The 50 Best Sight in Astronomy and How To See Them: Observing Eclipses, Bright Comets, Meteor Showers, and Other Celestial Wonders.THE 50 BEST SIGHTS IN ASTRONOMY AND HOW TO SEE THEM: Observing Eclipses, Bright Comets, Meteor Showers Table of meteor showers Name Dates Peak dates ZHR Rating Quadrantids Jan 1-Jan 5 Jan 3 15:20 +49 41 120 Strong Gamma Velids Jan 1-Jan 15 Jan 5 08:20 -47 35 2 Weak Alpha Crucids Jan 6-Jan 28 Jan 15 12:48 -63 50 3 Weak , and Other Celestial ce·les·tial adj. 1. Of or relating to the sky or the heavens: Planets are celestial bodies. 2. Of or relating to heaven; divine: celestial beings. 3. Wonders FRED SCHAAF On the basis of a lifetime of space observations, Schaaf, an astronomer and a writer for Sky & Telescope magazine, selects 50 of the most interesting objects in the sky. All the features he chooses can be seen by the amateur astronomer, and some, such as a total eclipse of the moon, can be viewed with the naked eye. Others, such as Jupiter and its moons, require binoculars or a telescope. Among the sights included in Schaaf's "must-see" list are Orion and other constellations, the Milky Way Milky Way, the galaxy of which the sun and solar system are a part, seen as a broad band of light arching across the night sky from horizon to horizon; if not blocked by the horizon, it would be seen as a circle around the entire sky. , and star ClUSters star cluster, a group of stars near each other in space and resembling each other in certain characteristics that suggest a common origin for the group. Stars in the same cluster move at the same rate and in the same direction. . For each sight, Schaaf provides information on basic features, the optimal times to observe, and other viewing tips, such as how to cope with light pollution. Wiley, 2007, 280 p., b&w and color plates, paperback, $19.95. |
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