|
Browse categories
|
 |
|
|
|
|
 |
|
|
 Customer Reviews
A must buy, 09 Nov 2008
I would definitely recommend this book to a novice astronomer. It explains in simple terms what you're looking at in the sky, and how to find the most infamous star constellations. I discovered a lot of things that I had no idea existed. It even gives advice on what telescope to buy, which is a big help if you're looking to buy a telescope for the first time.
A plain and simple guide to the stars in the sky. A must buy!
|
|
|
 |
|
|
|
Customer Reviews
A must buy, 09 Nov 2008
I would definitely recommend this book to a novice astronomer. It explains in simple terms what you're looking at in the sky, and how to find the most infamous star constellations. I discovered a lot of things that I had no idea existed. It even gives advice on what telescope to buy, which is a big help if you're looking to buy a telescope for the first time.
A plain and simple guide to the stars in the sky. A must buy!
Must have!, 31 Dec 2008
I bought a telescope, and after a couple of weeks, it went into a cupboard to gather dust. For the uninitiated, there's an awfull lot of dull stuff in the sky.
Then I was given this for my birthday. Suddenly, it turns out there are a profusion of binary stars that you can see even in a misty urban sky like mine. There are open clusters, globular clusters, nebulae and galaxies, and with the help of this book, you can find lots of them, even with a small telescope (and mine was 3 inches).
The book is precise, easy to understand, and gives ratings out of five for each item, so you can select the ones that seem most spectacular. It also gives more detailed stuff for those with bigger and better telescopes. From being a hidden relic, it's transformed my telescope into something I use all the time, and now I want a better one.
Quite simply, it's a must for anyone buying or even contemplating buying a telescope, and if you know someone who's in the situation I was, hopelessly trawling the skies, trust me, it's the perfect gift.
I gave it five out of five, but it's probably worth seven.
Invaluable night sky reference, 13 Nov 2008
I read somewhere that all telescopes should come with this guide and once you start using it you'll realise why. As I have mostly a south-westerly view of the sky I like to make the most of what I have so I turn to 'Turn Left...' and follow the easy diagrams and text to pick out the best of the constellation I am interested in.
The book gives you diagrams of what you'll see in the viewfinder as well as the telescope and although it can be a bit confusing to the novice when you first start you soon get the hang of star hopping and be delighted when you discover the gems above.
In fact having used this book quite often I find myself hopping around without it on my favourite sights. For example the other night I found the ring nebula in Lyra by remembering the steps and estimating the distance between the stars in the constellation. Sure enough it popped into view.
get someone to buy it for you, 28 Apr 2008
if you are interested in imaging, forget it. there is no info on what the variouse targets can look like when photographed, only how to find them. a companion book on how too image and what to use is recomended.
The Novice Stargazer's Bible, 06 Mar 2008
Ask any amateur astronomer what the first book they would recommend to a novice, and the majority will tell you this very book.
Written in a style that is user friendly yet not patronising, it carefully details the highlights of the night sky (by season), giving ratings for each target. All the information on how to find that elusive nebula or galaxy etc is here, along with realistic sketched views through the scope (and finderscope) from a 'normal' viewing site.
Rather than showing each target as a HST or large observatory scope photograph, leading to frustration from the novice, this book is refreshingly honest at what the back garden stargazer will see.
Along with the catalogue of targets (with excellent descriptions of what you are looking at), there is plenty of information on how to set up scopes, what equipment to use and other general advice needed for the novice/amateur astronomer.
I've yet to see a book that covers amateur observations so well.
All that the novice needs, 22 Nov 2006
Put simply, if a novice astronomer with ANY size of telescope buys only one book to assist them, then this should be it (or at least the most recent version of it should be). I'm actually a fairly experienced amateur astronomer with an appalling inability to navigate my way round the skies - at least I did have until I had this book bought for me. Broken down into seasonal sections with indications of the right conditions to go looking for particular objects, I can't think of anything that could make the task easier (short of someone actually finding the objects for you!). It is such a good book I can forgive it a few typos and some lapses of English grammar.
My advice - buy this book!
|
|
|
 |
|
|
|
Customer Reviews
A must buy, 09 Nov 2008
I would definitely recommend this book to a novice astronomer. It explains in simple terms what you're looking at in the sky, and how to find the most infamous star constellations. I discovered a lot of things that I had no idea existed. It even gives advice on what telescope to buy, which is a big help if you're looking to buy a telescope for the first time.
A plain and simple guide to the stars in the sky. A must buy!
Must have!, 31 Dec 2008
I bought a telescope, and after a couple of weeks, it went into a cupboard to gather dust. For the uninitiated, there's an awfull lot of dull stuff in the sky.
Then I was given this for my birthday. Suddenly, it turns out there are a profusion of binary stars that you can see even in a misty urban sky like mine. There are open clusters, globular clusters, nebulae and galaxies, and with the help of this book, you can find lots of them, even with a small telescope (and mine was 3 inches).
The book is precise, easy to understand, and gives ratings out of five for each item, so you can select the ones that seem most spectacular. It also gives more detailed stuff for those with bigger and better telescopes. From being a hidden relic, it's transformed my telescope into something I use all the time, and now I want a better one.
Quite simply, it's a must for anyone buying or even contemplating buying a telescope, and if you know someone who's in the situation I was, hopelessly trawling the skies, trust me, it's the perfect gift.
I gave it five out of five, but it's probably worth seven.
Invaluable night sky reference, 13 Nov 2008
I read somewhere that all telescopes should come with this guide and once you start using it you'll realise why. As I have mostly a south-westerly view of the sky I like to make the most of what I have so I turn to 'Turn Left...' and follow the easy diagrams and text to pick out the best of the constellation I am interested in.
The book gives you diagrams of what you'll see in the viewfinder as well as the telescope and although it can be a bit confusing to the novice when you first start you soon get the hang of star hopping and be delighted when you discover the gems above.
In fact having used this book quite often I find myself hopping around without it on my favourite sights. For example the other night I found the ring nebula in Lyra by remembering the steps and estimating the distance between the stars in the constellation. Sure enough it popped into view.
get someone to buy it for you, 28 Apr 2008
if you are interested in imaging, forget it. there is no info on what the variouse targets can look like when photographed, only how to find them. a companion book on how too image and what to use is recomended.
The Novice Stargazer's Bible, 06 Mar 2008
Ask any amateur astronomer what the first book they would recommend to a novice, and the majority will tell you this very book.
Written in a style that is user friendly yet not patronising, it carefully details the highlights of the night sky (by season), giving ratings for each target. All the information on how to find that elusive nebula or galaxy etc is here, along with realistic sketched views through the scope (and finderscope) from a 'normal' viewing site.
Rather than showing each target as a HST or large observatory scope photograph, leading to frustration from the novice, this book is refreshingly honest at what the back garden stargazer will see.
Along with the catalogue of targets (with excellent descriptions of what you are looking at), there is plenty of information on how to set up scopes, what equipment to use and other general advice needed for the novice/amateur astronomer.
I've yet to see a book that covers amateur observations so well.
All that the novice needs, 22 Nov 2006
Put simply, if a novice astronomer with ANY size of telescope buys only one book to assist them, then this should be it (or at least the most recent version of it should be). I'm actually a fairly experienced amateur astronomer with an appalling inability to navigate my way round the skies - at least I did have until I had this book bought for me. Broken down into seasonal sections with indications of the right conditions to go looking for particular objects, I can't think of anything that could make the task easier (short of someone actually finding the objects for you!). It is such a good book I can forgive it a few typos and some lapses of English grammar.
My advice - buy this book!
Perfect for Amateur Astronomers, 22 Jun 2008
The Planisphere is the perfect tool for any amateur astronomer.
It comes with full instructions on its use, so you can have a quick look at it and be out inspecting the night sky in only a few minutes.
It also explains how to find the major planets (Venus, Mars, Jupiter and Saturn), sunrise and sunset as well as the positions of the constellations, season by season. Luckily, many of these instructions can be found on the back of the Planisphere itself (along with a Key to map symbols) so that you can always flip it over if you get stuck.
The Planisphere itself is sturdy, flexible and laminated so it won't be affected by wet surfaces - which is useful if you find yourself outside and there's a change in the weather. This makes it superior to any cardboard version.
I recieved my first Planisphere at the age of ten, and I still buy updated versions every few years, simply because they are useful for locating the major planets (it covers their positions, month by month for ten years). Those who have just started stargazing will find the Planisphere a useful tool.
Great tool for the occassional astronomer, 29 Dec 2007
Every now and then in the winter when Orion is visible in the skies I dig this out and use it to work out what else I can find in the night (or early morning) sky.
