Philip's Stargazing: (Philip's Astronomy)

Philip's Stargazing 2006 is a month-by-month guide to the ever-changing night sky. It will help starwatchers to see all the year's most fascinating events, whether observing with the naked eye or with a large telescope. The guide is suitable for use between latitudes 40 and 60 - N - Britain and Ireland; Europe as far south as Rome; Canada and northern United States as far south as Philadelphia. Twelve chapters - one for each month of the year - form the heart of the book. Each month has a colour star map, created by Wil Tirion, showing the positions and phases of the Moon, the positions of the planets, and other useful information. All stars shown are visible with the naked eye. Each month includes: a featured constellation described in detail; the positions of all the planets except Pluto (that is, the ones that can be observed with typical amateur equipment), and the times when they are visible; dates for the main phases of the Moon, and a description of its location and any close approaches to planets or bright stars; special events during the month, such as eclipses and how to observe them; a featured astronomical object, usually a deep sky target; an astrophotograph, with details of how it was taken; an observing tip; times of sunrise and sunset; and a brief article related to the view that month. Three short sections follow on from the months. The Solar System Almanac explains in brief the movement of the planets, with particular attention paid to their positions in 2006. Solar and lunar eclipses, meteor showers and comets are given the same treatment. The next section, Exploring the Deep Sky, provides a list of recommended deep sky objects, constellation by constellation. The book concludes with an Equipment Guide. Here Robin Scagell, author of Philip's bestseller Stargazing with a Telescope, provides a round-up of what's new in observing technology. Heather Couper and Nigel Henbest are internationally recognised writers and broadcasters on astronomy, space and science. They are based in Loosley Row, near Princes Risborough, Buckinghamshire.

About the Author :
Heather Couper is a past President of both the British Astronomical Association and the Society for Popular Astronomy. She is a Fellow of the Royal Astronomical Society and the Institute of Physics, and a former Millennium Commissioner, for which she was awarded the CBE in 2007. Nigel Henbest has been Astronomy Consultant to New Scientist magazine, Editor of the Journal of the British Astronomical Association, and Media Consultant to the Royal Greenwich Observatory. He is also a Future Astronaut with Virgin Galactic.