First published April 1, 2005

Reviews

[Sheena · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is another book I've picked up to use for writing research. "The Backyard Stargazer" is meant to be a basic introduction to astronomy (and is written in "plain English" rather than science) for the purpose of knowing what one sees. And, as such, it is easy to read and understand. Pat Price describes our galaxy and beyond, as well as tools used to explore without leaving Earth (such as basic telescopes). "The Backyard Stargazer" is also marvelously illustrated, with an abundance of photos.

[Ginny Messina · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent book for amateur star-gazers. The writing is clear and organized and the graphics are very well done and added a lot to my understanding. There are also projects in each chapter (I love that!) that help readers put the information to use. (And did you know that, in the early evening when the moon is sometimes huge, if you bend over and look at it through your legs, it returns to its regular size?)

[Collin · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an excellent beginner's guide to the night sky. The physics and prinicples behind celestial objects are explained simply, yet aimed at adults. Sections cover various objects: the sun, other stars, the moon, comets, meteors, constellations and considering the purchase of binoculars or a telescope. I plan on coming back to this one a lot as I continue trying to understand astronomy.