It is very easy to use and can also be explained to kids. I have used it in the West of Ireland and Southern England to remind myself of the night sky I was so fascinated by as a teenager.
Straightforward, useful and accurate, 03 Dec 2006
I got the Planisphere a while back and found it to be a fabulous astronomical companion. The larger format makes it easy to see outside in the dark and it's plastic construction means it won't be affected by night dew. On the back is a handy planet finder which is accurate and I quickly found Saturn in the area it computed.
I prefer the Planisphere to the laptop version as it doesn't run out of batteries, crash or damage easily. I wouldn't be without it.
|
|
|
 |
|
|
|
Customer Reviews
A must buy, 09 Nov 2008
I would definitely recommend this book to a novice astronomer. It explains in simple terms what you're looking at in the sky, and how to find the most infamous star constellations. I discovered a lot of things that I had no idea existed. It even gives advice on what telescope to buy, which is a big help if you're looking to buy a telescope for the first time.
A plain and simple guide to the stars in the sky. A must buy!
Must have!, 31 Dec 2008
I bought a telescope, and after a couple of weeks, it went into a cupboard to gather dust. For the uninitiated, there's an awfull lot of dull stuff in the sky.
Then I was given this for my birthday. Suddenly, it turns out there are a profusion of binary stars that you can see even in a misty urban sky like mine. There are open clusters, globular clusters, nebulae and galaxies, and with the help of this book, you can find lots of them, even with a small telescope (and mine was 3 inches).
The book is precise, easy to understand, and gives ratings out of five for each item, so you can select the ones that seem most spectacular. It also gives more detailed stuff for those with bigger and better telescopes. From being a hidden relic, it's transformed my telescope into something I use all the time, and now I want a better one.
Quite simply, it's a must for anyone buying or even contemplating buying a telescope, and if you know someone who's in the situation I was, hopelessly trawling the skies, trust me, it's the perfect gift.
I gave it five out of five, but it's probably worth seven.
Invaluable night sky reference, 13 Nov 2008
I read somewhere that all telescopes should come with this guide and once you start using it you'll realise why. As I have mostly a south-westerly view of the sky I like to make the most of what I have so I turn to 'Turn Left...' and follow the easy diagrams and text to pick out the best of the constellation I am interested in.
The book gives you diagrams of what you'll see in the viewfinder as well as the telescope and although it can be a bit confusing to the novice when you first start you soon get the hang of star hopping and be delighted when you discover the gems above.
In fact having used this book quite often I find myself hopping around without it on my favourite sights. For example the other night I found the ring nebula in Lyra by remembering the steps and estimating the distance between the stars in the constellation. Sure enough it popped into view.
get someone to buy it for you, 28 Apr 2008
if you are interested in imaging, forget it. there is no info on what the variouse targets can look like when photographed, only how to find them. a companion book on how too image and what to use is recomended.
The Novice Stargazer's Bible, 06 Mar 2008
Ask any amateur astronomer what the first book they would recommend to a novice, and the majority will tell you this very book.
Written in a style that is user friendly yet not patronising, it carefully details the highlights of the night sky (by season), giving ratings for each target. All the information on how to find that elusive nebula or galaxy etc is here, along with realistic sketched views through the scope (and finderscope) from a 'normal' viewing site.
Rather than showing each target as a HST or large observatory scope photograph, leading to frustration from the novice, this book is refreshingly honest at what the back garden stargazer will see.
Along with the catalogue of targets (with excellent descriptions of what you are looking at), there is plenty of information on how to set up scopes, what equipment to use and other general advice needed for the novice/amateur astronomer.
I've yet to see a book that covers amateur observations so well.
All that the novice needs, 22 Nov 2006
Put simply, if a novice astronomer with ANY size of telescope buys only one book to assist them, then this should be it (or at least the most recent version of it should be). I'm actually a fairly experienced amateur astronomer with an appalling inability to navigate my way round the skies - at least I did have until I had this book bought for me. Broken down into seasonal sections with indications of the right conditions to go looking for particular objects, I can't think of anything that could make the task easier (short of someone actually finding the objects for you!). It is such a good book I can forgive it a few typos and some lapses of English grammar.
My advice - buy this book!
Perfect for Amateur Astronomers, 22 Jun 2008
The Planisphere is the perfect tool for any amateur astronomer.
It comes with full instructions on its use, so you can have a quick look at it and be out inspecting the night sky in only a few minutes.
It also explains how to find the major planets (Venus, Mars, Jupiter and Saturn), sunrise and sunset as well as the positions of the constellations, season by season. Luckily, many of these instructions can be found on the back of the Planisphere itself (along with a Key to map symbols) so that you can always flip it over if you get stuck.
The Planisphere itself is sturdy, flexible and laminated so it won't be affected by wet surfaces - which is useful if you find yourself outside and there's a change in the weather. This makes it superior to any cardboard version.
I recieved my first Planisphere at the age of ten, and I still buy updated versions every few years, simply because they are useful for locating the major planets (it covers their positions, month by month for ten years). Those who have just started stargazing will find the Planisphere a useful tool.
Great tool for the occassional astronomer, 29 Dec 2007
Every now and then in the winter when Orion is visible in the skies I dig this out and use it to work out what else I can find in the night (or early morning) sky.
It is very easy to use and can also be explained to kids. I have used it in the West of Ireland and Southern England to remind myself of the night sky I was so fascinated by as a teenager.
Straightforward, useful and accurate, 03 Dec 2006
I got the Planisphere a while back and found it to be a fabulous astronomical companion. The larger format makes it easy to see outside in the dark and it's plastic construction means it won't be affected by night dew. On the back is a handy planet finder which is accurate and I quickly found Saturn in the area it computed.
I prefer the Planisphere to the laptop version as it doesn't run out of batteries, crash or damage easily. I wouldn't be without it.
Excellent Reading, 18 Sep 2008
As soon as I saw this book and read the reviews I had to buy it, On receiving the book you can tell immediately a lot of hard work and thought has gone into it, the book itself is beautifully put together the front cover has a striking hologram on the front, it's a well executed graphical representation of the Big Bang and is a really nice bonus.
I liked how the book puts forward fairly complicated astronomy and science in an easy and enjoyable way, without the feeling you're being spoken down to.
The book is ideal for a younger audience too as it's layout is striking while at the same time being useful and intuitive, there seems to be a very good reason for everything in this book. The science, the layout, the graphics and the stunning illustrations are all top class.
five stars, 29 Nov 2007
this book is basically a history of the universe, starting from the planck time-length through to 13,700,000,000 years later and the present day, which is where the speed of light limits its scope.
it's told in language that is easy to understand, although it does skim over the details a little (i'm actually quite interested in the maths of molecule-making), and all-in-all is a thoroughly fascinating read.
the pictures, photos and diagrams are highly informative and gorgeous to look at. i can't imagine what the up-to-date version of this book has to offer, but the first published one i bought was great.
An entertaining outline, 10 Jan 2007
On first reading this book it appears to be a fairly exhaustive account of the Universe from the big bang, through the present day and on to the ultimate end of the Universe. Consider it a little further however and you realise it is only scratching the surface of what is known or believed about the origins and ultimate destiny of the Universe. I found the treatment of Hawking radiation, for example, cursory to say the least, and caused me to ask obvious questions not dealt with in the text.
This isn't a bad thing, however. It is an accessible summary that completely avoids the use of mathematics. It provides sufficient detail to capture one's interest and provides a solid foundation from which you can begin to consider the more obscure details.
Starmaking Machinery, 31 Dec 2006
It has taken 13.7 billion years, but the Universe has finally produced a coffee-table quality book to commemorate the Big Bang and its consequences. _Bang! The Complete History of the Universe_ (Carlton Books) by Brian May, Patrick Moore, and Chris Lintott is not massive, as coffee-table books go, but its big format is perfect for the dramatic sorts of pictures that the Hubble Space Telescope or the larger Earth-bound telescopes can give us. It isn't just pictures, however. The text does an exemplary job of covering a huge amount of information. Necessarily, in 190 pages laid over with photos, details are skipped; on one page are both the disaster of the Permian Extinction 250 million years ago and the Cretaceous Extinction (wiping out the dinosaurs) 65 million years ago. There is the most detail in the earliest pages of the book, dealing with the events before around 700 million years ago, when there started to be discrete objects like galaxies that we could have actually seen, had we been there at that time. (In a sense, we do see them at that time, as the Hubble's lovely deep field images can show.) This is also the part of the book that makes the least sense to those of us who are stuck in a Newtonian world. There are books with fuller explanations of the strangeness of the Universe immediately after the Big Bang, but none quite so much fun.
