The celestial bodies have been a source of mystery and wonder for centuries — but with high-powered telescopes now priced under $250, the study of the stars is within reach for anyone. Ready to get started? The Illustrated Guide to Astronomical Wonders is the perfect guide for novice astronomers.

“We wish this book was available years ago, when we started observing the night sky,” explains co-author Robert Bruce Thompson. “Instead, we were on our own addressing the same two problems that every amateur astronomer faces: which objects to observe and how to find them.” Thompson and his wife Barbara Fritchman Thompson have co-authored books including Astronomy Hacks, Building the Perfect PC, and PC Hardware in a Nutshell. As co-founders of the Winston-Salem Astronomical League, they are both currently pursuing Astronomical League Master Observer certificates.

The easy-to-use Illustrated Guide to Astronomical Wonders includes a complete illustrated constellation guide along with comprehensive charts and diagrams. You will learn:

• How to choose, buy, and use the proper equipment
• How to read star charts and locate objects in the night sky
• Which objects to look for in 50 constellations every night of the year
• How to find those objects and what they look like

Arriving in bookstores by November 19th and available online today at store.makezine.com, The Illustrated Guide to Astronomical Wonders can carry novice observers to intermediate or advanced status. Unlike other beginner guides which are quickly outgrown with short object lists, this compilation includes nearly 400 double and multiple stars, star clusters, nebulae, and galaxies. Even observing every clear, dark night, it will take stargazers one to three years to observe all of the recommended targets.

Tags: astronomy, star, astronomer