Contents Let's Go Stargazing How to Use This Book Getting to know the Night Sky Ancient Skywatchers Tips for Reading the Night Sky Binoculars Telescopes and More The Sky Above Us Clouds at Dusk Sunrise and Sunset Phases of the Moon Eclipses Solar and Lunar Aurora Borealis Satellites and Spacecraft LEO THE LION SPECTACULAR SKY CONJUNCTIONS Our Solar System The Sun Mercury Venus Earth The Moon Mars Asteroids Ceres Jupiter and Its Moons Saturn Uranus Neptune Pluto Kuiper Belt Comets Meteors SATELLITES AND SPACECRAFT SPECTACULAR SKY VENUS Our Galaxy The Milky Way Stars in Our Galaxy Sirius Arcturus Vega Capella Rigel Procyon Achernar Novae Supernovae Black Holes Clusters Nebulae MILKY WAY GALAXY
SPECTACULAR SKY EAGLE NEBULA Seasons of the Sky Winter Sky The Big Dipper Orion the Hunter Spring Sky Leo the Lion and Leo Minor Summer Sky Summer Triangle Autumn Sky Cassiopeia Cygnus the Swan Delphinus the Dolphin Draco the Dragon Equuleus the Little Horse Eridanus the River Grus the Crane Hercules the Superhero Hydra the Sea Serpent Lacerta the Lizard Lepus the Hare Lynx the Lynx Lyra the Lyre Monoceros the Unicorn Ophiuchus the Serpent Bearer Perseus the Hero SPECTACULAR SKY SOUTHERN SKY STARS SPECTACULAR SKY PERSEID METEOR SHOWER The Zodiac Aries the Ram Taurus the Bull Gemini the Twins Cancer the Crab Leo the Lion Virgo the Virgin Libra the Scales Scorpius the Scorpion Sagittarius the Archer Capricornus the Sea Goat Aquarius the Water Bearer Pisces the Fish Piscis Austrinus the Southern Fish Puppis the Stern Sagitta the Arrow Scutum the Shield Sextans the Sextant Triangulum the Triangle Ursa Major the Great Bear Ursa Minor the Little Bear Vulpecula the Fox SPECTACULAR SKY PLEIADES Find Out More Sighting Charts Glossary Index Credits More Amazing Constellations Andromeda the Chained Maiden Antlia the Air Pump Aquila the Eagle Auriga the Charioteer Boötes the Herdsman Camelopardalis the Giraffe Canes Venatici the Hunting Dogs Canis Major the Larger Dog Canis Minor the Smaller Dog Cepheus the King Cetus the Sea Monster Columba the Dove Coma Berenices the Hair of Berenice Corona Australis the Southern Crown SPECTACULAR SKY ANDROMEDA GALAXY Corona Borealis the Northern Crown Corvus the Crow Crater the Cup AURORA BOREALIS OR NORTHERN LIGHTS
LET'S GO Stargazing 6 NIGHT SKY FIELD GUIDE
DURING THE DAY NATURE IS MOVING ALMOST ALL THE TIME Trees rustle their leaves as the wind blows birds fly past squirrels race up and down trees and deer wander through parks and urban woodlands Everything it seems is in motion But when the sun sets and twilight darkens into night nature grows quiet Animals find shelter birds settle in trees and the wind often drops away After nightfall nature reveals a different side of itself If the night is clear and free of clouds the sky overhead shows a much bigger natural scene than anything we find on planet Earth Things change in the sky too But they change slowly because what you see stars planets the moon all lies far away from Earth When you first go outside on a clear night the lights in the sky will look few and dim But if you stay outside your eyes will adjust to the darkness and you will soon see more And taking a trip far away from city lights will show you a sky so full of stars that you'll remember it all your life Just as birds animals and trees change as seasons pass so will the night sky above When you become familiar with the sky and its patterns you'll see tonight's stars slowly give way to new ones as weeks go by and seasons shift The book in your hands gives an excellent starting guide to the night sky Read it indoors see how it is organized and enjoy the beautiful pictures and sky folklore from ancient times up to now Then on the next clear night take your guide outdoors with a flashlight and start your own exploration of the universe Robert Burnham University of Arizona LET S GO STARGAZING 7