For fun is obviously part of the trip the three authors have taken, and it starts right on the cover, which above the book's title shows a huge, glowing, fragmented fireball, obviously the Big Bang in progress. "Our cover artwork is for fun only. There is no suggestion that any part of the Big Bang ever looked like this." Not only that, but it could never have been seen at such a distance, because there was no such distance; space did not exist except within that Bang. There are still gaps in our understanding of the Big Bang and how it produced all we are and all we see. "We must remember that it is impossible to prove a theory, and all one can hope to do is ensure it is consistent with all the available evidence." The evidence isn't all in, and they remind us, "...we would be amazed if in a few years time our book would not need to be substantially re-written." Given all the confirmatory data, it is hard to imagine that the big picture given here would be in error in any large way. After the main text of the book, there are a useful glossary, capsule biographies of the modern astronomers and cosmologists who have added to our understanding of the Big Bang, and a basic primer on practical astronomy that includes good directions about the topic "How to become an astronomer". This is upbeat, compared to the final chapter which has to do with the end of the Universe.
Much has been made in the British press about the personalities who produced the book, although _Bang!_ would easily stand on its own without famous authors. The least known is Chris Lintott, a working astrophysicist who assists Sir Patrick Moore in presenting a famous monthly BBC show _The Sky at Night_, which is now the longest-running science program in the world. Moore himself, because of his show and his hundreds of fiction and nonfiction books, is possibly the world's best known astronomer. The surprise author, for those who do star-gazing of the celebrity rather than astronomical type, is Brian May, who as a kid was inspired by one of Moore's books to take up astronomy. He was a founding member of the famous rock group Queen and a guitarist of some note. May was doing his PhD studies in interplanetary dust when Queen took off (he wrote such songs as "We Will Rock You"). He is currently updating and completing his thesis in between musical activities, although he does already have an honorary degree of Doctor of Science. If a little celebrity power gets people interested in the book, and interested in the huge amount of scientific thinking it reflects, I think it makes up for the additions to our culture made by, say, Britney Spears. _Bang!_ is a wonderful summary for adults and would be a terrific book for any reading young person.
I Learned So Much From This Book !, 25 Dec 2006
I am a Creationist who knew nothing about astronomy, physics and the history of the universe. Brian May's input into this book was very helpful to me because he wrote about very profound topics in a manner that I could understand. For that matter, Bang has helped me to remain a Creationist while finally becoming open to evolution and scientific theories in reference to space, time, and the beginning and the lurking end of the universe. Bang is a book for scientists and normal people who want to learn about the universe and our planet. Brian May is amazing. He is a guitar virtuoso, wildlife conservationist, animal welfare activist, a scientist and a fantastic author. The people who helped him with this book also merit plaudits. They are very cerebral luminaries.
|
|
|
 |
|
|
|
Customer Reviews
A must buy, 09 Nov 2008
I would definitely recommend this book to a novice astronomer. It explains in simple terms what you're looking at in the sky, and how to find the most infamous star constellations. I discovered a lot of things that I had no idea existed. It even gives advice on what telescope to buy, which is a big help if you're looking to buy a telescope for the first time.
A plain and simple guide to the stars in the sky. A must buy!
Must have!, 31 Dec 2008
I bought a telescope, and after a couple of weeks, it went into a cupboard to gather dust. For the uninitiated, there's an awfull lot of dull stuff in the sky.
Then I was given this for my birthday. Suddenly, it turns out there are a profusion of binary stars that you can see even in a misty urban sky like mine. There are open clusters, globular clusters, nebulae and galaxies, and with the help of this book, you can find lots of them, even with a small telescope (and mine was 3 inches).
The book is precise, easy to understand, and gives ratings out of five for each item, so you can select the ones that seem most spectacular. It also gives more detailed stuff for those with bigger and better telescopes. From being a hidden relic, it's transformed my telescope into something I use all the time, and now I want a better one.
Quite simply, it's a must for anyone buying or even contemplating buying a telescope, and if you know someone who's in the situation I was, hopelessly trawling the skies, trust me, it's the perfect gift.
I gave it five out of five, but it's probably worth seven.
Invaluable night sky reference, 13 Nov 2008
I read somewhere that all telescopes should come with this guide and once you start using it you'll realise why. As I have mostly a south-westerly view of the sky I like to make the most of what I have so I turn to 'Turn Left...' and follow the easy diagrams and text to pick out the best of the constellation I am interested in.
The book gives you diagrams of what you'll see in the viewfinder as well as the telescope and although it can be a bit confusing to the novice when you first start you soon get the hang of star hopping and be delighted when you discover the gems above.
In fact having used this book quite often I find myself hopping around without it on my favourite sights. For example the other night I found the ring nebula in Lyra by remembering the steps and estimating the distance between the stars in the constellation. Sure enough it popped into view.
get someone to buy it for you, 28 Apr 2008
if you are interested in imaging, forget it. there is no info on what the variouse targets can look like when photographed, only how to find them. a companion book on how too image and what to use is recomended.
The Novice Stargazer's Bible, 06 Mar 2008
Ask any amateur astronomer what the first book they would recommend to a novice, and the majority will tell you this very book.
Written in a style that is user friendly yet not patronising, it carefully details the highlights of the night sky (by season), giving ratings for each target. All the information on how to find that elusive nebula or galaxy etc is here, along with realistic sketched views through the scope (and finderscope) from a 'normal' viewing site.
Rather than showing each target as a HST or large observatory scope photograph, leading to frustration from the novice, this book is refreshingly honest at what the back garden stargazer will see.
Along with the catalogue of targets (with excellent descriptions of what you are looking at), there is plenty of information on how to set up scopes, what equipment to use and other general advice needed for the novice/amateur astronomer.
I've yet to see a book that covers amateur observations so well.
All that the novice needs, 22 Nov 2006
Put simply, if a novice astronomer with ANY size of telescope buys only one book to assist them, then this should be it (or at least the most recent version of it should be). I'm actually a fairly experienced amateur astronomer with an appalling inability to navigate my way round the skies - at least I did have until I had this book bought for me. Broken down into seasonal sections with indications of the right conditions to go looking for particular objects, I can't think of anything that could make the task easier (short of someone actually finding the objects for you!). It is such a good book I can forgive it a few typos and some lapses of English grammar.
My advice - buy this book!
Perfect for Amateur Astronomers, 22 Jun 2008
The Planisphere is the perfect tool for any amateur astronomer.
It comes with full instructions on its use, so you can have a quick look at it and be out inspecting the night sky in only a few minutes.
It also explains how to find the major planets (Venus, Mars, Jupiter and Saturn), sunrise and sunset as well as the positions of the constellations, season by season. Luckily, many of these instructions can be found on the back of the Planisphere itself (along with a Key to map symbols) so that you can always flip it over if you get stuck.
The Planisphere itself is sturdy, flexible and laminated so it won't be affected by wet surfaces - which is useful if you find yourself outside and there's a change in the weather. This makes it superior to any cardboard version.
I recieved my first Planisphere at the age of ten, and I still buy updated versions every few years, simply because they are useful for locating the major planets (it covers their positions, month by month for ten years). Those who have just started stargazing will find the Planisphere a useful tool.
Great tool for the occassional astronomer, 29 Dec 2007
Every now and then in the winter when Orion is visible in the skies I dig this out and use it to work out what else I can find in the night (or early morning) sky.
It is very easy to use and can also be explained to kids. I have used it in the West of Ireland and Southern England to remind myself of the night sky I was so fascinated by as a teenager.
Straightforward, useful and accurate, 03 Dec 2006
I got the Planisphere a while back and found it to be a fabulous astronomical companion. The larger format makes it easy to see outside in the dark and it's plastic construction means it won't be affected by night dew. On the back is a handy planet finder which is accurate and I quickly found Saturn in the area it computed.
I prefer the Planisphere to the laptop version as it doesn't run out of batteries, crash or damage easily. I wouldn't be without it.
Excellent Reading, 18 Sep 2008
As soon as I saw this book and read the reviews I had to buy it, On receiving the book you can tell immediately a lot of hard work and thought has gone into it, the book itself is beautifully put together the front cover has a striking hologram on the front, it's a well executed graphical representation of the Big Bang and is a really nice bonus.
I liked how the book puts forward fairly complicated astronomy and science in an easy and enjoyable way, without the feeling you're being spoken down to.
The book is ideal for a younger audience too as it's layout is striking while at the same time being useful and intuitive, there seems to be a very good reason for everything in this book. The science, the layout, the graphics and the stunning illustrations are all top class.
five stars, 29 Nov 2007
this book is basically a history of the universe, starting from the planck time-length through to 13,700,000,000 years later and the present day, which is where the speed of light limits its scope.
it's told in language that is easy to understand, although it does skim over the details a little (i'm actually quite interested in the maths of molecule-making), and all-in-all is a thoroughly fascinating read.
the pictures, photos and diagrams are highly informative and gorgeous to look at. i can't imagine what the up-to-date version of this book has to offer, but the first published one i bought was great.
