Night Sky (An explore your world handbook) - Softcover

What has the Hubble Space Telescope revealed about our universe? How should one select and use binoculars and a telescope? What are the simple tools available to measure distances and locate objects in the sky? Night Sky, an Explore Your World ™ handbook, answers these and other questions, providing a captivating blend of information and entertainment about the awesome wonders of the universe.

Incorporating the Discovery Channel's unique, authoritative approach and acclaimed visuals, Night Sky goes beyond traditional guides by combining field identification techniques with fascinating background information and practical hands-on advice. Organized in a clear, accessible style, beautifully illustrated with more than 300-full color photographs and illustrations, and packed with the most up-to-date information by expert astrologers, this comprehensive handbook offers stargazers a wealth of information in a single portable source.

Night Sky is divided into four main sections:
"A Celestial Tour" is a helpful primer designed to help astronomy enthusiasts acquire a strong base of knowledge on the fundamentals of the universe--including a tour of the solar system, an explanation of the birth and death of stars, and an exploration of the galaxies.

"The Cutting Edge of Astronomy and Exploration" explains how astronomers observe the universe, how space probes explore the planets, and what attempts are being made to contact potential life in the cosmos.

"The Backyard Astronomer" offers practical advice on exploring the night sky firsthand--including basic equipment needs, lunar phases and eclipses, and using coordinates to pinpoint celestial objects and navigate the heavens.

"Observing the Nighttime Sky" provides four sky maps of the northern and southern sky, six bimonthly sky maps, plus an alphabetical guide to all 88 constellations.

Night Sky is sure to delight, teach, and entertain stargazers and reveal our wondrous universe as never before.

Discovery Books worked with a distinguished team of experts, including: Robert Burnham, former editor-in-chief of Astronomy magazine and author of several books; Louie Bernstein, lecturer at the Montreal Planetarium, Wil Tirion, the world's premier sky cartographer, and Richard Barchfield, who conducts the Nightly Observing Program at Kitt Peak National Observatory in Arizona.