Astronomy For Dummies [Paperback]

Stephen P. Maran (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0764584650 | ISBN-13: 978-0764584657 | Publication Date: May 6, 2005 | Edition: 2

An accessible guide to the wonders of the night sky, now updated
From asteroids to black holes, from quasars to white dwarfs, this new edition of Astronomy For Dummies takes backyard stargazers on a grand tour of the universe. Featuring star maps, charts, gorgeous full-color photographs, and easy-to-follow explanations, this fact-filled guide gives readers a leg up on the basic principles of astronomy and shows how to get the most out of binoculars, telescopes, planetarium visits, and other fun astronomical activities. This updated edition includes an updated color signature and covers the many discoveries made in recent years, as well as new astronomy Web sites.

Editorial Reviews

From the Back Cover

Features charts, star maps, and full-color photos!

Ever wonder what's out there?

This is the book for you!

Do you know the difference between a red giant and a white dwarf? From asteroids to black holes, this easy-to-understand guide takes you on a grand tour of the universe, showing you how to get the most out of stargazing, planetarium visits, and other cool astronomical activities. It also covers recent discoveries and new astronomy Web sites.

Discover how to

• Enjoy skywatching in your backyard
• Identify planets and stars
• Explore our solar system, the Milky Way, and beyond
• Understand the Big Bang, quasars, antimatter, and more
• Join the Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence (SETI)

About the Author

Stephen P. Maran, PhD, is a 36-year veteran of the space program who has worked on numerous NASA projects, including the Hubble Space Telescope. He is the press officer of the American Astronomical Society.

Product Details

• Paperback: 344 pages
• Publisher: For Dummies; 2 edition (May 6, 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0764584650
• ISBN-13: 978-0764584657
• Product Dimensions: 9.3 x 7.4 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (34 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #37,991 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #88 in Books > Professional & Technical > Professional Science > Astronomy & Space Science > Astronomy

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

95 of 100 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Will Appeal to a Wide Audience, March 7, 2000

By 

David Simpson (Laurel, MD USA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Astronomy for Dummies (Paperback)

This is an outstanding, well-written introduction to astronomy that will appeal to beginners and more advanced readers alike. I have a Ph.D. in physics and have studied a lot of astronomy over the years, and found a lot of material here to keep me interested. Many discoveries have been made in astronomy in the last few years, and this book serves as a very nice overview to the field that includes the latest research results. Also included are many nice tips for amateur astronomers and references to Web sites for further information. Very informative, fun to read -- I highly recommend it!

62 of 65 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Happly surprised., February 1, 2000

By 

Malak J Afram (College Station, TX) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Astronomy for Dummies (Paperback)

At first glance, this book seemed to be another, "these are the planets and this is the sun..." type of third grader material because of the title. It was much more. Filled with websites, interesting facts, and tons of first-timer tips, this book is excellent for some that is wanting to get there feet wet in astronomy. Well organized and entertaining, I would buy it merely for the references to all the websites.

50 of 54 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great for the Beginning Astronomey, November 11, 2000

By 

W. Mason "W A Mason" (Austin, Texas United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Astronomy for Dummies (Paperback)

I'm always a little hesitant to purchase books from the "For Dummies" series mainly because of my ego, I don't want people thinking I might be a dummy. I am, however, very glad I purchased this book. It provides overwhelming depth while still remaining clear and concise. The chapters are very easy to follow and lay the foundation for the majority of popular astronomical topics. It also is packed full of web links to just about any information you might be interested in. I consider this to be an excellent resource for the budding astronomer. Afterwards, you might want to pick up a slightly more advanced book such as "40 Nights to Knowing the Sky" by Fred Schaaf.