The monthly sky guide - Ian Ridpath

This classic beginner's guide to the night sky has been updated with planet positions and forthcoming eclipses up to the end of the year 2014, a guide to observing the Moon, comprehensive Moon maps with labelled features, and information on observing the four brightest planets: Venus, Mars, Jupiter and Saturn. This eighth edition of Ian Ridpath and Wil Tirion's famous guide will appeal to astronomers of all ages. This book contains a chapter for every month, describing the prominent stars, constellations, star clusters, nebulae and galaxies that are visible. The 50 clear and easy-to-use maps provide a simple introduction to the skies of the northern hemisphere. Most of the sights are visible to the naked eye, and all are within reach of binoculars or a small telescope.

Ian Ridpath is an English astronomy writer and broadcaster, who is also the editor of the Oxford Dictionary of Astronomy and Norton's Star Atlas. He is a recipient of the Astronomical Society of the Pacific's Klumpke-Roberts Award for outstanding contributions to the public understanding and appreciation of astronomy. For more information about Ian Ridpath's books, talks, and other interests, visit his personal website, ianridpath.com.

From previous editions: 'Wil Tirion's charts are justly famous. With Ian Ridpath's words, the combination is hard to beat.'
Popular Astronomy

'For those who want to learn about the constellations and bright stars, this book is all that they'll need.' Astronomy Now

'... charts big and detailed enough to be used easily ...' Sky Publishing Corporation

'What adds greatly to the value of the Guide is the obvious enthusiasm of the authors and their ability to convey it.' Journal of the British Astronomical Association

'I have not seen a better first guide to amateur astronomy.' Malcolm Gough, The Observatory

'...
an ideal gift for the potential astronomer ...' Chris Clayton, The Observatory

'... two consummate professionals in the field have teamed up to produce an exemplary text with first rate illustrations to inspire the beginning sky gazer ... it is vitally important that the facts presented are accurate and clearly rendered. That is exactly what you get with this little gem of a book. In just 72 pages, the authors have compressed an enormous volume of astronomical knowledge and experience in the field ... As you'd expect, the book provides ephemera of the planets and solar eclipses until the end of 2014 and new sections devoted to how best observe them. The Moon maps are especially pretty too. With its modest price tag, I heartily recommend this text to just about anyone and it will take its place in my library alongside the seven other earlier editions going all the way back to the year I left school.' Neil English, Astronomy Now

'... delightful ... ideal for beginners and certain to inspire more advanced observers.' skyatnightmagazine.com