The updated edition offers enhanced star charts to assist in locating all Messier Objects, along with a comprehensive history detailing their discovery. This resource is ideal for both amateur astronomers and enthusiasts looking to deepen their understanding of these celestial wonders.
"In this journey of discovery, Stephen James O'Meara shows readers how to observe our Solar System wonders with ease and clarity, using the unaided eye, inexpensive handheld binoculars or large mounted binoculars. The book presents a new way to see and appreciate the wonders of the Solar System in detail, including lunar and solar eclipses, sunspots, craters on the Moon, planetary detail, meteors, and comets. It is a unique observing guide for all amateur astronomers proving you don't need big and expensive equipment to enjoy astronomy from your own backyard. Readers will learn how to find Venus in the daytime, how to observe faint features in bright comets, how to maximize your chances of seeing the most meteors during a shower, how to monitor the changing aspects of the planets and their moons, and much more"--Provided by publisher.
The most up-to-date account available of Mars, a small world with a big reputation.
Month by month, star by star, object by object, Stephen James O'Meara takes readers on a celestial journey to many of the most prominent stars and constellations visible from mid-northern latitudes. Filled with interesting anecdotes about the stars and constellations and their intriguing histories, this book is both a useful guide for amateur astronomers, and a great first-time reference for those just starting out. After describing a constellation's mythology, readers are guided in locating and identifying its brightest stars in the sky, as well as any other bright targets of interest - colourful stars, double or multiple stars, star clusters and asterisms, nebulae, galaxies, variable stars, and more. This book will help beginning stargazers become familiar with the stars and constellations visible from their backyards, and explore the brightest and best stars, nebulae, and clusters visible through inexpensive, handheld binoculars.
Botswana is one of the best locations in Africa from which to view the southern hemisphere's stars. Ideal for novices and amateurs, this book features monthly color sky charts and fascinating descriptions covering the most prominent stars and constellations; an overview of our galaxy and solar system; and plenty of practical advice and stargazing t