I have always been fascinated by the constellations so I was thrilled to receive a free copy of National Geographic’s Backyard Guide to the Night Sky from TLC Book Tours for my honest review.
About National Geographic’s Backyard Guide to the Night Sky:
- Paperback: 288 pages
- Publisher: National Geographic; 2 edition (March 19, 2019)
Explore the star-studded cosmos with this fully updated, user-friendly skywatcher’s guide, filled with charts, graphics, photographs, and expert tips for viewing — and understanding — the wonders of space.
Stargazing’s too much fun to leave to astronomers. In these inviting pages, “Night Sky Guy” Andrew Fazekas takes an expert but easygoing approach that will delight would-be astronomers of all levels. Essential information, organized logically, brings the solar system, stars, and planets to life in your own backyard. Start with the easiest constellations and then “star-hop” across the night sky to find others nearby. Learn about the dark side of the moon, how to pick Mars out of a planetary lineup, and which kinds of stars twinkle in your favorite constellations. Hands-on tips and techniques for observing with the naked eye, binoculars, or a telescope help make the most out of sightings and astronomical phenomena such as eclipses and meteor showers. Photographs and graphics present key facts in an easy-to-understand format, explaining heavenly phenomena such as black holes, solar flares, and supernovas. Revised to make skywatching even easier for the whole family, this indispensable guide shines light on the night sky–truly one of the greatest shows on Earth!
About the Author:
ANDREW FAZEKAS, also known as the Night Sky Guy, is a science writer, speaker, and broadcaster who shares his passion for the wonders of the universe through all media. He writes the popular online column “StarStruck” for National Geographic and is the author of the book Star Trek: The Official Guide to our Universe. Fazekas is a syndicated correspondent for television and radio broadcast networks, the communications manager for Astronomers Without Borders, and an active skywatching member of the Royal Astronomical Society of Canada since 1983. Co-creator of the world’s first open air augmented-reality planetarium experience in Canada, Fazekas and his team are now partnering with National Geographic to expand this ground-breaking science edutainment concept globally. He has never met a clear night sky he didn’t like
My Opinion:
Ever since I can remember I could look up at the sky and see the patterns in the stars. While I didn’t always know what constellation I was seeing, I could always pick them out. As I got older I learned to identify several, starting with Orion. I now have put names to many of those star groupings I have been seeing since I was a small girl. Not to mention that since moving to rural Montana I have found a few more given the amazing way the night sky looks here.
National Geographic’s Backyard Guide to the Night Sky is a fantastic entry for anyone wanting to learn more about the wonder of watching the stars and planets. Even if you just want to walk out your door on a clear night and look up with the naked eye this guide will show you how to identify the named constellations, give you a map to where they appear at the different times of year and teach you about the different stars and other things of note in each constellation.
The book also delves into other celestial objects like the planets and their moons, artificial satellites and asteroids. meteor showers, and comets. I know how much I look forward to the annual Perseid, Leonid and Geminid meteor showers. I can also attest to the excitement of seeing comets like Hale Bop and yes, I was lucky enough to see Halley’s Comet from a deserted island in the Sea of Cortez. It was HUGE!
The Backyard Guide to the Night Sky is full of information about how the constellations were chosen, why the Big Dipper is NOT a constellation but rather an asterism. (read the book. HA!) It’s part of Ursa Major constellation. You will learn about the aurora (be still my heart) and so much more.
I’ve enjoyed reading a chapter here and a chapter there in between my regular reading. If you have any interest at all in ordering the stars when you look up this book will be a perfect start.
Rating:
5
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The Giveaway:
One lucky US reader will win a copy of National Geographic’s Backyard Guide to the Night Sky. Just enter as many ways as you would like on the Gleam widget below. Full rules are on the widget. Good luck everyone.
National Geographic
