Ultimate Guides – Spacewatching: The ultimate guide to the stars and beyond - Hardcover

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0002201283 ISBN 13: 9780002201285

Publisher: Collins, 1998

Synopsis

Following on from Skywatching, Spacewatching represents the next step for all those interested in astronomy: the components of the night sky and the techniques used to observe them are all examined in greater detail.

Examines recent developments in astronomy, such as the Hubble Space Telescope and space travel.

Provides details of observing equipment and techniques, including video cameras, computer programmes and spacewatching on the Internet.

Entire chapters are devoted to the Sun and Moon, and the planets in our Solar System.

Other components of the night sky are examined, including meteors, satellites, supernovae, clusters, nebulae and other deep-sky objects.

A Starhopping Guide gives views of constituent stars and other objects of interest within individual galaxies. Fact boxes provide additional information.

About this title

About the Author

Consultant Editor John O’Byrne is Senior Lecturer in Physics at the University of Sydney and a secretary of the Astronomical Society of Australia.
The panel of contributors includes: David H. Levy, author of Skywatching; Alan Dyer, one of Canada’s leading astronomy writers; authors Robert A. Garfinkle and Robert Burnham; journalist and broadcaster Jeff Kanipe; and Martin George, Curator of Launceston Planetarium in Tasmania.

From the Back Cover

The Twentieth Century has seen enormous leaps in our understanding of the universe. Ever larger telescopes provide views of distant galaxies and nebulas. New technologies reveal extraordinary objects that are invisible to the human eye. The space age has expanded our horizons; people walk on the Moon and live in space stations, and probes travel to the outer reaches of the Solar System.

'Spacewatching' reflects the latest knowledge garnered from these daring journeys and equips you for space explorations of your own. A companion volume to 'Skywatching', it provides practical advice on selecting the right tools for the kind of skywatching you wish to pursue and included useful hints on sketching and photographing celestial sights.

The Sun and Moon dominate our skies, and reward a closer look with a wealth of intricate features. You can learn how to safely chart the progress of sunspots across the face of the Sun, or explore the craters and seas of the Moon using the eight detailed maps provided.

The extraordinary variety of the planets, Earth's neighbours, is revealed by the spectacular images taken by spacecraft. Once you know what to look for, a small telescope can show you such details as the icy polar caps of Mars, the changing cloud patterns of Jupiter, and the splendid rings of Saturn.

Beyond the Solar System, stars, nebulas, and galaxies beckon. The wonders of deep space are explored in the Starhopping guide, Designed for both Northern and Southern Hemisphere observers, this easy-to-use series of charts offers 20 telescope tours through the sky's most fascinating regions.

• Companion to the highly successful 'Skywatching: The Ultimate Guide to the Universe'
• Over 500 stunning full-colour photographs and illustrations
• Packed with facts , figures and a wealth of practical information

Edition details

• Publisher: Collins
• Publication date: 1998
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 0002201283
• ISBN 13: 9780002201285
• Binding: Hardcover
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 288
• Editor: O’Byrne Dr. John