An entertaining outline, 10 Jan 2007
On first reading this book it appears to be a fairly exhaustive account of the Universe from the big bang, through the present day and on to the ultimate end of the Universe. Consider it a little further however and you realise it is only scratching the surface of what is known or believed about the origins and ultimate destiny of the Universe. I found the treatment of Hawking radiation, for example, cursory to say the least, and caused me to ask obvious questions not dealt with in the text.
This isn't a bad thing, however. It is an accessible summary that completely avoids the use of mathematics. It provides sufficient detail to capture one's interest and provides a solid foundation from which you can begin to consider the more obscure details.
Starmaking Machinery, 31 Dec 2006
It has taken 13.7 billion years, but the Universe has finally produced a coffee-table quality book to commemorate the Big Bang and its consequences. _Bang! The Complete History of the Universe_ (Carlton Books) by Brian May, Patrick Moore, and Chris Lintott is not massive, as coffee-table books go, but its big format is perfect for the dramatic sorts of pictures that the Hubble Space Telescope or the larger Earth-bound telescopes can give us. It isn't just pictures, however. The text does an exemplary job of covering a huge amount of information. Necessarily, in 190 pages laid over with photos, details are skipped; on one page are both the disaster of the Permian Extinction 250 million years ago and the Cretaceous Extinction (wiping out the dinosaurs) 65 million years ago. There is the most detail in the earliest pages of the book, dealing with the events before around 700 million years ago, when there started to be discrete objects like galaxies that we could have actually seen, had we been there at that time. (In a sense, we do see them at that time, as the Hubble's lovely deep field images can show.) This is also the part of the book that makes the least sense to those of us who are stuck in a Newtonian world. There are books with fuller explanations of the strangeness of the Universe immediately after the Big Bang, but none quite so much fun.
For fun is obviously part of the trip the three authors have taken, and it starts right on the cover, which above the book's title shows a huge, glowing, fragmented fireball, obviously the Big Bang in progress. "Our cover artwork is for fun only. There is no suggestion that any part of the Big Bang ever looked like this." Not only that, but it could never have been seen at such a distance, because there was no such distance; space did not exist except within that Bang. There are still gaps in our understanding of the Big Bang and how it produced all we are and all we see. "We must remember that it is impossible to prove a theory, and all one can hope to do is ensure it is consistent with all the available evidence." The evidence isn't all in, and they remind us, "...we would be amazed if in a few years time our book would not need to be substantially re-written." Given all the confirmatory data, it is hard to imagine that the big picture given here would be in error in any large way. After the main text of the book, there are a useful glossary, capsule biographies of the modern astronomers and cosmologists who have added to our understanding of the Big Bang, and a basic primer on practical astronomy that includes good directions about the topic "How to become an astronomer". This is upbeat, compared to the final chapter which has to do with the end of the Universe.
Much has been made in the British press about the personalities who produced the book, although _Bang!_ would easily stand on its own without famous authors. The least known is Chris Lintott, a working astrophysicist who assists Sir Patrick Moore in presenting a famous monthly BBC show _The Sky at Night_, which is now the longest-running science program in the world. Moore himself, because of his show and his hundreds of fiction and nonfiction books, is possibly the world's best known astronomer. The surprise author, for those who do star-gazing of the celebrity rather than astronomical type, is Brian May, who as a kid was inspired by one of Moore's books to take up astronomy. He was a founding member of the famous rock group Queen and a guitarist of some note. May was doing his PhD studies in interplanetary dust when Queen took off (he wrote such songs as "We Will Rock You"). He is currently updating and completing his thesis in between musical activities, although he does already have an honorary degree of Doctor of Science. If a little celebrity power gets people interested in the book, and interested in the huge amount of scientific thinking it reflects, I think it makes up for the additions to our culture made by, say, Britney Spears. _Bang!_ is a wonderful summary for adults and would be a terrific book for any reading young person.
I Learned So Much From This Book !, 25 Dec 2006
I am a Creationist who knew nothing about astronomy, physics and the history of the universe. Brian May's input into this book was very helpful to me because he wrote about very profound topics in a manner that I could understand. For that matter, Bang has helped me to remain a Creationist while finally becoming open to evolution and scientific theories in reference to space, time, and the beginning and the lurking end of the universe. Bang is a book for scientists and normal people who want to learn about the universe and our planet. Brian May is amazing. He is a guitar virtuoso, wildlife conservationist, animal welfare activist, a scientist and a fantastic author. The people who helped him with this book also merit plaudits. They are very cerebral luminaries.
a must read before buying a telescope of any kind, 21 May 2008
if you can't decide what to buy, read this book and you'll make a much more informed choice when you do eventually buy something. it is a must read for anyone thinking of buying that first 'scope, or even binoculars. it is full of useful info, and is the best way to avoid making a wrong purchase that i know of, especially if you are not a member of an astronomy club where you can put questions too the members. highly recomended.
If you want to learn to use a telescope,get this book, 04 Mar 2006
If you want to learn constellations, how to use a telescope to the best of it's ability, or you are looking to buy binoculars or a telescope, don't bother with other books, just buy this one. It is very useful for both someone who has never touched a telescope and those who are a little more seasoned.
Essential reading, 19 Mar 2005
An absolutely brilliant book, highly imformative and easy to read, an essential purchase for anyone considering taking up astronomy and extremely useful for the experienced amateur. I cannot recommend this book highly enough.
great stuff, 03 Dec 2003
i would advise any person wanting to buy a telescope(especially the beginner) to read this book before handing over your cash.it will save you alot of money in the long run (& disappointment) & it will tell you exactly what you should be looking for when buying a telescope depending on your interests.well worth it!!!!
To the point, 05 Oct 2002
Written with the beginner in mind this is an excellent book for people about to embark on a new venture - stargazing.
If you own a telescope and find the whole thing perplexing then I am sure this book will help. For me, however, its strength lies in its information aimed at people about to buy thier first instrument. Unbiased, to the point and very well explained it is one of the best starter books I have read in a long time. I feel confident that I now know what it is I am looking for to suit my needs and I can shop armed with all the information I need . Highly recomended
|
|
|
 |
|
|
Customer Reviews
A must buy, 09 Nov 2008
I would definitely recommend this book to a novice astronomer. It explains in simple terms what you're looking at in the sky, and how to find the most infamous star constellations. I discovered a lot of things that I had no idea existed. It even gives advice on what telescope to buy, which is a big help if you're looking to buy a telescope for the first time.
A plain and simple guide to the stars in the sky. A must buy! Must have!, 31 Dec 2008
I bought a telescope, and after a couple of weeks, it went into a cupboard to gather dust. For the uninitiated, there's an awfull lot of dull stuff in the sky.
Then I was given this for my birthday. Suddenly, it turns out there are a profusion of binary stars that you can see even in a misty urban sky like mine. There are open clusters, globular clusters, nebulae and galaxies, and with the help of this book, you can find lots of them, even with a small telescope (and mine was 3 inches).
The book is precise, easy to understand, and gives ratings out of five for each item, so you can select the ones that seem most spectacular. It also gives more detailed stuff for those with bigger and better telescopes. From being a hidden relic, it's transformed my telescope into something I use all the time, and now I want a better one.
Quite simply, it's a must for anyone buying or even contemplating buying a telescope, and if you know someone who's in the situation I was, hopelessly trawling the skies, trust me, it's the perfect gift.
I gave it five out of five, but it's probably worth seven. Invaluable night sky reference, 13 Nov 2008
I read somewhere that all telescopes should come with this guide and once you start using it you'll realise why. As I have mostly a south-westerly view of the sky I like to make the most of what I have so I turn to 'Turn Left...' and follow the easy diagrams and text to pick out the best of the constellation I am interested in.
The book gives you diagrams of what you'll see in the viewfinder as well as the telescope and although it can be a bit confusing to the novice when you first start you soon get the hang of star hopping and be delighted when you discover the gems above.
In fact having used this book quite often I find myself hopping around without it on my favourite sights. For example the other night I found the ring nebula in Lyra by remembering the steps and estimating the distance between the stars in the constellation. Sure enough it popped into view. get someone to buy it for you, 28 Apr 2008
if you are interested in imaging, forget it. there is no info on what the variouse targets can look like when photographed, only how to find them. a companion book on how too image and what to use is recomended. The Novice Stargazer's Bible, 06 Mar 2008
Ask any amateur astronomer what the first book they would recommend to a novice, and the majority will tell you this very book.
