The Complete Idiot's Guide to Astronomy (2nd Edition) [Paperback]

Christopher G. De Pree (Author), Alan Axelrod (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0028641981 | ISBN-13: 978-0028641980 | Publication Date: July 9, 2001 | Edition: 2

Astronomy is an ancient science on the cutting edge. Although it's been around for over 5,500 years, astronomers say that we have learned more than 90 percent of what we know in only the last 50 years--a disproportionate amount in just the past decade. Each new year seems to yield more information than the last, not to mention advances in the technology for acquiring it.

Editorial Reviews

From the Back Cover

The Complete Idiot's Guide(r) to Astronomy, 2E is the most comprehensive astronomy book for beginners, covering: the history of space exploration, our solar system, galaxy, and beyond, tools of the trade-including equipment available for amateurs, and exciting, controversial topics such as the search for extraterrestrial intelligence and the Big Bang theory.

About the Author

Christopher De Pree, Ph.D. is an assistant professor at Agnes Scott College in Decatur, Georgia, where he teaches physics and astronomy. Professor De Pree is director of Bradley Observatory and author of numerous articles on the topic of massive star formation. He is co-author of Recent Advances and Issues in Astronomy. Alan Axelrod, Ph.D. is the author of more than 20 books. A resident of Atlanta, Georgia, he holds a Ph.D. in American Literature and Culture from the University of Iowa.

Product Details

• Paperback: 456 pages
• Publisher: Alpha; 2 edition (July 9, 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0028641981
• ISBN-13: 978-0028641980
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 7.4 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.6 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (10 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,227,268 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

44 of 46 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars What a great intro to a spectacular science!!!!!, July 6, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: The Complete Idiot's Guide to Astronomy (Paperback)

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!!!

42 of 44 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A logical, clear, entertaining introduction to astronomy., May 19, 1999

By 

Sandangelbooks "playwright" (Chestnut Ridge, NY USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Complete Idiot's Guide to Astronomy (Paperback)

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.

13 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Simply Marvelous, December 17, 2002

By 

Todd Hawley (San Francisco CA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Complete Idiot's Guide to Astronomy (2nd Edition) (Paperback)

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.