Philip's Exploring Stars and Planets

by Ian Ridpath

Philip's Exploring Stars and Planets is a completely updated and redesigned edition of the popular children's book formerly titled 'Philip's Atlas of Stars and Planets'. Written specially for 8 to 14 year olds, Philip's Exploring Stars and Planets is a colourful and entertaining introduction to the exciting world of astronomy.

The book is illustrated with more than 200 colour photographs, artworks and maps, as the author describes the latest developments in the fast-moving fields of space exploration and astronomy. Concise chapters introduce the Sun, the Earth and all the other planets in our Solar System. Then, moving further into space, the author introduces the stars and galaxies, and explores the origin of the Universe.

Philip's Exploring Stars and Planets includes a set of star charts showing all the stars visible to the naked eye. A budding astronomer will be able to use these charts to learn the constellations from any point on Earth. A large photograph of the Moon, with its major features clearly labelled, will encourage anyone with binoculars or a telescope to start Moon-watching.

Packed with fascinating facts and figures about the wonders of the Universe, Philip's Exploring Stars and Planets concludes with a series of quiz questions, so that the reader can test how much he or she has learned.

80 pages, Kindle Edition

Published November 26, 2012

About the author

Ian William Ridpath is an English amateur astronomer, who has been an active observer, writer, editor, and broadcaster, on the subject since 1972. He is also known for his UFO skepticism, an interest in astro-philately, marathon running (having participated in the London Marathon dressed as Halley’s Comet) and, most recently, horse racing.

Ridpath has an equally varied and productive professional life. He has written or edited over forty books in the field of astronomy, he is a Fellow of the Royal Astronomical Society (Council member 2004–07), a member of the Society of Authors, a member of the Association of British Science Writers, he has worked at the University of London Observatory, and manages a self-publishing business. He also regularly gives talks and lectures on astronomy.

He is most well known in astronomical circles as the editor of the Oxford Dictionary of Astronomy, and for his updates and work on the acclaimed classic Norton's Star Atlas.

Reviews

[Amanda · Rating 5 out of 5]

I won this book in 2019 as part of the summer reading program’s grand prize, and it had been sitting on my shelf waiting patiently. I woke up this morning and thought that today would be the perfect day to take a trip to space. I played space ambience music in the background and drank some limited edition “Starlight” Coca-Cola that is apparently “space-flavored” (if space tastes like cotton candy).

I took my time absorbing the book, each page taking me to a different part of the universe. There were some photos that took my breath away. I recommend this book to anyone simply because it’s a reminder of how small we are and how vast and wonderful the universe really is.

I guess you could say my Saturday was out of this world.