The Complete Idiot's Guide to Astronomy

by Christopher G. De Pree and Alan Axelrod

Book Overview

Covers various aspects of astronomy, including an orientation of the night sky, a brief history of astronomy, tips on buying a telescope, and information on stars, planets, black holes, galaxies, and the Big Bang Theory.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0028641981
• ISBN13: 9780028641980
• Release Date: July 2001
• Publisher: Penguin Putnam
• Length: 432 Pages
• Weight: 0.50 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.1" x 7.4" x 9.2"

Customer Reviews

One of the Easiest Guides to Amateur Astronomy

I own dozens of amateur astronomy books. Almost all of them are "hard." Why are they so difficult? They are difficult to the beginning amateur because most writers of these books are professional astronomers or physicists: pros who seem to get carried away with irrelevant points during the writing of these guides. I could see this every time I looked in many of the books: too much talk about the celestial sphere, page after page of mythology, endless telescope diagrams, famous science battles, mind-numbing physics, & so on. The meat of the matter was lost.Not so with this book. De Pree & Axelrod - two pros - finally got it right. The Complete Idiot's Guide to Astronomy is different from all the rest. Snappily-written, fun, & easy to understand, this guide sticks to all the important points of amateur astronomy. This book really respects the amateur astronomer. It has been in my library for about 5 years, & I return to it frequently.Buy this book if you want to painlessly learn amateur astronomy. You won't be disappointed.

Simply Marvelous

There is truly a great wealth of information in this book, ranging from a "history" of astronomy profiling the great astronomers of the past and their accomplishments, to what kinds of things (stars, planets, etc) you should search for in the sky, the kind of telescope you should buy (if you are so inclined), along with information about our moon, our solar system and beyond. Also included is information about the different kinds of stars out there (everything from "white dwarves" to "red giants"), how the universe was created and how many other potential universe there are "out there." Particularly interesting to me were the descriptions of the various planets and also how "black holes" get formed.The book's appendices also contain a wealth of information, a list of upcoming solar and lunar eclipses, a list of constellations, and other sources of information. Anyone with an interest in astronomy, be it an "amateur astronomer" setting up his telescope to search the skies or a lay person like me who wonders what other worlds are like will enjoy this book.

Broad in Scope.

This book could be called the "Swiss Army Knife" of Astronomybooks. Rich, complete. Has much to offer the novice and pro alike. From the History of Astronomy and its many essentricplayers, to the use of todays powerful Radio telescopes. This is not a dry Technical manual but a book packed with all the words and tools of modern Astronomy, liberally sprinkled with humor and trivia. Want to know who what when and where? Or how far, how big and how hot? When I have a question this is the book I reach for. From backyard to Hubble, its all in here. Chris DePree's love of Astronomy (and teaching it!) shows in this wonderful book. Cudos!

What a great intro to a spectacular science!!!!!

I am a 13-year-old who has been interested in the astronomical sciences for many years. I've read many books on astronomy and cosmology, but the Complete Idiot's Guide to Astronomy is the best I've read for quick facts, and not just a bunch of words jumbled up that makes absolutely no sense at all. This book discusses many great things. Such as:~discussions elaborating on important events, projects, isasues, or people in astronomy~definitions of key terms used in astronomy~startling astronomical facts and amazing trivia~highlights important statistics, scientific laws and principles, measurements, and mathmatical formulas.And all of that information just comes out of small boxes on the sides of the pages!!! So you can just imagine how much other information comes out of the actual text of the book!!!Great read for anyone iterested in astronomy or interested in becoming part of this amazing and ancient form of science as a profession..like me!!!

A logical, clear, entertaining introduction to astronomy.

Astronomy is more than just peering through a telescope, and, fortunately for both new and veteran stargazers, Alpha Books has published "The Complete Idiot's Guide to Astronomy." CIGA introduces the complex and potentially intimidating science and hobby with logic, clarity, and humor. Authors DePree and Axelrod survey astronomy in six user-friendly sections describing: our place in space; telescopes and observing; our solar system; stars; galaxies; and, the universe. While other astronomy books touch on telescopes in passing, CIGA offers an instructive chapter devoted to the various types of telescopes and their pros and cons. Very useful features include numerous boxes that define space jargon (Star Words), provide useful and entertaining facts (Astro Bytes, Astronomer's Notebook, and Close Encounters), and summarize the crucial chapter points (The Least You Need to Know). My only regret is that The Complete Idiot's Guide to Astronomy was not yet produced when I first become interested in sky watching.