Portland Public Library

Constellations, a Field Guide to the Night Sky, Giles Sparrow

eng

mapsillustrations

index present

non fiction

Constellations

832278290

Giles Sparrow

a Field Guide to the Night Sky

"Constellations is a guide to the night sky that focuses on these 88 distinctive patterns, revealing their often intriguing storiesâ??their origins, mythology, present-day significance, and the multitude of wondrous objects they contain. Complete with over 300 of the best astronomical images ever captured, a comprehensive introduction to the stars and other celestial phenomena, and a series of newly commissioned, state-of-the-art maps showing the stars that are visible from populated latitudes in both hemispheres throughout the year, this magnificent guide has all you need to know to become an expert stargazer. Step outside on a clear night, and the number of stars in the night sky can be overwhelming. Take a pair of binoculars or a small telescope with you, and a celestial vista of star clusters and clouds, knots of gas and dust, nearby planets and distant galaxies is revealed. Since ancient times, stargazers have made sense of the night sky by grouping its stars into constellationsâ??star patterns that often have symbolic or mythological meanings.", --Amazon"A field guide to the night sky"--Cover

Introduction. Origin of the constellations -- The changing heavens. The earth in space -- The seasons -- The celestial sphere -- Defining constellations -- Objects in the sky -- Mapping the heavens -- The fixed constellations. Ursa Minor -- Draco -- Cepheus -- Camelopardalis -- Cassiopeia -- Auriga and Lynx -- Ursa Major -- Canes Venatici -- Bootes -- Corona Borealis -- Hercules -- Lyra -- Vulpecula and Sagitta --Cygnus -- Andromeda and Lacerta -- Perseus -- Pisces -- Aries and Triangulum -- Taurus -- Gemini -- Cancer -- Leo and Leo Minor -- Coma Berenices -- Virgo -- Libra -- Serpens -- Ophiuchus -- Aquila and Scutum -- Delphinus and Equuleus -- Pegasus -- Aquarius -- Cetus -- Orion -- Monoceros and Canis Minor -- Canis Major -- Hydra -- Corvus, Crater and Sextans -- Centaurus -- Lupus -- Scorpius -- Sagittarius -- Capricornus -- Piscis Austrinus and Microscopium -- Sculptor and Fornax -- Eridanus -- Lepus -- Caelum and Columba -- Puppis -- Antlia and Pyxis -- Vela -- Carina -- Crux -- Musca -- Circinus and Triangulum Australe -- Norma and Ara -- Corona Australis and Telescopium -- Pavo -- Grus and Phoenix -- Tucana and Indus -- Horologium and Reticulum -- Pictor and Dorado -- Mensa and Volans -- Chamaeleon and Apus -- Hydrus and Octans -- The wandering planets. Our solar system -- The moon -- Lunar cycles -- Mercury -- Venus -- Mars -- The asteroids -- Jupiter -- Saturn -- Uranus -- Neptune -- Comets -- The monthly skies. Northern hemisphere -- Southern hemisphere