A Walk through the Heavens: A Guide to Stars and Constellations and their Legends [Paperback]

Milton D. Heifetz (Author), Wil Tirion (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0521544157 | ISBN-13: 978-0521544153 | Publication Date: February 23, 2004 | Edition: 3

A Walk through the Heavens is a beautiful and easy-to-use guide to the constellations of the northern hemisphere. By following the unique simplified maps, readers will be able to easily find and identify the constellations and the stars within them. Ancient myths and legends of the sky are retold, adding to the mystery of the stars. Written for the complete beginner, this practical guide introduces the patterns of the starry skies in a memorable way. No equipment is needed, apart from normal sight and clear skies. Milton D. Heifetz is a clinical professor of neurosurgery at the University of Southern California and visiting professor at Harvard Medical School. This is his first astronomy book. Wil Tirion is the author of numerous sky guides, including The Cambridge Guide to Stars and Planets (1997), The Cambridge Star Atlas (1996), and The Monthly Sky Guide (Cambridge, 2003). Previous Edition Hb (1998): 00-521-62513-0

Editorial Reviews

Review

"...a helpful guide that introduces young adults to the starry heavens--one that can perhaps lead to lifelong inquiry and involvement with astronomy." Science Books and Films

Book Description

A Walk through the Heavens is a beautiful and easy-to-use guide to the constellations of the northern hemisphere. By following the unique simplified maps, readers will be able to easily find and identify the constellations and the stars within them. Ancient myths and legends of the sky are retold, adding to the mystery of the stars. Written for the complete beginner, this pracical guide introduces the patterns of the starry skies in a memorable way. No equipment is needed, apart from normal sight and clear skies.

Product Details

• Paperback: 96 pages
• Publisher: Cambridge University Press; 3 edition (February 23, 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0521544157
• ISBN-13: 978-0521544153
• Product Dimensions: 9.7 x 7.5 x 0.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 10.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (14 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #233,502 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #67 in Books > Professional & Technical > Professional Science > Astronomy & Space Science > Star-Gazing

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

45 of 49 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Has correct constellation segment connections unlike Rey's "The Stars: A New Way to See Them", September 25, 2005

By 

Justin Morgan "Programmer, Astronomer, Gadget... (Washington state, USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: A Walk through the Heavens: A Guide to Stars and Constellations and their Legends (Paperback)

Undoubtedly lots of beginning astronomers will be trying to decide between Rey's book "The Stars: A New Way to See Them" and Heifetz/Tirion's "A Walk Through the Heavens". I just wanted to point out something that could be a deciding factor for some people: "A Walk Through the Heavens" teaches you to find contellations which are drawn using the time-tested line segments between the stars of the constellations. In other words, the connections between the stars in any given constellation are the "traditional" connections. As an astronomy purist, this is the way I prefer to see them.

In contrast, H.A. Rey used his imagination to re-draw the line segments between the stars in his book "The Stars: A New Way to See Them". Put another way, Rey diverges from the accepted norm in that the connections between the stars in any given constellation are drawn differently than the accepted connections. That means if you look at a planisphere or any other observing aid, the constellations' connections will be drawn differently than in Rey's book (but will appear the same as they do in "A Walk Through the Heavens").

That said, some people find Rey's "new way" easier since Rey's constellation connections are more intuitive for some people to grasp. But if you learn from Rey's book then be prepared to re-learn the conventional constellation segments once you graduate to any other astronomical reference.

50 of 55 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent for beginners, October 9, 1998

By A Customer

This review is from: A Walk through the Heavens: A Guide to Stars and Constellations and their Legends (Paperback)

This little book is an excellent way for beginners to learn the relationships between common constellations and star groups, and the price is right! It has basic iformation on the legends associated with the constellations, and thus would be a good choice for a teacher who wanted to introduce the sky to students.

35 of 38 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Confusing Constellation Relationships - Good Basic Astronomy, September 27, 2002

By A Customer

This review is from: A Walk through the Heavens: A Guide to Stars and Constellations and their Legends (Paperback)

Those who consider this a really good beginners' book must not have seen Hans Rey's classic "Find the Constellations" or "The Stars: A New Way to See Them".
The latter book was "new" generations ago when my now grown children marveled at the heavens using our heavily worn hard copy of "The Stars" with Rey, and is now collecting grubby fingerprints from the frequent use by my grandchildren in our original and several paperback copies.
Part 2 of the Heifetz/Tirion book uses a labored method of originating and extending lines all over the sky from "Star n" of Asterism "m" through several other hard to define positions of far removed stars and further on to numbered or named stars in destination constellations for its "Walk Through the Heavens".
Too complicated for the purpose for beginners.
One could spend all night trying to imagine these lines in the sky while a few minutes with either of the Rey books would have the beginner naming and knowing half a dozen constellations and then star hopping to others.
Parts 1, 3 and 4 save the book. Part 3, the section on Legends of the Heavens, Milky Way, etc. is very good. Part 4, sort of a Misc. chapter has a small collection of good viewing information.
The book is a good buy, but the Rey books are a lot better for learning the constellations for any age group, and only slightly more expensive.
The Time-Life Skywatching/Advanced Skywatching volumes for a few more bucks are a little more advanced but orders of magnitude better for beginning teenagers, adults or advanced elementary schoolers and provide a lot more bang for your buck.