Stars and Planets

By Ian Ridpath

Book Overview

In this new edition of their classic guide, Ian Ridpath and Wil Tirion bring the night sky down to earth with brand new sky charts, diagrams, and photos that enrich the clear, engaging text. Stars and Planets will delight both latent astronomers who have yet to touch a telescope and the more star-savvy who have spent many a night outside craning their necks behind a lens. The introduction presents the basics of astronomical observation while answering such questions as: How did constellations come to be? Do the stars within them have anything to do with one another? Do stars really flicker? Next comes the book's centerpiece: an excellent series of maps of the night sky from hemisphere to hemisphere, month to month and, above all, charts showing all 88 constellations, including some 5,000 stars. The text vividly relates the human history behind each constellation and notes their most prominent stars while offering sundry stimulating facts. The second section focuses on the astrophysics behind stars, galaxies, the sun, the planets, comets and meteors, and more. Striking full-color photos, maps, and illustrations appear on almost every page. The guide concludes with helpful tips on the optical tools of the trade and on astrophotography. Astrophysicists and amateur skywatchers agree that Stars and Planets is simply the most user-friendly, compact source of celestial information available. No one should leave home at night without it. Up-to-date full-color photos and data, including recent planetary images Monthly maps of the night sky as seen from latitudes throughout the world Charts of all 88 constellations, with data and notes on bright stars and other objects of interest Illustrated introduction to stars, nebulae, galaxies, and the solar system Advice on choosing and using binoculars and telescopes

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0691089132
• ISBN13: 9780691089133
• Release Date: August 1970
• Publisher: Princeton University Press
• Length: 408 Pages
• Weight: 0.13 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.0" x 4.5" x 7.5"

Customer Reviews

"One Good Book" that covers it all !!

I received this book from my friends as a Job Leaving Present; knowing how much I like star gazing. It's a wonderful little book, enjoyable to read with wealth of information and colourful pictures and maps for beginners and intermediate Star Gazers. It covers all 88 Constellations with some details about their most prominent stars and objects; its covers the moon with very good maps and highlight of the observable feature. Clear star maps for northern and southern hemispheres. A Section of simple star physics and classifications including our Sun is very educational. Equipment and many other bits valuable information make it a one book field guide for any amateur astronomer. If you are beginning astronomy or just want to read about the wonders out there and want to buy "One Good Book"; then this is the one. Simply, 400 Pages of useful information yet easy to take any where and the price is right!!

New edition review of Stars and Planets

This is the latest (Jan 2008) edition of the venerable Ridpath and Tirion handbook originally published in 1985. Mine was originally titled Universe Guide to Stars and Planets and has served me well all these years as a guide to use in the field. This new book is one inch wider, 1/2 inch taller and has 15 more pages. The format is similar: 1/3 all sky maps, 1/3 coverage of all 88 constellations including details of stars, nebulae, clusters, etc., 1/3 astrophysical data. The middle third is what always appealed to me as that section helps in my stargazing. In addition to updating data (for instance, pluto's demotion and the new dwarf planet nomenclature is here, latest updated distances, and data boxes for each planet) this new edition has all color photographs - with one or two exceptions - and RA/Dec coordinates for listed objects described in the middle constellation section. I especially liked the additon of close up charts of the Hyades and Pleiades clusters under Taurus' listing. Here also is a composite photo comparing the full moon's size to the Pleiades. I look forward to this book replacing my worn out original! I have two minor gripes though: I wish the printing was bolder or darker, it looks somewhat pale compared with my older book. Perhaps because the book is new or the binding is tight, it doesn't open wide easily to read. Perhaps with usage it will. And maybe I'll adapt to the paler print. Still, considering the content and price - this book is a winner. I can think of no other one book to rely on in the field for a stargazer's reference for use at the telescope.

So Simple, Even I Can Find What I'm Looking For!

I am one of those people who has trouble finding specific constellations, and is never quite sure whether I'm looking at Jupiter or Venus. I carry around little scraps of paper from the newspaper so I can figure out which planets are visible . . . but have a hard time reading the scraps in the dark. With this book, I can see when and where each planet will appear through 2012. I can also get all the help I need to know what constellations are up there now, and which ones will be present when. As a result, I can finally introduce the starry heavens in an appropriate way to younger people. I already know a lot about astronomy, but the night sky was beyond me. No longer! Whew!Although my four children did not get much help with the heavens from me, the grandchildren will receive great benefits from this resource. Even if you are good at identifying objects in the night sky, this book will be a valuable, convenient reference for you.Enjoy the lore that our ancestors appreciated by seeing new aspects of the night-time sky!

Excellent handbook; 224-pages astronomy encyclopedia!

This small handbook is just plain amazing. Each section has a "How This Section Works" that takes the guessing out of charts and sky maps. It covers the solar system with scientific facts, it also has a chart with the location of the planets in the 88 constellations to the year 2009. Monthly sky guides, the constellations from A-Z with hand-measure symbols for width and depth, observation symbols, start magniture, area, size ranking, abbrev., genitive, highest at time/month, history, pictures, etc. I believe it to be better than Peterson's Stars and Planets; and it's smaller! $17 for the softcover.