Star Gazing, Comet Tracking and Sky Mapping [Hardcover]

Melvin Berger (Author)

Book Description

Age Level: 10 and up

Explains how to learn about stars, constellations, comets, and other astronomical phenomena by studying the sky without a telescope.

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Grade 5-8 Berger divides his material into three sections. "Star Gazing" gives a sky map for each month, showing positions of 30 Northern Hemisphere constellations as seen from 40 north latitude at 9 vp.m. on the 16th of the month. Each constellation is described in the month in which it is highest in the sky. Berger gives the legendary sources of constellation names and mentions an occasional highly visible nebula or double star. There is also a separate diagram of each constellation, showing the figure it represents and pointing out which are its two brightest stars, but unless they are of the first magnitude, there is no indication of how bright they are. "Comet Tracking" describes comets and how to search for unknown ones and gives a diagram of where to look for Halley's Comet from January 5 through April 25, 1986. It also lists major meteor showers, tells how best to observe meteors and how and where to report observations in order to add to the world's knowledge. "Sky Mapping" continues this theme, describing how to refine observations. Berger offers more detail on constellations but fewer types of phenomena than Branley's Sun Dogs and Shooting Stars: a Skywatcher's Calendar (Houghton, 1980). Both Berger and Branley treat primarily unaided eye observations in a solid, black-and-white, read-the-text-with-help-from-diagrams way, in contrast to Snowden's full-color, look-at-the-pictures-first approach for binocular and small telescope observations in The Young Astronomer (Usborne, 1982; o.p.). Margaret L. Chatham, formerly at Smithtown Library, N.Y.
Copyright 2002 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 10 and up
  
• Hardcover: 80 pages
• Publisher: G. P. Putnam's Sons (July 2, 1985)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0399612114
• ISBN-13: 978-0399612114
• Product Dimensions: 8.4 x 7.8 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 15.2 ounces
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #5,895,330 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Prize-winning author, Melvin Berger, believes that science should always be fun. In his books - he has written over 200! - and in his talks to young people, he stresses the excitement of science and the thrill of scientific discovery.

He also believes in a hands-on approach to science for young people. Many of his books are full of interesting, informative, and easy-to-do activities and experiments.

His great enthusiasm for science spills over into Mr. Berger's hobby of collecting old scientific instruments. In his collection is everything from 18th century microscopes to an ancient chinese opium balance.

Born and raised in New York City, Mr. Berger has earned degrees from the University of Rochester, Columbia University, and London (England) University. In 1983, he was elected to the New York Academy of Sciences. Over the years he has won awards from the Children's book Council, National Science Teachers Association, Child Study Association, Library of Congress, and New York Public Library. He lives in New York City and East Hampton, New York, with his wife, Gilda, who is also an author.