The Cambridge Guide to the Constellations

by Michael E. Bakich

Book Overview

Constellations are not new to astronomy. Even before the era of printing, patterns of stars have been recognized by humans and their histories have been passed on from generation to generation, culture to culture. This book is the ultimate constellation reference book. Finally, a book exists that brings together a variety of information about constellations, including: the size, visibility, and relative brightness of all eighty-eight constellations;...

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0521449219
• ISBN13: 9780521449212
• Release Date: September 1995
• Publisher: Cambridge University Press
• Length: 336 Pages
• Weight: 1.82 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.7" x 7.3" x 9.8"

Customer Reviews

Practical uses of the book

As a serious amateur and frequent lecturer, I have found the Cambridge Guide to the Constellations serves multiple purposes. As a guide for understanding the boundaries and key features of the constellations, it has no equal. It provides significant detail in concise useable capsules. This is exactly what is needed when planning a night of observing or a lecture to any audience. In addition, the author has provided us with numerous significant facts, lists, and historical anecdotes which can enrich our understanding and provide quick material for lectures or special presentations. I rarely plan a talk without first referring to this book. It will be a ready reference to all astronomers for many years

A must-have book for constellation information

This book lists all the constellations and tells a little about each one of them, such as its location in the sky and where it can be seen. It also has many lists, like the brightest stars, the closest stars, Ptolemy's constellations, meteor shower dats, the navigational stars, Biblical references to stars and constellations and much, much more. I run a planetarium and this book has provided me with more practical knowledge about the sky than almost any other single book in my library (which is extensive). I highly recommend this book to anyone with an interest in learning more about the sky and having a multitude of handy reference facts at your fingertips