Customer Reviews

Secrets of the Night Sky: Most Amazing Things in the Universe You Can See with the Naked Eye, The

5 star:		(17)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

This book, written at a very accessible level, is one of my favorite books on astronomy. It's filled with fascinating information on all sorts of amazing things you can see any night you step outside. E.g., did you know that we can see about 3,000 stars with our naked eye? That if you were jogging on the surface of the moon at 10 miles per hour, you could stay ahead of the line separating the dark and lit portions of the Moon? That the earth spins at 1,040 miles per hour and orbits the sun at 18 miles per second, and that our sun rotates around our galaxy at 200 miles per second, and that our galaxy is moving towards the Andromeda galaxy at 50 miles per second? That interstellar space is less than 3 degrees from the coldest possible temperature? That sunlight takes 8 minutes to get to Earth?

If you'd like to know which star (besides the sun)is closest to us and where to find it, or how to locate (by eye) satellites as they orbit the earth, or which star is 25 billion times the size of earth, this is your type of book.

Mr. Berman shares the Universe with us in such a way that we feel the same type of awe we did as children. Excellent, excellent book.

I have a contender for my favorite book on astronomy, Secrets of the Night Sky, by Bob Berman, who is a Discover Magazine contributor and director of the Overlook Observatory in Woodstock, New York. The book is an excellent introduction to astronomy, but will entertain those who have been in it for years. He has a casual style which at first was a bit irritating, but I realized that anyone who writes about the universe has a right to such a style. The book is comprised of a series of 26 essays on topics from black holes to the Pleiades. The first essay defines several terms used in astronomy and gives a scale of distances in the universe. Four appendices give tips on purchasing and using a telescope, selecting binoculars, and a list of the twenty most impressive telescope targets (many of which I have never seen...thanks Bob!). There are eight pages of beautiful astrophotos and space artist works. My review might overly quote the text of the book, but these excerpts are worth reading.I've seen Betelgeuse many times but never thought of it this way, as Berman says: "Simply put, Betelgeuse is the largest single thing most of us will ever see. Yes a galaxy is larger, but that is a collection of stars. Moreover, not a single galaxy is bright enough to appear in the light-polluted skies over much of the world."On the Orion Nebula: "A strange languor greets anyone whose telescope is pointed its way; the nebula seems frozen and inert. This apparent lethargy stems from our own bias, for its life unfolds on a scale that makes earthly activities seem like the nervous flitting of gnats. Laying dazzling blue eggs like an immense celestial robin, the nebula alters its shape over the span of aeons, as if to hide its intentions from the transient eyes of human generations."I liked this line: "Our own galaxy is a member of an assembly that we call, with an epic lack of imagination, the Local Group."On Jupiter: "It's worth buying a telescope for this giant world alone. Try it out. If you're not satisfied with the view, return the instrument. Galileo had to deny what he saw for fear of death. The refund policy at your store is probably less intimidating."Berman writes from the standpoint that I really enjoy: that observations can be made which support profound concepts in astronomy. He is first and formost an observer, with naked eye, binocular or telescope. What can I say except perhaps the ultimate compliment: Bob Berman is saying in his book what I would say if I had the time and the talent.

I've been on an astronomy roll lately -- this book is not easily categorized. It's not like the excellent intro books like Dickerson's Nightwatch, but it's also not the advanced format of a good star atlas. Its conversational style is very funny in parts with a healthy reverence for the cosmos. It serves as a nice complement to intro-intermediate books because of its wide range of coverage. He picks out his favorite sights (Betelgeuse, Sirius, the Harvest Moon (most people dont' know what it really is!), the Orion Nebula, etc... and provides an in-depth historical and scientific account of each. It's easy enough for a beginner, but even an advanced astronomer will learn something new. I read it all in one sitting and could not put it down.

