Abigail Beall

I found the book a bit frustrating in that it was very focused on the Northern Hemisphere, and once it got into different constellations I could pretty much skip every "how to spot it" section because they all involved star hopping that could only be done in the Northern hemisphere. It also could have branched out from greek mythology a little more when talking about the mythology behind different constellations. I'm sure it would have been a lot more enjoyable if I lived in the UK like the author.… (más)

Mankind has looked to the heavens for aeons. Sometimes seeking meaning for events, tracing the movement of the stars as the earth hurtles through space and often just marvelling at the wonders that the night sky can bring. We lost some of that magic with the advent of artificial light, the glory of the Milky Way faded as the glare from cities stopped us seeing it. But head out into the countryside away from street lights and security lighting, wait for your eyes to adjust and the wonder of the night sky is revealed once again.

But where do you start? This is a book that can help you discover the night sky. Abigal Beall has packed this full of seasonal star charts, constellation charts, details on the myths and legends of astronomy how to identify the stars and constellations in each month and information about some of the equipment that you’ll need to see the sky properly.

This is not a bad little book for those wishing to begin stargazing. The information is laid out is a logical and clear format and is eminently practical. This is very much a beginners guide though and should be considered a mere opening chapter for those that want to get into looking at the night sky. It has enough to pique the interest for someone wishing to dabble in it, but they will need more books on the subject if they wish to expand their hobby.… (más)