A Skywatcher's Year [Paperback]

Jeff Kanipe (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: July 28, 1999

If you have ever watched shooting stars graze the sky or wondered about a particularly bright point of light near the horizon, then this is the book for you. A Skywatcher's Year is the authoritative guide to visible bodies in the night sky throughout the year. Through fifty-two essays, Jeff Kanipe guides you to celestial events and phenomena that occur or are visible with the naked eye and binoculars for each week of the year. He acquaints you not only with up-to-date astronomical information on stars, nebulae, meteors, the Milky Way, and galaxies, but also conveys the beauty and wonder of the night sky. Covering both the Northern Hemisphere and Southern Hemisphere, A Skywatcher's Year helps readers find prominent stars and constellations, bright star clusters, nebulae, and galaxies, and explains how and when to observe prominent annual meteor showers. Kanipe also examines the most frequently-observed celestial body, the Moon, and the intriguing lore surrounding it. A rich and jargon-free look at the sky through the four seasons, this engaging book will give new dimensions to backyard star-gazing.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"...seasoned astronomy popularizer Jeff Kanipe takes you on a week-by-week tour of the night sky. He describes naked-eye and binocular sights in the sky as the constellations change during the year, noting phenomena such as meteor showers and the zodiacal light." Sky & Telescope

"...a concise and readable stargazer's guide for every night of the year." The Dallas Morning News

"For the benefit of stargazers in both the Northern and Southern Hemispheres, A Skywatcher's Year highlights celestial events for each week. Readers learn how to determine the location of constellations, stars, nebulae, and meteors." Science News

"Readers with little experience in studying the skies will find this book a useful introduction." Choice

Book Description

Through 52 essays, Skywatcher's Year guides readers to celestial events that occur or are visible with the naked eye and binoculars. Information rich, yet jargon free, this guide helps find prominent stars and constellations, bright star clusters and galaxies, and the prominent meteor showers. Also covered are the Moon, tides, and the northern lights. Information is given on planets through to 2010, and the eclipse planner runs to 2025. Skywatcher's Year demands little more than a love of the natural sky and occasional access to binoculars or a small telescope.

Product Details

• Paperback: 204 pages
• Publisher: Cambridge University Press (July 28, 1999)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0521634059
• ISBN-13: 978-0521634052
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 6 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 11.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,340,889 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Become a better astronomer in only 52 weeks, August 16, 2000

By 

John O'Donnell (Lake Oswego, OR USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: A Skywatcher's Year (Paperback)

The Sky watcher's Year is broken into 52 essays on what to observe through the year. Each week covers a different observation topic, such as finding true north, the summer triangle, or deep-sky treasures. The author provides facts, and lore on each of the topics, and ideas for observing the phenomena. There are also additional sections on observing the Sun, Eclipses, and the Moon. Many of the essays cover topics that are easily visible with the naked eye, binoculars or a small telescope. The book is organized by week so you can thumb to the week, read the essay, go outside, look up at the night sky and say aha, so that's what he means. I recommend this book for those who want to expand their knowledge of astronomy. This book would be a good companion to those who enjoyed 40 Nights to Knowing the Sky: a night-by-night sky watching primer by Schaaf.

5.0 out of 5 stars excellent sky tour, September 23, 2000

By 

Robert Burnham (Hales Corners, Wisconsin USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: A Skywatcher's Year (Paperback)

This is an excellent guide to watching the night sky during the year. It is personable and highly enjoyable -- anyone interested in backyard astronomy will find it easy to read and use. Highly recommended.