Stars: A Guide to the Constellations, Sun, Moon, Planets and Other Features of the Heavens

by Herbert S. Zim (Illustrator), Robert H. Baker, James Gordon Irving (Illustrator)

Offers a field guide with information to help the novice, the amateur, or anyone who wants to enjoy watching the stars, constellations, and planets.

Genres: Nonfiction, Science, Reference, Astronomy, Nature, Childrens, Collections

160 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1951

About the author

Herbert Spencer Zim (July 12, 1909 – December 5, 1994) was a naturalist, author, editor and educator best known as the founder (1945) and editor-in-chief of the Golden Guides series of nature books.

Reviews

[retroj · Rating 3 out of 5]

Nice compact and approachable introduction to astronomy and stargazing. It contains a number of practical mnemonics and illustrations that make it a good reference for educators. I even learned a few things. Some of the science is dated however, so take the claim on the cover "Authoritative" under advisement. One unwitting rock band quoted a statement from this book (page 16) in a song called Why Does The Sun Shine?:

The sun is a mass of incandescent gas: its core is a gigantic nuclear furnace where hydrogen is built into helium at a temperature of millions of degrees.

They were later pressed by fans to issue a correction, which was released under the title Why Does The Sun Really Shine?:

The sun is a miasma of incandescent plasma
The sun's not simply made out of gas
No, no, no

So there you have it.

[Nathan · Rating 4 out of 5]

What it says on the tin. The illustrations are impeccable! Brownie points for this being written in the '50s and having a chapter on if/when we go to the moon 🥰

[Sarah Herman · Rating 4 out of 5]

I like this book but it is not the best, it teaches you about stars, and I am not really a fan of stars, but if you are this book is for you.

[Chad Gayle · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the first book I owned outright and the only book that survived the dissolution of my family in 1979. Got it when I was eight years old and I still have it today, and although the information in it was largely outdated by the time I was a teenager, it holds inestimable nostalgic for me, linked as it is to my first attempts to find the major constellations during my childhood skywatching sessions and the dreams I had of seeing other worlds.

[Emily · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very beautiful illustrations and a cute introduction to amateur astronomy. I did not care much about the constellations, but I really enjoyed the sections about the planets and general information about the solar system.

[dayana · Rating 4 out of 5]

grinning like an idiot every time i read about my favorite stars

[Simeon McKenzie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Buy this book after you read it it helps so much

[jude ｡𖦹°‧⭑ · Rating 4 out of 5]

scientifically, very outdated, but i had a lovely time

[Donny Forbes · Rating 5 out of 5]

Tad outdated but a wonderful read.

[Kim Browers · Rating 3 out of 5]

The material is a bit dated, but the nuts and bolts of stars and astronomical data haven't changed a great deal since this was first released in the 50's/60's. Tech is better, images are better, but we can still use old-fashioned star charts, binoculars, and inexpensive telescopes to view our stars and planets. The sky charts were glued into the book slightly off center, which caused some of the constellation drawings to be distorted. But there are some great "when to see this constellation" guides, plus notable objects within the range of constellations that make this worth keeping on my reference shelf. A great introduction to Space for kids with a good reading level, or for adults who haven't had previous exposure to basic astronomy.

[Zach]

A super fun & super informative guide, with lovely paintings to boot. The 1951 publication date allows for some amusing moments. I particularly enjoyed the "Rocket to the Moon" section:

"Given time and money for research, a rocket capable of reaching the moon will certainly be made. To be successful, this rocket will need a speed of about 7 miles per second, or 25,000 miles per hour, to carry it past the point where the earth's gravitational pull could drag it back."

[Astrila · Rating 5 out of 5]

This really is a golden guide. It's amazing what all fits into this teeny, tiny paperback.

[Stefanie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I go this guide in grade school; I remember being OBSESSED with it.

[Saleris · Rating 3 out of 5]

Another Golden Nature guide I've had for decades. There's a page that's been damaged (yes, I did it). I'll keep it as long as I can even though the info isn't quite as valid as it was when printed.

[Don Gubler · Rating 3 out of 5]

Simple

[Robert Kaufman · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was one of my favorites during my childhood.

[J Crossley · Rating 3 out of 5]

This Golden Guide looks at heavenly bodies and shows how to find different constellations.

[Hilde Helseth · Rating 3 out of 5]

'Set in Space'

[Matt Morley · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book captured my five-year-old imagination like no other.

[Tait Chandler]

A handy guide to the basics of reading constellations and understanding what is above our heads.