Customer Reviews

Patterns in the Sky: An Introduction to Stargazing (Night Sky Astronomy for Everybody)

5 star:		(3)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Patterns in the Sky by Ken Hewitt-White
Sky Publishing, 2006, soft cover, 6" x 9", 98 pages

I've been having fun with astronomy for the past 17 years and still consider myself a novice. That is why I get excited about new books written for the astronomy-challenged person that I am. Patterns in the Sky by Ken Hewitt-White
Is just such a book. It is one of the first in the series of books by NightSky written especially for the readers of that excellent magazine. The book is targeted for the beginner and intermediate level student.

The introduction gives the reader a concise overview of basic astronomy with terms to be found in the text and colorful illustrations to make it easy to understand. It contains a list of constellations and stars you will be viewing throughout the year and two fold-out star charts covering all four seasons.
The book is organized by seasons with the best objects visible showcased.
Each season chapter contains interesting astro facts, mythology, charts, photos and diagrams to help the student find those objects in the sky. The book concludes with a helpful glossary and resource information.

You don't need a large telescope or huge binoculars or vast knowledge of the sky to use this book to find these celestial wonders. This is entry level astronomy directed to the masses that can be a stepping stone to a greater understanding of the stars.

Jack Fox, Richmond Astronomical Society

It has been nearly 40 years since I dabbled in astronomy, and 50 since I was a boy scout. Back then, astronomy seemed to be more popular which made it easier to look skyward and identify major star constelations. Now, in my 60's, and thanks to a pair of Canon 12x36 IS binoculars, my wife and I are becoming re-introduced to the hobby/science. I still have my old books, but acutally felt a bit intimidated by them as I dusted them off. I wanted something simpler, something that a beginner might grab to refresh my faded memory. This book did quite well at that. Because star gazing is not completely new to me, I might not be able to fully put myself in the shoes of a beginner, but I will try.

The book is definately not intimidating, neither is it comprehensive. It takes you out to your backyard and helps you make sense of what you can easily see without optics, understand why things move the way they do. It helps you position yourself in our immensely large universe and, with a little effort on your part, imagine how things would look from space, or even another hemishpere on earth.

Divided into four main parts, based on the seasons of the year, it provides a decent star chart for each season, and short stories that have attached themselves to some constelations and prominent stars. I found the stories helpful in locating and remembering their subjects. I was pleased that the book does not talk down to the reader, as though a child, nor like a stuffy professor who wants to show you how smart he is.

I doubt that I could give 5 stars for any introductory astronomy book because it must necessarily be short enough to invite reading, but that means it cannot answer all the questions that will arise as one becomes involved in star gazing. This book did not disappoint us and my wife and I are glad we purchased it. We are likely to continue to carry the poor dogeared thing around with us until we can identify the points of interest in it for all four seasons, then maybe I can go back to my dusty library and go deeper.

Got this book while I was helping my daughter work on her sky searcher badge for girl scouts. Great book for a beginner. My daughter read it cover to cover.

An excellent guide to the night sky that uses constellations as guideposts to the wonders of the heavens. The stories associated with the different constellations help the reader remember them. Even better used with "The Stars" H. A. Rey - of Curious George fame. The Stars

Buy them both!

As a park ranger, I give star talks to the general public. On my handout, I recommend 3 books for those interested in learning the night sky: this one ("Patterns in the Sky"), "The Stars" by H. A. Rey, and Terence Dickinson's "Nightwatch." This one is a bit dryer than H.A. Rey, but I think this book (and anything by Sky and Telescope) draws the constellations in the best possible way, so they really look like what they're supposed to look like, but without too much of a stretch. (They were clearly influenced by H.A. Rey, but for constellations like Taurus and Ursa Major their version is much easier to see in the sky.) "Nightwatch" is wonderful for its tour of the universe, and discussion of topics such as the use of binoculars and what telescope to buy, but the constellation drawings in "Nightwatch" tend to be pretty abstract.

Besides the great charts (one per season) this book also covers highlights of each constellation, including a bit of mythology, brightest stars, and objects of interest for binoculars or a small telescope. It's just a great little book, and an excellent choice for any teenager or adult wanting to learn their constellations and get started in astronomy.

If you'd rather save your money for now, the same star charts (but in black on white rather than a dark-adapted-eyes-friendly dark background) are available for free on the Sky and Telescope web site; search for "Getting Started in Astronomy" and select northern or southern hemisphere.

Patterns in the Sky: An Introduction to Stargazing (Night Sky Astronomy for Everybody)

This book is filled with very useful information in a clear and concise format. I think it is a terrific book for beginners to the night sky landscape. I was a bit disappointed with the size of the book.

I have ordered numerous books and other items from AMAZON and have had great service 5 star ! I can recommend using this site! I have used Amazon from the beginning and it gets better each year.