Written in a style that is user friendly yet not patronising, it carefully details the highlights of the night sky (by season), giving ratings for each target. All the information on how to find that elusive nebula or galaxy etc is here, along with realistic sketched views through the scope (and finderscope) from a 'normal' viewing site.
Rather than showing each target as a HST or large observatory scope photograph, leading to frustration from the novice, this book is refreshingly honest at what the back garden stargazer will see.
Along with the catalogue of targets (with excellent descriptions of what you are looking at), there is plenty of information on how to set up scopes, what equipment to use and other general advice needed for the novice/amateur astronomer.
I've yet to see a book that covers amateur observations so well.
All that the novice needs, 22 Nov 2006
Put simply, if a novice astronomer with ANY size of telescope buys only one book to assist them, then this should be it (or at least the most recent version of it should be). I'm actually a fairly experienced amateur astronomer with an appalling inability to navigate my way round the skies - at least I did have until I had this book bought for me. Broken down into seasonal sections with indications of the right conditions to go looking for particular objects, I can't think of anything that could make the task easier (short of someone actually finding the objects for you!). It is such a good book I can forgive it a few typos and some lapses of English grammar.
My advice - buy this book! Perfect for Amateur Astronomers, 22 Jun 2008
The Planisphere is the perfect tool for any amateur astronomer.
It comes with full instructions on its use, so you can have a quick look at it and be out inspecting the night sky in only a few minutes.
It also explains how to find the major planets (Venus, Mars, Jupiter and Saturn), sunrise and sunset as well as the positions of the constellations, season by season. Luckily, many of these instructions can be found on the back of the Planisphere itself (along with a Key to map symbols) so that you can always flip it over if you get stuck.
The Planisphere itself is sturdy, flexible and laminated so it won't be affected by wet surfaces - which is useful if you find yourself outside and there's a change in the weather. This makes it superior to any cardboard version.
I recieved my first Planisphere at the age of ten, and I still buy updated versions every few years, simply because they are useful for locating the major planets (it covers their positions, month by month for ten years). Those who have just started stargazing will find the Planisphere a useful tool.
Great tool for the occassional astronomer, 29 Dec 2007
Every now and then in the winter when Orion is visible in the skies I dig this out and use it to work out what else I can find in the night (or early morning) sky.
It is very easy to use and can also be explained to kids. I have used it in the West of Ireland and Southern England to remind myself of the night sky I was so fascinated by as a teenager. Straightforward, useful and accurate, 03 Dec 2006
I got the Planisphere a while back and found it to be a fabulous astronomical companion. The larger format makes it easy to see outside in the dark and it's plastic construction means it won't be affected by night dew. On the back is a handy planet finder which is accurate and I quickly found Saturn in the area it computed.
I prefer the Planisphere to the laptop version as it doesn't run out of batteries, crash or damage easily. I wouldn't be without it. Excellent Reading, 18 Sep 2008
As soon as I saw this book and read the reviews I had to buy it, On receiving the book you can tell immediately a lot of hard work and thought has gone into it, the book itself is beautifully put together the front cover has a striking hologram on the front, it's a well executed graphical representation of the Big Bang and is a really nice bonus.
I liked how the book puts forward fairly complicated astronomy and science in an easy and enjoyable way, without the feeling you're being spoken down to.
The book is ideal for a younger audience too as it's layout is striking while at the same time being useful and intuitive, there seems to be a very good reason for everything in this book. The science, the layout, the graphics and the stunning illustrations are all top class. five stars, 29 Nov 2007
this book is basically a history of the universe, starting from the planck time-length through to 13,700,000,000 years later and the present day, which is where the speed of light limits its scope.
it's told in language that is easy to understand, although it does skim over the details a little (i'm actually quite interested in the maths of molecule-making), and all-in-all is a thoroughly fascinating read.
the pictures, photos and diagrams are highly informative and gorgeous to look at. i can't imagine what the up-to-date version of this book has to offer, but the first published one i bought was great. An entertaining outline, 10 Jan 2007
On first reading this book it appears to be a fairly exhaustive account of the Universe from the big bang, through the present day and on to the ultimate end of the Universe. Consider it a little further however and you realise it is only scratching the surface of what is known or believed about the origins and ultimate destiny of the Universe. I found the treatment of Hawking radiation, for example, cursory to say the least, and caused me to ask obvious questions not dealt with in the text.
This isn't a bad thing, however. It is an accessible summary that completely avoids the use of mathematics. It provides sufficient detail to capture one's interest and provides a solid foundation from which you can begin to consider the more obscure details. Starmaking Machinery, 31 Dec 2006
It has taken 13.7 billion years, but the Universe has finally produced a coffee-table quality book to commemorate the Big Bang and its consequences. _Bang! The Complete History of the Universe_ (Carlton Books) by Brian May, Patrick Moore, and Chris Lintott is not massive, as coffee-table books go, but its big format is perfect for the dramatic sorts of pictures that the Hubble Space Telescope or the larger Earth-bound telescopes can give us. It isn't just pictures, however. The text does an exemplary job of covering a huge amount of information. Necessarily, in 190 pages laid over with photos, details are skipped; on one page are both the disaster of the Permian Extinction 250 million years ago and the Cretaceous Extinction (wiping out the dinosaurs) 65 million years ago. There is the most detail in the earliest pages of the book, dealing with the events before around 700 million years ago, when there started to be discrete objects like galaxies that we could have actually seen, had we been there at that time. (In a sense, we do see them at that time, as the Hubble's lovely deep field images can show.) This is also the part of the book that makes the least sense to those of us who are stuck in a Newtonian world. There are books with fuller explanations of the strangeness of the Universe immediately after the Big Bang, but none quite so much fun.
For fun is obviously part of the trip the three authors have taken, and it starts right on the cover, which above the book's title shows a huge, glowing, fragmented fireball, obviously the Big Bang in progress. "Our cover artwork is for fun only. There is no suggestion that any part of the Big Bang ever looked like this." Not only that, but it could never have been seen at such a distance, because there was no such distance; space did not exist except within that Bang. There are still gaps in our understanding of the Big Bang and how it produced all we are and all we see. "We must remember that it is impossible to prove a theory, and all one can hope to do is ensure it is consistent with all the available evidence." The evidence isn't all in, and they remind us, "...we would be amazed if in a few years time our book would not need to be substantially re-written." Given all the confirmatory data, it is hard to imagine that the big picture given here would be in error in any large way. After the main text of the book, there are a useful glossary, capsule biographies of the modern astronomers and cosmologists who have added to our understanding of the Big Bang, and a basic primer on practical astronomy that includes good directions about the topic "How to become an astronomer". This is upbeat, compared to the final chapter which has to do with the end of the Universe.
Much has been made in the British press about the personalities who produced the book, although _Bang!_ would easily stand on its own without famous authors. The least known is Chris Lintott, a working astrophysicist who assists Sir Patrick Moore in presenting a famous monthly BBC show _The Sky at Night_, which is now the longest-running science program in the world. Moore himself, because of his show and his hundreds of fiction and nonfiction books, is possibly the world's best known astronomer. The surprise author, for those who do star-gazing of the celebrity rather than astronomical type, is Brian May, who as a kid was inspired by one of Moore's books to take up astronomy. He was a founding member of the famous rock group Queen and a guitarist of some note. May was doing his PhD studies in interplanetary dust when Queen took off (he wrote such songs as "We Will Rock You"). He is currently updating and completing his thesis in between musical activities, although he does already have an honorary degree of Doctor of Science. If a little celebrity power gets people interested in the book, and interested in the huge amount of scientific thinking it reflects, I think it makes up for the additions to our culture made by, say, Britney Spears. _Bang!_ is a wonderful summary for adults and would be a terrific book for any reading young person. I Learned So Much From This Book !, 25 Dec 2006
I am a Creationist who knew nothing about astronomy, physics and the history of the universe. Brian May's input into this book was very helpful to me because he wrote about very profound topics in a manner that I could understand. For that matter, Bang has helped me to remain a Creationist while finally becoming open to evolution and scientific theories in reference to space, time, and the beginning and the lurking end of the universe. Bang is a book for scientists and normal people who want to learn about the universe and our planet. Brian May is amazing. He is a guitar virtuoso, wildlife conservationist, animal welfare activist, a scientist and a fantastic author. The people who helped him with this book also merit plaudits. They are very cerebral luminaries. a must read before buying a telescope of any kind, 21 May 2008
if you can't decide what to buy, read this book and you'll make a much more informed choice when you do eventually buy something. it is a must read for anyone thinking of buying that first 'scope, or even binoculars. it is full of useful info, and is the best way to avoid making a wrong purchase that i know of, especially if you are not a member of an astronomy club where you can put questions too the members. highly recomended. If you want to learn to use a telescope,get this book, 04 Mar 2006
If you want to learn constellations, how to use a telescope to the best of it's ability, or you are looking to buy binoculars or a telescope, don't bother with other books, just buy this one. It is very useful for both someone who has never touched a telescope and those who are a little more seasoned. Essential reading, 19 Mar 2005
An absolutely brilliant book, highly imformative and easy to read, an essential purchase for anyone considering taking up astronomy and extremely useful for the experienced amateur. I cannot recommend this book highly enough. great stuff, 03 Dec 2003
i would advise any person wanting to buy a telescope(especially the beginner) to read this book before handing over your cash.it will save you alot of money in the long run (& disappointment) & it will tell you exactly what you should be looking for when buying a telescope depending on your interests.well worth it!!!! To the point, 05 Oct 2002
Written with the beginner in mind this is an excellent book for people about to embark on a new venture - stargazing. If you own a telescope and find the whole thing perplexing then I am sure this book will help. For me, however, its strength lies in its information aimed at people about to buy thier first instrument. Unbiased, to the point and very well explained it is one of the best starter books I have read in a long time. I feel confident that I now know what it is I am looking for to suit my needs and I can shop armed with all the information I need . Highly recomended Shocking..., 16 Jan 2008
Mind blowing. I chanced upon this gem in a bookstore & couldn't believe it was just £9.99. I've toyed with the idea of various other expensive pictorial guides but it's always a bit of a risk to buy without seeing. One flick through this one however and I was convinced.
