Star Watch: The Amateur Astronomer's Guide to Finding, Observing, and Learning about Over 125 Celestial Objects
The night sky is alive with many wonders—distant planets, vast star clusters, glowing nebulae, and expansive galaxies, all waiting to be explored. Let respected astronomy writer Philip Harrington introduce you to the universe in Star Watch, a complete beginner's guide to locating, observing, and understanding these celestial objects. You'll start by identifying the surface features of the Moon, the banded cloud tops of Jupiter, the stunning rings of Saturn, and other members of our solar system. Then you'll venture out beyond our solar system, where you'll learn tips and tricks for finding outstanding deep-sky objects from stars to galaxies, including the entire Messier catalog—a primary goal of every serious beginner.
Star Watch features a detailed physical description of each target, including size, distance, and structure, as well as concise directions for locating the objects, handy finder charts, hints on the best times to view each object, and descriptions of what you'll really see through a small telescope or binoculars and with the naked eye.
Star Watch will transport you to the farthest depths of space—and return you as a well-traveled, experienced stargazer.
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Book details
- Author
- Philip S. Harrington
- Imprint
- Trade Paper Press, an imprint of Turner Publishing Company
- Published
- Pages
- 316
- Formats
- Paperback, Hardcover
- Subjects
- Science › Space Science › Astronomy
- Topics
- amateur astronomy · stargazing · deep-sky objects · solar system · planets · nebulae and galaxies · star clusters
- ISBN-13
- 9780471418047 (Paperback)9781630261696 (Hardcover)
About the author
PHILIP S. HARRINGTON has published more than 200 articles in Astronomy magazine since 1988, where he serves as a contributing editor. His recent books include Cosmic Challenge, Star Watch and Star Ware.
Harrington holds degrees in mechanical engineering, science education, and environmental engineering. He is a former staff member of New York City’s Hayden Planetarium, an instructor at the Vanderbilt Planetarium in Centerport, New York, and has served as an adjunct professor at Suffolk County Community College in Selden, New York.
When not writing, Harrington teaches stellar and planetary astronomy and writes the monthly "Binocular Universe" column for Astronomy magazine. He is a founding member of the Westport, CT Astronomical Society.