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150th out of 262 books
—
9 voters
The Stars: A New Way to See Them
by
H.A. Rey
This is a clear, vivid text with charts and maps showing the positions of the constellations the year round.
Paperback, 160 pages
Published
November 18th 1976
by HMH Books
(first published 1952)
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This book led to me knowing my way around the night sky, the constellations and their histories, and eventually, to getting an astronomy internship and going to Stanford for physics...
Yeah: it's good. And really easy to understand, and fun, too.
Yeah: it's good. And really easy to understand, and fun, too.
This is the book that changed the shapes of the constellations for everyone - including the professional astronomer, from the old classical configurations. Those older constellation outlines were not at all intuitive and most didn't reflect the real sky. H.A. Rey changed all that. His constellation depictions were so good that, although they were meant for children, soon transferred to the professional astronomy community. His second book on the stars, "Find the Constellations" was also a classi...more
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Mar 27, 2013
Danielle
added it
"If we started out with the discussion of the elliptic, or why the sidereal day is about four minutes shorter than the solar day, your reaction might be: Do I have to go through this?" This is a quote I took from the book Stars: A New Way to See them. The author H.A.Rey continues to go on and say, "the whys come later..." I believe this is a quote represents the idea behind this book. It is for people who are just interested in knowing about stargazing, and the technical stuff is just optional.
I...more
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This book contains the most lucid explanation of the sidereal day I have ever read. If you are looking for a book that explains the big bang theory and modern astronomical theories, this is not your book. If you are want to look up at the sky and recognize stars like old friends, then this is your book.
Along the way, you will learn enough about the relative motions of the earth, sun, planets and stars to understand why different parts of the sky are visible at different times of the year, and f...more
Along the way, you will learn enough about the relative motions of the earth, sun, planets and stars to understand why different parts of the sky are visible at different times of the year, and f...more
this isn't exactly a children's book, but it's rather kid friendly. Once again Rey (of Curious George fame) has created a guide to help make finding the constellations easier. Well, I say again but really, this book came first. I think it's a great companion to his guide for kids, Find the Constellations, because it has slightly different info and includes more details, like the latin names for the constellations. This is another one we will add to our home library for sure.
The first book that got me interested in astronomy as a child. Though a bit outdated by the time I read it -- I somehow found it on my bookshelf and read it in the early 90s -- I enjoyed the tour of the traditional constellations and had great fun looking for them outside. I also enjoyed that the author's name was so much like "Harry"
I didn't realize this was the same guy that did Curious George until a couple weeks ago!
I didn't realize this was the same guy that did Curious George until a couple weeks ago!
I have always thought that 'one day' I would learn a little bit about the night sky. Yet, every year, nothing. I bought this gem and my understanding went through the roof. It is geared to be easy enough for kids but anyone that has never got further than the big dipper can get tons of use out of this. It only gets 5 stars because there is not a hundred.
Yes it's by Mr. Curious George. My copy is the Eighth Reprinting from 1966. In some respects it's a little complicated for a child; but when I was a kid I made good use of it familiarizing myself with the night sky. If you're an adult & don't know your stars this is an excellent, clearly presented place to start.
Really good for anyone who doesn't know the Big Dipper from Orion. Best book I've ever read on finding the constellations. So thoroughly surprised by how well the information was presented. I devoured this book in a couple days but know I'll spend tons more time looking up.
This is an accessible astronomy book that has standard illustrations of the different seasons of the celestial sphere. it also narrates the astronomical topics with cute contour figures that relate to the history of astronomy. I think it was written for young adults.
This is the best book about stargazing I've ever had in my hands. Mr. Rey's way of drawing the constellations so that they actually LOOK like what they have been named after is brilliant. Highly recommended! Deserves a rating of 5+ stars!
I LOVE this book for learning about the stars. I wish more children could have access to this old book by H.A. Rey of Curious George fame. This is very easy to read and understand - a perfect first guide to constellations and the like.
This new perspective of how to see constellations makes so much more sense than the old-fashioned one, plus H.A. Rey's light-hearted style makes it very easy to follow along so that anyone be an expert of constellations.
a good basic overview of the night sky with a very no nonsense, yet whimsical approach. Good for kids or adults -- though maybe not adults who already have significant sky watching skills. This year -- I am going to learn to find my way around up there -- this book was a good beginning.