After buying the first copy as a gift, I swiftly bought 2 more from Amazon (at an amazing price) - one for me, and one as another gift.
I have just put it down (reluctantly) after a 45 minute sitting, my imagination and wonder stoked and my mind struggling to comprehend what i have just seen and read.
The combination of beautiful, quality images and minimal intriguing text explanations are a perfect match. My only frustration was that I wanted to know more technical info on each object, though in reality they have done the image/text balance well, and it serves to feed my thirst to find out more.
An amazing book, which could just change your perspective. Buy it! you won't be disappointed.
Interesting, 03 Apr 2007
Firstly, I hate astrology but I loved this book. I only bought it because of the images, and I have even defaced the book and have cut some of the photos out and framed them. I'll tell you why, I use them when I place my orders to the cosmos. I look at the images and it makes me realise what a big place the universe is, and yet we are still able to control our destiny. so much better, 30 Aug 2006
I've been searching the book shops trying to find the best book for pictures in astronomy. I've looked through 'Beyond' which is suposed to be the best out there, didn't think it was near worth the money, and i looked through all the others i could find,visions of the universe, hubble:mirror of the universe, etc. I already owned this one and while looking at all the others which are alot dearer i couldn't find one i thought was better. I think this book is beautiful and i'm very suprised at its price. Low price but high production values !, 19 Jan 2006
I bought this book cheaply but have been very presently surprised by both the quality of the pictures and the of the accompanying writing/captions. The format is that of a full page picture each with a short explanatory paragraph of text. This text is written for a general audience but with a wonderful eye to both the lyrical beauty and the scientific significance of the of the images. I also found the steady progression from pictures of the solar system out to the far reaches of the universe very helpful in putting all those beautiful Hubble telescope pictures into a context. This is among the most interesting astronomical writing I have read. All in all I highly recommend this book for anyone with a general interest in the Universe we all live in.
|
|
|
 |
|
|
 |
|
|
Customer Reviews
A must buy, 09 Nov 2008
I would definitely recommend this book to a novice astronomer. It explains in simple terms what you're looking at in the sky, and how to find the most infamous star constellations. I discovered a lot of things that I had no idea existed. It even gives advice on what telescope to buy, which is a big help if you're looking to buy a telescope for the first time.
A plain and simple guide to the stars in the sky. A must buy! Must have!, 31 Dec 2008
I bought a telescope, and after a couple of weeks, it went into a cupboard to gather dust. For the uninitiated, there's an awfull lot of dull stuff in the sky.
Then I was given this for my birthday. Suddenly, it turns out there are a profusion of binary stars that you can see even in a misty urban sky like mine. There are open clusters, globular clusters, nebulae and galaxies, and with the help of this book, you can find lots of them, even with a small telescope (and mine was 3 inches).
The book is precise, easy to understand, and gives ratings out of five for each item, so you can select the ones that seem most spectacular. It also gives more detailed stuff for those with bigger and better telescopes. From being a hidden relic, it's transformed my telescope into something I use all the time, and now I want a better one.
Quite simply, it's a must for anyone buying or even contemplating buying a telescope, and if you know someone who's in the situation I was, hopelessly trawling the skies, trust me, it's the perfect gift.
I gave it five out of five, but it's probably worth seven. Invaluable night sky reference, 13 Nov 2008
I read somewhere that all telescopes should come with this guide and once you start using it you'll realise why. As I have mostly a south-westerly view of the sky I like to make the most of what I have so I turn to 'Turn Left...' and follow the easy diagrams and text to pick out the best of the constellation I am interested in.
The book gives you diagrams of what you'll see in the viewfinder as well as the telescope and although it can be a bit confusing to the novice when you first start you soon get the hang of star hopping and be delighted when you discover the gems above.
In fact having used this book quite often I find myself hopping around without it on my favourite sights. For example the other night I found the ring nebula in Lyra by remembering the steps and estimating the distance between the stars in the constellation. Sure enough it popped into view. get someone to buy it for you, 28 Apr 2008
if you are interested in imaging, forget it. there is no info on what the variouse targets can look like when photographed, only how to find them. a companion book on how too image and what to use is recomended. The Novice Stargazer's Bible, 06 Mar 2008
Ask any amateur astronomer what the first book they would recommend to a novice, and the majority will tell you this very book.
Written in a style that is user friendly yet not patronising, it carefully details the highlights of the night sky (by season), giving ratings for each target. All the information on how to find that elusive nebula or galaxy etc is here, along with realistic sketched views through the scope (and finderscope) from a 'normal' viewing site.
Rather than showing each target as a HST or large observatory scope photograph, leading to frustration from the novice, this book is refreshingly honest at what the back garden stargazer will see.
Along with the catalogue of targets (with excellent descriptions of what you are looking at), there is plenty of information on how to set up scopes, what equipment to use and other general advice needed for the novice/amateur astronomer.
I've yet to see a book that covers amateur observations so well.
All that the novice needs, 22 Nov 2006
Put simply, if a novice astronomer with ANY size of telescope buys only one book to assist them, then this should be it (or at least the most recent version of it should be). I'm actually a fairly experienced amateur astronomer with an appalling inability to navigate my way round the skies - at least I did have until I had this book bought for me. Broken down into seasonal sections with indications of the right conditions to go looking for particular objects, I can't think of anything that could make the task easier (short of someone actually finding the objects for you!). It is such a good book I can forgive it a few typos and some lapses of English grammar.
My advice - buy this book! Perfect for Amateur Astronomers, 22 Jun 2008
The Planisphere is the perfect tool for any amateur astronomer.
It comes with full instructions on its use, so you can have a quick look at it and be out inspecting the night sky in only a few minutes.
It also explains how to find the major planets (Venus, Mars, Jupiter and Saturn), sunrise and sunset as well as the positions of the constellations, season by season. Luckily, many of these instructions can be found on the back of the Planisphere itself (along with a Key to map symbols) so that you can always flip it over if you get stuck.
The Planisphere itself is sturdy, flexible and laminated so it won't be affected by wet surfaces - which is useful if you find yourself outside and there's a change in the weather. This makes it superior to any cardboard version.
I recieved my first Planisphere at the age of ten, and I still buy updated versions every few years, simply because they are useful for locating the major planets (it covers their positions, month by month for ten years). Those who have just started stargazing will find the Planisphere a useful tool.
Great tool for the occassional astronomer, 29 Dec 2007
Every now and then in the winter when Orion is visible in the skies I dig this out and use it to work out what else I can find in the night (or early morning) sky.
It is very easy to use and can also be explained to kids. I have used it in the West of Ireland and Southern England to remind myself of the night sky I was so fascinated by as a teenager. Straightforward, useful and accurate, 03 Dec 2006
I got the Planisphere a while back and found it to be a fabulous astronomical companion. The larger format makes it easy to see outside in the dark and it's plastic construction means it won't be affected by night dew. On the back is a handy planet finder which is accurate and I quickly found Saturn in the area it computed.
