Product Description

An excellent introduction to observational astronomy for beginners of any age. Award winner from the New York Academy of sciences Children's Science Book Award. Although not originally intended for children, the subject matter is clearly presented for readers of any age. Basics included range from how to choose binoculars to how we are located in our universe and what objects are readily accessible with household binoculars.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #724087 in Books
• Published on: 2005-06-30
• Released on: 2006-01-01
• Binding: Paperback
• 46 pages

Scientific American, December 1984
In a joint review with Guy Otwell's To Know the Stars
"These books complement each other; each is a guide to the night sky, visually of immediate and lasting help, pedagogically no less than gifted...

"If you know your way a little with unaided eye about the night sky, the next step is the use of a good pair of binoculars. A steady hand makes a powerful aid to astronomical exploration out of the same instrument someone uses by day for watching football or seeking birds. The Galilean wonders appear: the moon's craters, Jupiter's four moons, the pahses of Venus, swarms of stars in open clusters such as the Pleiades. All the best (northern) sights are nicely mapped and described here, with the season for each, and the paintings quite accurately evoke just what you will see. A dark sky is the most difficult requirement for the marvelous sight of several external galaxies...."

From the Publisher
Exploring the Night Sky with Binoculars was written as a companion to our planisphere, The Night Sky. The planisphere helps you find your way around the sky, and the book explains what you are seeing.

The Night Sky comes in two sizes: Large (8 inch diameter) and Small (5 inch diameter). In each size the charts are available for different latitude zones. To find the correct size and latitude zone, use the following ISBN numbers in your Amazon.com search:

The Night Sky 50°-60° (Large), 1891938088 (Small), 1891938096

The Night Sky 40°-50° (Large), 0961320745 (Small), 1891938010

The Night Sky 30°-40° (Large), 0961320753 (Small), 1891938029

The Night Sky 20°-30° (Large), 0961320761 (Small), 1891938037

The Night Sky Southern Hemisphere (Large), 0961320737 (Small), 1891938002

About the Author
David Chandler has taught astronomy, physics, and mathematics at the high school and college levels since the early 1970's and is an active amateur astronomer. He has built telescopes ranging from 6 inches to 25 inches diameter and has helped found the Pomona Valley Amateur Astronomers and the Tule River Amateur Astronomers. He has a BS in Physics from Harvey Mudd College, an MA in Education from Claremont Graduate School, and an MS in Mathematics from California Polytechnic University. Besides teaching he writes astronomy software, does custom star mapping and consulting for science toy companies, and has published a number of charts and books designed to help beginners become successful in observational astronomy.
DC@DavidChandler.com
http://www.DavidChandler.com

Customer Reviews

Should have been included free with the product it's pushing
For the price, this is a very slim offering. Some nice information, great illustrations, but it's barely a pamphlet. And it spends a good amount of its ink telling us how we really should buy the author's planisphere. This little 'book' should have been included with the plainisphere. That would have made a nice package -- one I'd gladly have paid for. As it is, I just feel ripped off.

If you own NightWatch: A Practical Guide to Viewing the Universe, save your money. Dicknson's book has great star charts, and they point out which objects make good binocular subjects.

A disappointment.

Awesome!
We own www.NightSkyMurals.com and we have been contemplating writing a book to leave with our customers that would give a general overview of the Night Sky to help familiarize them with it. When I read David Chandlers book I thought that it was more than what I was going to put together.

It is excellent! It should be easy for older kids to read and understand and yet not in any way too childish for their parents.

It explains so many things for people, in plain English, who have caught the bug to learn about the Night Sky around them or for beginning astronomers.

Most excellent! My customers will be getting this book.

Surprisingly good
Took me quite a while to outgrow this little book and I still come back to it every now and then. Even if you don't intend to seriously dive into astronomy, this book provides a good guide for an occasional backyard outing with a pair of binoculars.