This is a wonderful book! Berman has an amazing ability to condense the science down to a memorable analogy or description and really make you feel a sense of wonder about the sky! I was getting burned out on amateur astronomy until I read this book several years ago - "Secrets of the Night Sky" reminded me about the sense of awe I used to feel just going out and looking at the sky.

In addition, this book can be a big help for someone trying to introduce astronomy to others (i.e. at a public star party.) Rather than dry facts and figures, why not explain the origin of Betelgeuse's name, or how it is the largest physical object you can see?? Or describe to people what the favorite color of the universe is??

A wonderful book! If you love astronomy or just need a cloudy-night book, "Secrets of the Night Sky" won't disappoint you!!

It takes real talent to write on a subject which ostensibly requires much technical know-how, including some pretty esoteric, advanced math, so that we non-mathemeticians/physicists can understand it. Berman, who now writes an excellent column in "Astronomy" magazine, excels at that talent.

My interest in astronomy began when I was young. I was already in high school when I realized I'm probably too lazy to reach the academic levels necessary (double major physics & math before extensive graduate programs) to become a professional in the field. But the interest is still there. This book stimulated that interest anew. Indeed, while watching a sci fi epic the other night, I pulled the book out again to look up Berman's description of a "quasar."

Berman is also so very practical. While we have fantasies, born of popular sci fi series, of interstellar travel, he points out, in very practical terms, that at our present technology, if we left for, say Alpha Centauri, and the technology of, say 100 years from now doubled the speed of our ship leaving today, those departing on the future flight would pass us, thereby making our departure of today not a little absurd.

Oh, he also slips some humor into the text. It's not frivolous sort of "Idiot's Guide" trite humor but charm to make the text all the more readable.

In summary, I like the book so much, I already have Berman's "sequel," which I'll start soon. I recommend his "Astronomy" column too, but for now, read this one. You won't regret it.

This book is one of the most informative and entertaining I have ever read. The author provides the information is such a way that you want to keep reading about why there are really more than 24 hours in a day. Anyway, it's a great book, very interesting, very well written. Buy it.

This book was great for me, who wanted a book to explain many different occurences in space and other basic knowledge of the universe. This is necessary for those of you who are just starting the amazing hobby of astronomy.The author also puts in some humor to make this book interesting and worth while.

I have been in amateur astronomy for 15 years, and this is one of my favorite books, for beginner or astronomy hobbyist. This is, mercifully, NOT a textbook. You can learn your way around the sky with Raymo's "365 Starry Nights" (also an excellent book), but Berman supplies the humor. The beauty of the night sky is, unfortunatly, a "secret," as few people know anything about it! Let Bob Berman describe the scene up there, get yourself a star chart, and get outdoors!

Berman comes up with the most amazing facts about naked eye astronomy and astronomy in general. Things you might know if you really thought about it (but who has time?). For instance, did you know that when the sun begins to set it is actually below the horizon already? This book is an easy read. Great illustrations. I recommend it for amatuer astronomers or for anyone thats just curious about astronomy. It will get you hooked on the heavens.

I really wasn't too impressed with this work with respect to either content or quality of writing. I would recommend this as good introductory material to people who don't pursue stargazing or amateur astronomy at all. But for those of you with at least a good appreciation for the night sky: you've likely read or heard most of this stuff before. It seemed to me like a book version of a Discovery channel TV show about space: diluted for mass consumption, overly dramatic in some parts, containing mostly basic information that enthusiasts of the hobby already know, and in general leaving a lot to be desired.

I don't intend to make this review come across as scathingly negative. After all, I did give it three stars. There were a few interesting bits of information, e.g. speculation on the African Dogon tribe's knowledge of Sirius' companion. I was simply expecting more from a book that got great reviews otherwise, and what I read was decidedly "average"!

Your money is better spent elsewhere. For the amateur or even very-interested layman, I would recommend Burnham's Celestial Handbook as a near-perfect melding of technical data on celestial objects and wonderfully descriptive notes. That three-volume work is simply a requirement for every stargazer's library.