Quite simply THE book for learning the constellations, regardless of your age. My siblings and I loved this book to pieces, and I need to get ahold of a new copy form my boys before they get too much older.
A wonderful introduction to the constellations and the basic concepts of astronomy. I used it to learn the constellations and it sparked my interest in astronomy which has endured for half a century.
Jun 04, 2007
Luke
rated it
5 of 5 stars
Recommends it for:
People who like learning stuff.
Shelves:
learnsumpin
If you've ever gone camping and looked up at the stars and said 'What the heck am I looking at?" this book is for you. Originally written for children, The Stars: ANew Way to See Them, will teach you all of the constellations in a clear and simple manner.
Mr. Rey, co-author of the curious george books, took it upon himself to redraw all of the constellations so they actually look like something recognisable. Most star charts are just a jumble of boxes and triangles with no recognizable shapes.
Fo...more
Mr. Rey, co-author of the curious george books, took it upon himself to redraw all of the constellations so they actually look like something recognisable. Most star charts are just a jumble of boxes and triangles with no recognizable shapes.
Fo...more
I picked up this one from a man I didn't know who was giving away his worldly possessions. It has been the best star book ever, from the author of Cecily G. Giraffe and Curious George.
I love this book for older amature astronomers. It is "a step up" from H A Rey's "Find the Constellations". Rey takes the name of the constelation, and, instead of having what I call an "abstract art" representation of the constellation, he makes the constellation appear as close to the name as possible and does not remove or add a star to the constellation. (There is a few exceptions; for example there is a constellation called Little Dog and it is only two stars). And I like how he uses the En...more
A great start for an amateur star gazer. Excellent diagrams and descriptions. Will have you identifying stars very quickly.
I still regularly use this when startgazing. A great companion for Google Stars.
Nov 27, 2008
Lee Fraser
added it
Yes, this guy also wrote Curious George
An old favorite from my childhood.
You need this book. Seriously.
Sep 25, 2012
Lisa
marked it as to-read
Tom Rinderle Recommendation
By the author of "Curious George". This was our star-guide at home growing up.
Jan 29, 2008
Lafcadio
rated it
5 of 5 stars
Recommends it for:
Michaele
Recommended to Lafcadio by:
Marianne
Rey's brilliant reconnections of stars to form more logical constellations makes star-watching for the amateur far more enjoyable.
If you're lucky enough to find a hardcover copy with the original dust jacket, it unfolds into a star-chart. When I bought my copy at a used book store, the owner asked me if I knew what was so cool about this book. I was thinking to myself, "well, everything really..." But then he showed me the dust jacket. Sold. As if I weren't already.
If you're lucky enough to find a hardcover copy with the original dust jacket, it unfolds into a star-chart. When I bought my copy at a used book store, the owner asked me if I knew what was so cool about this book. I was thinking to myself, "well, everything really..." But then he showed me the dust jacket. Sold. As if I weren't already.
Fun little book. It is a great way to pass the time, and gives a basic understanding of constellations with some back story on each one.
My highest 5-star review to this book and Rey's other science book called Finding the Constellations. I wanted a book that would guide me and my family in getting to know the constellations--nothing more. That's exactly what these books deliver. They make constellation viewing fun and easy. They offer none of the confusion and frustration that every other book has offered me for this purpose. Everyone is a budding astronomer with this kind of valuable handbook!
This book is awesome. I think the constellation Orion (along with down comforters, cardinals, and the sauna) is one of the things that makes life in winter not just bearable but lovely. I have lived in Bloomington for ten years, but I still get lost sometimes. Once when I was biking drunk to my new house, I navigated by the stars and made it home just fine.
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Hans Augusto Rey was born on September 16, 1898, in Hamburg, Germany. He grew up there near the world-famous Hagenbeck Zoo, and developed a lifelong love for animals and drawing. Margarete Elisabeth Waldstein (who would be known to most of the world as Margret Rey) was also born in Hamburg on May 16, 1906. The two met briefly when Margret was a young girl, before she left Hamburg to study art. The...more
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