Book Review: The Stargazer's Guide to the Night Sky

Over the past few months, we've had the chance to explore The Stargazer's Guide to the Night Sky by Dr. Jason Lisle.

A 240 page hardcover book, filled with gorgeous photos and numerous illustrations, this is a treasure-trove of information on astronomy.

The greatest part of all is that other than the book, you do not have to purchase anything.  Dr. Lisle guides you through pages of detailed information, and loads of suggestions on viewing various objects with just your eyes.  In addition, there are suggestions for using binoculars.  And if the backyard astronomer concept really grabs you, there are also chapters about telescopes and what you can view with them.

I expected this to be a good book.  I wasn't quite prepared for just how B-I-G the book is, nor was I really expecting the incredible amount of detail.

From the publisher: 

Explore the night sky, identify stars, constellations, and even planets. Stargaze with a telescope, binoculars, or even your naked eye.  Allow Dr. Jason Lisle, a research scientist with a masters and PhD in astrophysics, to guide you in examining the beauty of God’s Creation.
Lisle designed Stargazer's Guide to the Night Sky for everyone from young students to amateur astronomers. In it you will:

• Learn the best ways and optimal times to observe planets and stars
• Discover how to choose the best telescope for you
• Find 150 stunning, full-color star-charts and other easy to use illustrations for success

“How do phases of the moon work?  When will the next solar eclipse take place?  What is that bright star setting in the west?  How do I find Saturn?  What sorts of objects can be seen with binoculars?”  These questions and many more are easily answered with the helpful tips and basic understanding of astronomy presented in this book.
Create or expand the hobby of stargazing; an outdoor, educational hobby to enjoy with friends or family. Regardless of your circumstances and the economy, you will always be able to marvel at the beauty of our night sky.

This book is truly amazing and awe-inspiring.

Check out this clip to get an idea of the contents:



The final chapter on Astrophotography really got my husband's attention.

We've talked about a high school astronomy course.  This book could be a key resource in that class. I started logging hours for Connor partway through. 

Wow.

Disclaimer:   I received this book for free from New Leaf Publishing Group.  No other compensation was received.  The fact that I received a complimentary product does not guarantee a favorable review.