I prefer the Planisphere to the laptop version as it doesn't run out of batteries, crash or damage easily. I wouldn't be without it. Excellent Reading, 18 Sep 2008
As soon as I saw this book and read the reviews I had to buy it, On receiving the book you can tell immediately a lot of hard work and thought has gone into it, the book itself is beautifully put together the front cover has a striking hologram on the front, it's a well executed graphical representation of the Big Bang and is a really nice bonus.
I liked how the book puts forward fairly complicated astronomy and science in an easy and enjoyable way, without the feeling you're being spoken down to.
The book is ideal for a younger audience too as it's layout is striking while at the same time being useful and intuitive, there seems to be a very good reason for everything in this book. The science, the layout, the graphics and the stunning illustrations are all top class. five stars, 29 Nov 2007
this book is basically a history of the universe, starting from the planck time-length through to 13,700,000,000 years later and the present day, which is where the speed of light limits its scope.
it's told in language that is easy to understand, although it does skim over the details a little (i'm actually quite interested in the maths of molecule-making), and all-in-all is a thoroughly fascinating read.
the pictures, photos and diagrams are highly informative and gorgeous to look at. i can't imagine what the up-to-date version of this book has to offer, but the first published one i bought was great. An entertaining outline, 10 Jan 2007
On first reading this book it appears to be a fairly exhaustive account of the Universe from the big bang, through the present day and on to the ultimate end of the Universe. Consider it a little further however and you realise it is only scratching the surface of what is known or believed about the origins and ultimate destiny of the Universe. I found the treatment of Hawking radiation, for example, cursory to say the least, and caused me to ask obvious questions not dealt with in the text.
This isn't a bad thing, however. It is an accessible summary that completely avoids the use of mathematics. It provides sufficient detail to capture one's interest and provides a solid foundation from which you can begin to consider the more obscure details. Starmaking Machinery, 31 Dec 2006
It has taken 13.7 billion years, but the Universe has finally produced a coffee-table quality book to commemorate the Big Bang and its consequences. _Bang! The Complete History of the Universe_ (Carlton Books) by Brian May, Patrick Moore, and Chris Lintott is not massive, as coffee-table books go, but its big format is perfect for the dramatic sorts of pictures that the Hubble Space Telescope or the larger Earth-bound telescopes can give us. It isn't just pictures, however. The text does an exemplary job of covering a huge amount of information. Necessarily, in 190 pages laid over with photos, details are skipped; on one page are both the disaster of the Permian Extinction 250 million years ago and the Cretaceous Extinction (wiping out the dinosaurs) 65 million years ago. There is the most detail in the earliest pages of the book, dealing with the events before around 700 million years ago, when there started to be discrete objects like galaxies that we could have actually seen, had we been there at that time. (In a sense, we do see them at that time, as the Hubble's lovely deep field images can show.) This is also the part of the book that makes the least sense to those of us who are stuck in a Newtonian world. There are books with fuller explanations of the strangeness of the Universe immediately after the Big Bang, but none quite so much fun.
For fun is obviously part of the trip the three authors have taken, and it starts right on the cover, which above the book's title shows a huge, glowing, fragmented fireball, obviously the Big Bang in progress. "Our cover artwork is for fun only. There is no suggestion that any part of the Big Bang ever looked like this." Not only that, but it could never have been seen at such a distance, because there was no such distance; space did not exist except within that Bang. There are still gaps in our understanding of the Big Bang and how it produced all we are and all we see. "We must remember that it is impossible to prove a theory, and all one can hope to do is ensure it is consistent with all the available evidence." The evidence isn't all in, and they remind us, "...we would be amazed if in a few years time our book would not need to be substantially re-written." Given all the confirmatory data, it is hard to imagine that the big picture given here would be in error in any large way. After the main text of the book, there are a useful glossary, capsule biographies of the modern astronomers and cosmologists who have added to our understanding of the Big Bang, and a basic primer on practical astronomy that includes good directions about the topic "How to become an astronomer". This is upbeat, compared to the final chapter which has to do with the end of the Universe.
Much has been made in the British press about the personalities who produced the book, although _Bang!_ would easily stand on its own without famous authors. The least known is Chris Lintott, a working astrophysicist who assists Sir Patrick Moore in presenting a famous monthly BBC show _The Sky at Night_, which is now the longest-running science program in the world. Moore himself, because of his show and his hundreds of fiction and nonfiction books, is possibly the world's best known astronomer. The surprise author, for those who do star-gazing of the celebrity rather than astronomical type, is Brian May, who as a kid was inspired by one of Moore's books to take up astronomy. He was a founding member of the famous rock group Queen and a guitarist of some note. May was doing his PhD studies in interplanetary dust when Queen took off (he wrote such songs as "We Will Rock You"). He is currently updating and completing his thesis in between musical activities, although he does already have an honorary degree of Doctor of Science. If a little celebrity power gets people interested in the book, and interested in the huge amount of scientific thinking it reflects, I think it makes up for the additions to our culture made by, say, Britney Spears. _Bang!_ is a wonderful summary for adults and would be a terrific book for any reading young person. I Learned So Much From This Book !, 25 Dec 2006
I am a Creationist who knew nothing about astronomy, physics and the history of the universe. Brian May's input into this book was very helpful to me because he wrote about very profound topics in a manner that I could understand. For that matter, Bang has helped me to remain a Creationist while finally becoming open to evolution and scientific theories in reference to space, time, and the beginning and the lurking end of the universe. Bang is a book for scientists and normal people who want to learn about the universe and our planet. Brian May is amazing. He is a guitar virtuoso, wildlife conservationist, animal welfare activist, a scientist and a fantastic author. The people who helped him with this book also merit plaudits. They are very cerebral luminaries. a must read before buying a telescope of any kind, 21 May 2008
if you can't decide what to buy, read this book and you'll make a much more informed choice when you do eventually buy something. it is a must read for anyone thinking of buying that first 'scope, or even binoculars. it is full of useful info, and is the best way to avoid making a wrong purchase that i know of, especially if you are not a member of an astronomy club where you can put questions too the members. highly recomended. If you want to learn to use a telescope,get this book, 04 Mar 2006
If you want to learn constellations, how to use a telescope to the best of it's ability, or you are looking to buy binoculars or a telescope, don't bother with other books, just buy this one. It is very useful for both someone who has never touched a telescope and those who are a little more seasoned. Essential reading, 19 Mar 2005
An absolutely brilliant book, highly imformative and easy to read, an essential purchase for anyone considering taking up astronomy and extremely useful for the experienced amateur. I cannot recommend this book highly enough. great stuff, 03 Dec 2003
i would advise any person wanting to buy a telescope(especially the beginner) to read this book before handing over your cash.it will save you alot of money in the long run (& disappointment) & it will tell you exactly what you should be looking for when buying a telescope depending on your interests.well worth it!!!! To the point, 05 Oct 2002
Written with the beginner in mind this is an excellent book for people about to embark on a new venture - stargazing. If you own a telescope and find the whole thing perplexing then I am sure this book will help. For me, however, its strength lies in its information aimed at people about to buy thier first instrument. Unbiased, to the point and very well explained it is one of the best starter books I have read in a long time. I feel confident that I now know what it is I am looking for to suit my needs and I can shop armed with all the information I need . Highly recomended Shocking..., 16 Jan 2008
Mind blowing. I chanced upon this gem in a bookstore & couldn't believe it was just £9.99. I've toyed with the idea of various other expensive pictorial guides but it's always a bit of a risk to buy without seeing. One flick through this one however and I was convinced.
After buying the first copy as a gift, I swiftly bought 2 more from Amazon (at an amazing price) - one for me, and one as another gift.
I have just put it down (reluctantly) after a 45 minute sitting, my imagination and wonder stoked and my mind struggling to comprehend what i have just seen and read.
The combination of beautiful, quality images and minimal intriguing text explanations are a perfect match. My only frustration was that I wanted to know more technical info on each object, though in reality they have done the image/text balance well, and it serves to feed my thirst to find out more.
An amazing book, which could just change your perspective. Buy it! you won't be disappointed.
Interesting, 03 Apr 2007
Firstly, I hate astrology but I loved this book. I only bought it because of the images, and I have even defaced the book and have cut some of the photos out and framed them. I'll tell you why, I use them when I place my orders to the cosmos. I look at the images and it makes me realise what a big place the universe is, and yet we are still able to control our destiny. so much better, 30 Aug 2006
I've been searching the book shops trying to find the best book for pictures in astronomy. I've looked through 'Beyond' which is suposed to be the best out there, didn't think it was near worth the money, and i looked through all the others i could find,visions of the universe, hubble:mirror of the universe, etc. I already owned this one and while looking at all the others which are alot dearer i couldn't find one i thought was better. I think this book is beautiful and i'm very suprised at its price. Low price but high production values !, 19 Jan 2006
I bought this book cheaply but have been very presently surprised by both the quality of the pictures and the of the accompanying writing/captions. The format is that of a full page picture each with a short explanatory paragraph of text. This text is written for a general audience but with a wonderful eye to both the lyrical beauty and the scientific significance of the of the images. I also found the steady progression from pictures of the solar system out to the far reaches of the universe very helpful in putting all those beautiful Hubble telescope pictures into a context. This is among the most interesting astronomical writing I have read. All in all I highly recommend this book for anyone with a general interest in the Universe we all live in.
