Books : Stars and Planets: The Most Complete Guide to the Stars, Planets, Galaxies, and the Solar System (Fully Revised and Expanded Edition) (Princeton Field Guides)
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Type of bind: Paperback
Dewey Decimal Number: 520
EAN num: 9780691135564
ISBN number: 0691135568
Label: Princeton University Press
Manufacturer: Princeton University Press
Quantity: 1
Page Count: 400
Printing Date: January 23, 2008
Publishing house: Princeton University Press
Sale Popularity Level: 138990
Studio: Princeton University Press
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Editor's Notes and Comments:
Product Description:
In this new edition of their classic work, Ian Ridpath and Wil Tirion illuminate the night sky as never before, providing novice stargazers and professional astronomers alike with the most comprehensive and authoritative celestial field guide available. With superb colour sky charts, diagrams, or photographs on almost every page, and clear and engaging writing, Stars and Planets is the most user-friendly and informative guide to the night sky. The product of more than twenty years' collaboration between one of the world's leading astronomy writers and the world's foremost celestial mapmaker, the new Stars and Planets features a slightly larger (but still compact) size, a more spacious and attractive design, and much new material, including more information on galaxies and star types. Simply put, Stars and Planets is indispensable. Don't leave home--at night--without it.
- Detailed charts covering all 88 constellations in the Northern and Southern hemispheres
- Data and notes on all bright stars and other objects of interest
- Detailed Moon maps and descriptions of the main lunar features
- Tips on choosing and using binoculars and telescopes, to suit any budget
- The only guide to provide annual planetary data as a downloadable Web resource
User popularity level:
Rated by buyers -
The book is thoughtfully produced and contains a wealth of information. The constellation by constellation maps are attractive and readable and the highlighted descriptions of selected objects of interest accompanying each map are informative and do capture the main highlights of each constellation. The planets section is useful, especially for those with suitable telescopes. The lunar pages with maps are very good and field usable.
What I don't like:
-binding very stiff to open in the field
-very sadly, the double stars mentioned in the constellation sections have no mention of apparent separation. Not sure while this is left out. It is certainly very valuable having separation distances instead of "can be seen with a small telescope", a description that is not too useful for folks with different telescopes wanting to have a go at double star observation. For example, one might want to try Mizar, Izar and Antares- separation measurements would be most helpful for planning an approach for each of these.
All in all, for me, a very nice bedside reading handbook, but not as great for the field.
Ivan
Rated by buyers -
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 colour 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.
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