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Star Maps for Beginners: 50th Anniversary Edition
 
 
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Star Maps for Beginners: 50th Anniversary Edition [Paperback]

I.M. Levitt (Author), Roy K. Marshall (Author)
4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (14 customer reviews)

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Book Description

September 1, 1992 0671791877 978-0671791872 50 Anl Sub
Designed with the beginner in mind and useful to anyone interested in astronomy. Star Maps for Beginners is the classic guide to viewing and understanding the heavens. Its superb maps -- drawn in the shape of two crossed ellipses -- provide the reader with a unique perspective on the sky and have been widely acknowledged as the easiest system yet devised for locating any constellation at any time of the year.

Now revised for the 1990s, with updated planet charts and a new section on spotting meteor showers. Star Maps for Beginners includes:

12 complete maps -- one for each month -- showing the positions of the constellations viewed from every direction

a synoptic table that shows how to choose the proper map for use at any time special tables that give approximate positions of the planets for the years 1992 through 1997

the most up-to-date overview of the solar system available today the latest facts about each of the planets -- orbit, size, atmosphere, internal structure, climate, and terrain

a full chapter on the history and development of the constellations, and the ancient legends and mythological lore surrounding them

a special section on meteors -- how they originate and when and where to spot them.

Initially published in 1942 and now celebrating its 50th anniversary, Star Maps for Beginners has sold more than 450,000 copies.


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Editorial Reviews

Review

Sky & Telescope The best way to learn the constellations that we have ever run across.

About the Author

I. M. LEVITT, PH.D., an internationally recognized scientist, is Director Emeritus of the Fels Planetariurn at The Franklin Institute in Philadelphia.

Product Details

  • Paperback: 64 pages
  • Publisher: Touchstone; 50 Anl Sub edition (September 1, 1992)
  • Language: English
  • ISBN-10: 0671791877
  • ISBN-13: 978-0671791872
  • Product Dimensions: 11.2 x 8.2 x 0.2 inches
  • Shipping Weight: 7 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
  • Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (14 customer reviews)
  • Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #244,089 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews
41 of 42 people found the following review helpful
By A Customer
Format:Paperback
I was disappointed with this book for two reasons. I wanted help locating the planets, but the 50th anniversary edition is obsolete. The book contains charts showing which constellations the planets could be found in for 1992 -- 1997, but I bought the book in 1998! The charts also don't include Uranus and Neptune. These two shortcomings limit the value of this book for anyone who uses it, but primarily for the beginning amateur astronomer who might not have enough interest to seek another source.

I did find the star charts to be very easy to use on my first-ever attempt to use a star chart to find constellations. For about an hour, I preferred these charts to the more conventional (and more cluttered) monthly charts from Sky & Telescope Magazine. I quickly learned to appreciate the extra detail in the magazine's chart and felt as if I had "graduated" to a "real" star chart. Perhaps, if I were younger, I would feel differently.

I appreciated s! ome of the other aspects of the book. It has a very understandable description of star magnitude and brightness ratio. It also has an interesting section on Meteors. I also enjoyed the brief history of ancient star maps and the origins of the constellation names.

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28 of 28 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
My tattered copy sitting on the shelf as I write this attests to it's value. I'm no major astronomer in any sense of the word, but a major part of what I DO know about the night sky was gleaned from its pages. It is what the title suggests: "For Beginners". It refrains from being too technical, the charts for the months of the year are easy to understand and use, and it's ar less expensive than other books of its kind. If your wish is to begin a hobby in astronomy, or better yet, if you simply are curious as to how to find your way around the night sky, this is a wonderful place to start. You will amaze yourself with what you'll know after only a few nights with this book. However, please note how up-to-date your copy is when buying it here or elsewhere. Hopefully, it will be as much a joy to you as it has been for me these past six years.
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20 of 20 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
It's true, it doesn't show where the planets are but for identifying constellations and stars, any time from about 6 pm to about 5 am, you can't beat this book. I write a What's Up In the Sky weekly column and I'd be lost without this book. It gives basic information, delineates the differences in the seasons, skywise, and throws in some mythology also. The chart, telling which sky map corresponds to the time of night is invalueable. I can't imagine looking at the sky without this book.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
Been using this for almost 20 years
I came to purchase another copy on amazon and I noticed some of the reviews. I thought I would add a little since I think highly of this book. Read more
Published 2 months ago by M. Prince
Liked them
A great book for the beginning stargazer. We have used them several times and they were very informative because of their monthly breakdown of the star charts.
Published 4 months ago by Robert Stasik
good book
There has information usefulThere is useful information it has benefited from it and found out information I knew nothing before, worthy of its value
Published 12 months ago by moghram asiri
Star Maps 50th Anniversary
This a excellent book to buy if you are just starting to look at the sky at night. It has monthly maps and descriptions of what you will see in the United States. Read more
Published 12 months ago by Craig Dokken
Easy to understand
Great manual for beginners. A lot of star maps that are easy to follow and understand.
Published on February 11, 2010 by Saundra Barrett
Good Product
This book is good to let you know where the constellations are and also it goes according to the seasons as well.
Published on June 26, 2009 by Patricia L. Brouillette
You Can Do Better
When you compare this book to the 2-sided PLANISPHERE,the book is almost useless.Go with a planisphere and or a software such as "Galileo Planetarium",(Complete Guide TO The Cosmos... Read more
Published on August 1, 2008 by Bilal Abdullah
Ancient Eg(I)pt Not [Greek Or Europe?]
The Zodiac On The Ceiling Of The Denderah Temple In Abydos, EgIpt(Egypt).
You can borrow, but you must give proper respect to the rightful heirs.
Published on November 27, 2007 by H. Kelly
Star maps
My son loved this book of constellations. They were easy to read and had good information.
Published on September 19, 2007 by Lisa A. Smerek
best book for beginners
I'll echo the comments of the reviewers below. I've looked at many books of star maps and I've written articles on the night sky for local newspapers. Read more
Published on January 6, 2002 by Rick Mark
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Inside This Book (learn more)
First Sentence:
they bear the names of persons, creatures, and objects. The earliest remaining complete description of the sky as seen from Greece was written by the poet Aratus, whom we shall mention again. Read the first page
Key Phrases - Capitalized Phrases (CAPs): (learn more)
Milky Way, North Star, Coma Berenices, Big Dipper, New York, Argo Navis, Great Red Spot, United States, Ursa Major, Northern Cross, Canis Minor, Ursa Minor, Canis Major, Great Square, Pisces Gemini Virgo Capricornus, Hunting Dogs, Little Dipper, Piscis Austrinus, Southern Fish, New Jersey, Percival Lowell, Tycho Brahe
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