I could have Gazed all night!, 12 Nov 2008
I found this book fascinating especially as Christmas is coming up and we will be into the season for a few clear skies.
I disagree with the mention of old illustrations as the book is suppose to deal with it as an old pastime and give some historical context with which to inspire a new generation of Stargazers.
I found the Star Charts fine as they are supposed to look historic in style. The book is not supposed to be glossy "look at these amazing photos of stars" book. As that is not what Stargazing is about.
All in all a fascinating read and it tempted me into the garden at night!
Stargazers still left in the dark, 05 Nov 2008
Please make sure you look at this book before you decide to buy it. The illustrations are disappointing and a couple of hundred years out of date! The publishers and the author have made little effort to inspire, or adequately guide, the new stargazer by the provision of inspiring pictures and diagrams.
|
|
|
 |
|
|
|
Customer Reviews
A must buy, 09 Nov 2008
I would definitely recommend this book to a novice astronomer. It explains in simple terms what you're looking at in the sky, and how to find the most infamous star constellations. I discovered a lot of things that I had no idea existed. It even gives advice on what telescope to buy, which is a big help if you're looking to buy a telescope for the first time.
A plain and simple guide to the stars in the sky. A must buy!
Must have!, 31 Dec 2008
I bought a telescope, and after a couple of weeks, it went into a cupboard to gather dust. For the uninitiated, there's an awfull lot of dull stuff in the sky.
Then I was given this for my birthday. Suddenly, it turns out there are a profusion of binary stars that you can see even in a misty urban sky like mine. There are open clusters, globular clusters, nebulae and galaxies, and with the help of this book, you can find lots of them, even with a small telescope (and mine was 3 inches).
The book is precise, easy to understand, and gives ratings out of five for each item, so you can select the ones that seem most spectacular. It also gives more detailed stuff for those with bigger and better telescopes. From being a hidden relic, it's transformed my telescope into something I use all the time, and now I want a better one.
Quite simply, it's a must for anyone buying or even contemplating buying a telescope, and if you know someone who's in the situation I was, hopelessly trawling the skies, trust me, it's the perfect gift.
I gave it five out of five, but it's probably worth seven.
Invaluable night sky reference, 13 Nov 2008
I read somewhere that all telescopes should come with this guide and once you start using it you'll realise why. As I have mostly a south-westerly view of the sky I like to make the most of what I have so I turn to 'Turn Left...' and follow the easy diagrams and text to pick out the best of the constellation I am interested in.
The book gives you diagrams of what you'll see in the viewfinder as well as the telescope and although it can be a bit confusing to the novice when you first start you soon get the hang of star hopping and be delighted when you discover the gems above.
In fact having used this book quite often I find myself hopping around without it on my favourite sights. For example the other night I found the ring nebula in Lyra by remembering the steps and estimating the distance between the stars in the constellation. Sure enough it popped into view.
get someone to buy it for you, 28 Apr 2008
if you are interested in imaging, forget it. there is no info on what the variouse targets can look like when photographed, only how to find them. a companion book on how too image and what to use is recomended.
The Novice Stargazer's Bible, 06 Mar 2008
Ask any amateur astronomer what the first book they would recommend to a novice, and the majority will tell you this very book.
Written in a style that is user friendly yet not patronising, it carefully details the highlights of the night sky (by season), giving ratings for each target. All the information on how to find that elusive nebula or galaxy etc is here, along with realistic sketched views through the scope (and finderscope) from a 'normal' viewing site.
Rather than showing each target as a HST or large observatory scope photograph, leading to frustration from the novice, this book is refreshingly honest at what the back garden stargazer will see.
Along with the catalogue of targets (with excellent descriptions of what you are looking at), there is plenty of information on how to set up scopes, what equipment to use and other general advice needed for the novice/amateur astronomer.
I've yet to see a book that covers amateur observations so well.
All that the novice needs, 22 Nov 2006
Put simply, if a novice astronomer with ANY size of telescope buys only one book to assist them, then this should be it (or at least the most recent version of it should be). I'm actually a fairly experienced amateur astronomer with an appalling inability to navigate my way round the skies - at least I did have until I had this book bought for me. Broken down into seasonal sections with indications of the right conditions to go looking for particular objects, I can't think of anything that could make the task easier (short of someone actually finding the objects for you!). It is such a good book I can forgive it a few typos and some lapses of English grammar.
My advice - buy this book!
Perfect for Amateur Astronomers, 22 Jun 2008
The Planisphere is the perfect tool for any amateur astronomer.
It comes with full instructions on its use, so you can have a quick look at it and be out inspecting the night sky in only a few minutes.
It also explains how to find the major planets (Venus, Mars, Jupiter and Saturn), sunrise and sunset as well as the positions of the constellations, season by season. Luckily, many of these instructions can be found on the back of the Planisphere itself (along with a Key to map symbols) so that you can always flip it over if you get stuck.
The Planisphere itself is sturdy, flexible and laminated so it won't be affected by wet surfaces - which is useful if you find yourself outside and there's a change in the weather. This makes it superior to any cardboard version.
I recieved my first Planisphere at the age of ten, and I still buy updated versions every few years, simply because they are useful for locating the major planets (it covers their positions, month by month for ten years). Those who have just started stargazing will find the Planisphere a useful tool.
Great tool for the occassional astronomer, 29 Dec 2007
Every now and then in the winter when Orion is visible in the skies I dig this out and use it to work out what else I can find in the night (or early morning) sky.
It is very easy to use and can also be explained to kids. I have used it in the West of Ireland and Southern England to remind myself of the night sky I was so fascinated by as a teenager.
Straightforward, useful and accurate, 03 Dec 2006
I got the Planisphere a while back and found it to be a fabulous astronomical companion. The larger format makes it easy to see outside in the dark and it's plastic construction means it won't be affected by night dew. On the back is a handy planet finder which is accurate and I quickly found Saturn in the area it computed.
I prefer the Planisphere to the laptop version as it doesn't run out of batteries, crash or damage easily. I wouldn't be without it.
Excellent Reading, 18 Sep 2008
As soon as I saw this book and read the reviews I had to buy it, On receiving the book you can tell immediately a lot of hard work and thought has gone into it, the book itself is beautifully put together the front cover has a striking hologram on the front, it's a well executed graphical representation of the Big Bang and is a really nice bonus.
I liked how the book puts forward fairly complicated astronomy and science in an easy and enjoyable way, without the feeling you're being spoken down to.
The book is ideal for a younger audience too as it's layout is striking while at the same time being useful and intuitive, there seems to be a very good reason for everything in this book. The science, the layout, the graphics and the stunning illustrations are all top class.
five stars, 29 Nov 2007
this book is basically a history of the universe, starting from the planck time-length through to 13,700,000,000 years later and the present day, which is where the speed of light limits its scope.
it's told in language that is easy to understand, although it does skim over the details a little (i'm actually quite interested in the maths of molecule-making), and all-in-all is a thoroughly fascinating read.
the pictures, photos and diagrams are highly informative and gorgeous to look at. i can't imagine what the up-to-date version of this book has to offer, but the first published one i bought was great.
An entertaining outline, 10 Jan 2007
On first reading this book it appears to be a fairly exhaustive account of the Universe from the big bang, through the present day and on to the ultimate end of the Universe. Consider it a little further however and you realise it is only scratching the surface of what is known or believed about the origins and ultimate destiny of the Universe. I found the treatment of Hawking radiation, for example, cursory to say the least, and caused me to ask obvious questions not dealt with in the text.
This isn't a bad thing, however. It is an accessible summary that completely avoids the use of mathematics. It provides sufficient detail to capture one's interest and provides a solid foundation from which you can begin to consider the more obscure details.
Starmaking Machinery, 31 Dec 2006
It has taken 13.7 billion years, but the Universe has finally produced a coffee-table quality book to commemorate the Big Bang and its consequences. _Bang! The Complete History of the Universe_ (Carlton Books) by Brian May, Patrick Moore, and Chris Lintott is not massive, as coffee-table books go, but its big format is perfect | | |