Starfinder: The Complete Beginner's Guide to the Night Sky

by Carole Stott

Guide to the stars and how to find them

Genres: Nonfiction, Science, Astronomy, Nature, Reference

72 pages, Hardcover

First published October 29, 2007

About the author

Carole Stott has written more than 20 books on astronomy and space, and is a feature writer for the UK magazine Astronomy Now. Carole authored Kingfisher’s popular I Wonder Why Stars Twinkle and Other Questions About Space and The Best-Ever Book of Astronomy. Before turning to full-time writing, she was curator, and then head, of the Greenwich Royal Observatory.

Reviews

[MK · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book provides detailed explanations of how to observe solar system objects.
Monthly starry sky charts are also included, and this book has more in-depth content than the same DK book below, making it a better value.

The Night Sky Month by Month

[Heidi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very accurate and thorough information. The illustrations were beautiful and made the scientific details easy to understand. The explanations will allow you to make many connections- especially if you are knowledgeable in the languages the names of the stars and constellations come from.

[Jose Cassinga]

Preciso saber sobre o ceú nocturno as estrelas

[Tami · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ever since I was a kid, I’ve always wanted to learn more about astronomy. I’d look up at the stars with awe but never really learned much beyond identifying the big dipper. I knew I needed a good star book that was basic enough so that I could learn from the beginning. So when I saw that DK was putting out Starfinder, I immediately ordered it.

My expectations were high but I have to say that I am extremely pleased with this resource. The kit comes complete with a moveable star chart that can be positioned so that you can look at the sky and the labeled chart and have them match up. There’s also very informative book that looks at the nature of astronomy, talks about the planets and stars, and outlines the movements over the course of the year (including interesting things to look out for from now until 2012.

A feature that I most like, however, are the cards. I originally thought that the cards would be most useful for kids. I tend to use them to learn a little more each time I go out to look at the stars. I simply pull a card and try to learn something new. I find it makes the process less overwhelming and more fun.

Funny, I ordered the set for myself. Yet, everyone in my family thought that I got it for them: to use when camping, to teach the little ones about the stars, or to have something to do while smoking outside. 

[José Líos · Rating 4 out of 5]

I bought it for a friend who had some interest in astronomy and she liked it a lot, I found the cards and the planisphere very useful.

[Alyssa · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very, very cool book for anyone interested in exploring the night sky.