I have a confession to make, I chose to review Stargazing For Dummies (For Dummies (Math & Science)) it was actually for my husband. The boys have been fascinated with the stars and I thought this would be a great book for the family to enjoy. So here is the guest post by my husband, Frank Barrett. ( It’s probably one of the best book reviews ever written on Be Your Best Mom, but don’t tell him I said that!)
Stargazing for Dummies: Book Review
From the make everything easier series is the Stargazing for Dummies book that is as the title indicates.
A book that allows the everyday person to learn how to navigate the night sky, identify constellations and take your first steps into night photography. As a basis most any “stargazing” manual will cover these topics, but here is how this book differs:
This book written by Steve Owens, a popular freelance writer with a passion for astronomy, remaining true to the “book for Dummies” format. For those that have not flipped thru one of series manuals, which at this point range from “Home and Garden” to “Personal Finance”, they are geared towards someone that may only want to learn a specific aspect from the given topic.
This book does a good job of covering many topics essential to stargazing without being a bore. It discusses the different methods of stargazing (e.g. naked-eye, telescope) and how to do each one well. There are guides for purchasing binoculars and telescopes, and then how and where to use them. It talks about some of the science behind stargazing and astronomy without going over anyone’s head. It also discusses the different constellations and how to find them, how to distinguish a planet from a star, the different types of twilight, and even how to determine how good a spot is for stargazing.
The author does a good job of making his point without rambling on and on. Like all “For Dummies” books, this one is meant for pick-up and put-down. There is no need to sit down and read it cover-to-cover. If you want to find out how to find Orion in the sky, just look it up – you don’t need any prior knowledge.
There is a lot of information is this book. Such as detailed illustrations of all 88 constellations, however it is layed out so that a person does not have to read it from cover to cover. Its more of a reference that can be a section at a time and not necessary in order. Truth is that after reading the introduction, I found myself going thru the sections in the back, then gradually worked my way to the part one.
The material in this book is both interesting and stimulating. I found myself exploring a topic of interest then leading into other sections that I would not have reviewed. In the end this book will make you think about the night sky with a new perspective. Definite not an expert, but I can now distinguish objects in the cosmos that have always puzzled me before. From the cycle of the moon to locating zodiac constellations. This publication provides the amateur observer with all the tools to learn and recognize the twinkling world that plays in the theater overhead.
What I found most interesting is that there was a point when I realized my desire to observe and make sense of the stars was no different than that of early man. It is a way to reconnect with something primal and is one of the only things a person can witness that is exactly the same as what civilizations had observed thousands of years ago.
Disclosure: I was given this book for free in order to facilitate this review. All thoughts are my husbands!
bn100 says
didn’t know they had this book; sounds fun