100 Things To See In The Night Sky

Dean Regas Adams Media £10.99 PB

Anyone starting out in stargazing would benefit from a knowledgeable and friendly guide to point out exactly what can be seen with the naked eye, and that is what 100 Things To See In The

Night Sky sets out to be. The book is divided into three major observing sections: ‘Sun, Moon & Planets’, ‘Stars & Constellations’ and ‘Beyond Stargazing’. For each, there are instructions on how to find the target, a description of it and an indication of how difficult it is to find and observe. Regas’s writing style is informal, simple and clear, and he enhances his descriptions with references to a wide range of mythologies. His charts and diagrams also have a welcome simplicity and clarity. There is also a comprehensive index so if, for example, you can’t remember which constellation description includes a Shawnee myth, you can easily find it. There are a few niggles for UK readers, however. Temperatures are given in Fahrenheit, some descriptions are latitude-dependent (Dubhe getting too low to be seen above the horizon) and there are inconsistencies in the indicated ease of observation (Delphinus is classed as moderate, but the brighter Cepheus as difficult, for example).

Ultimately though, if you were to work your way through 100 Things To See In

The Night Sky, you too could make a significant stride towards developing the same thorough familiarity exemplified in its pages. The book’s niggles are easily outweighed by its positives and it would make an ideal naked-eye guide for anyone over the age of 10.