Stars and Planets

by Ian Ridpath

In this new edition of their classic guide, Ian Ridpath and Wil Tirion bring the night sky down to earth with brand new sky charts, diagrams, and photos that enrich the clear, engaging text. Stars and Planets will delight both latent astronomers who have yet to touch a telescope and the more star-savvy who have spent many a night outside craning their necks behind a lens.



The introduction presents the basics of astronomical observation while answering such questions How did constellations come to be? Do the stars within them have anything to do with one another? Do stars really flicker? Next comes the book's an excellent series of maps of the night sky from hemisphere to hemisphere, month to month and, above all, charts showing all 88 constellations, including some 5,000 stars. The text vividly relates the human history behind each constellation and notes their most prominent stars while offering sundry stimulating facts.



The second section focuses on the astrophysics behind stars, galaxies, the sun, the planets, comets and meteors, and more. Striking full-color photos, maps, and illustrations appear on almost every page. The guide concludes with helpful tips on the optical tools of the trade and on astrophotography. Astrophysicists and amateur skywatchers agree that Stars and Planets is simply the most user-friendly, compact source of celestial information available. No one should leave home at night without it.

Genres: Science, Astronomy, Nonfiction, Space, Reference, Education, Nature

408 pages, Paperback

First published September 15, 1998

About the author

Ian William Ridpath is an English amateur astronomer, who has been an active observer, writer, editor, and broadcaster, on the subject since 1972. He is also known for his UFO skepticism, an interest in astro-philately, marathon running (having participated in the London Marathon dressed as Halley’s Comet) and, most recently, horse racing.

Ridpath has an equally varied and productive professional life. He has written or edited over forty books in the field of astronomy, he is a Fellow of the Royal Astronomical Society (Council member 2004–07), a member of the Society of Authors, a member of the Association of British Science Writers, he has worked at the University of London Observatory, and manages a self-publishing business. He also regularly gives talks and lectures on astronomy.

He is most well known in astronomical circles as the editor of the Oxford Dictionary of Astronomy, and for his updates and work on the acclaimed classic Norton's Star Atlas.

Reviews

[Sophie Crane · Rating 5 out of 5]

That this observing guide has survived into its fourth edition is testament to its quality. Clearly one of the best companions to practical astronomy, for all levels of interest (including simple naked-eye observing). It is in the usual format, based around monthly star charts for both northern and southern hemispheres, and then more detailed constellation and lunar maps with their accompanying text briefly describing the most interesting objects. The depth of coverage is surprisingly high, so the book is really inexhaustible. I had the second edition, and it was an inspiring guide when I was first learning the sky. But it has proved to be a permanent companion, even after going on to more detailed atlases and observing handbooks, since no single book matches its convenience and beauty for casual stargazing.

Another section gives a good introduction to the science of astronomy - particularly as it relates to the universe which a backyard amateur sees! On the other hand Ian Ridpath's accounts of constellation mythology and lore are especially insightful, and he explains many more star names than other similar books do.

I definitely found the new edition worth buying, mainly for the improved star charts - they give much higher contrast between stars and background in both low light and red light. Don't be deceived by the relatively 'washed out' appearance of the background in full daylight! Even then, there is a beauty to these charts that grows on you. (The addition of colour to the brightest stars in the monthly charts is another beautiful touch.) The text is generally just a little bit improved and updated. It is probably for the best that the five-year planetary finder charts are removed to a companion website - not enough years' worth can be included to match the life of the book - although I think they CAN still be useful as an illustration of the type and SCALE of motion of each planet across the sky.

P.S. Just a note on using the monthly charts. They are cleverly drawn (taking advantage of being split across two pages) to give a very realistic sky-view - without the distortion of normal one-sided planispheres. To make good use of them instead of a planishere, though, you need to remember that the 12 charts also represent the sky through a single day, moving FORWARD at two-hour intervals. So the September chart shows the sky at 10 p.m. on the 15th: for midnight on the same day go to the October chart, for 8 p.m. go to the August chart. This wasn't explained in the book, and it took me ages to cotton on! (It's a pity that the charts weren't put into separate blocks for each hemisphere, to make it easier to flick between the months for an animated sky view!)

[Giuseppe · Rating 4 out of 5]

Si tratta di una piacevole guida per l'osservazione del cielo notturno. La prima parte è prettamente dedicata a fornire al lettore un'infarinatura molto generale ed ampia dell'astronomia. Le illustrazioni, affiancate da brevi didascalie, facilitano molto la comprensione di temi complessi. Questo libro è sicuramente un ottimo aiuto anche per chi ama l'astrofotografia in quanto in esso sono contenute le illustrazioni del cielo estivo e invernale, fornendo utili riferimenti ai neofiti ma anche ai fotoamatori.

[Leah · Rating 4 out of 5]

Pretty cool actually, I used it last night and I was able to use it with my small pool of navigation skills.

[James Strawn · Rating 5 out of 5]

It's mostly just like it says... "The most complete guide to the stars, planets, galaxies and solar system." But still quite approachable and interesting to read. A very large portion of the book is dedicated to the 88 constellations and a lot of info about most of the objects in those constellations. So you may choose to not read that whole section carefully, but keep it handy for when you go out to observe specific constellations. Five stars because it's just so thorough, well illustrated and still pretty easy to read.

[David Bradley · Rating 2 out of 5]

Tons of info, all of it pointed directly at people who buy backyard telescopes. There may in fact be too much info here: the print is about as small as you're going to find in a 21st century book. So be sure when you're buying that telescope to also buy a microscope.

[Christian Cabrera C · Rating 5 out of 5]

Libro obligatorio para todo aficionado

El mejor libro para observar el cielo. Es completo. Lo usé desde que empecé en su versión de los años noventas.

[Ace · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was the clearest guide to observing the night sky. The quality was way higher that expect and it was actually helpful

[.anh · Rating 4 out of 5]

for basic stargazing. practically always in current reads for every session.

[Nicholas · Rating 4 out of 5]

A reasonably comprehensive survey of the totality of the night sky, with every one of the 88 constellations mapped out including major and some minor stars, interesting features and the background of the constellation, followed by what amount to short articles on other topics of interest to any astronomer, such as our Sun, our Moon, the other planets in the solar system and phenomena such as variable stars. While this is by no means the be-all and end-all of astronomy books, it is by far the most useful single volume I have yet come across on the subject. There is also a section on how to select and employ a telescope for amateur observation of the stars. For this reason in particular,as well as the good level of detail and explanation of most basic and some advanced astronomical concepts I would recommend this as a must-have for any amateur astronomer.

[PRJ Greenwell · Rating 5 out of 5]

The best and most comprehensive guidebook to amateur astronomy I've had the pleasure of reading in a long time. There's excellent explanations of the more obscure constellations, something other guides gloss over. If astronomy is your pet subject - like it is mine - this guide is super.