Book Review: Backyard Guide to the Night Sky

Happy Monday! I hope you have a really good start of your week. I have a bit of a busy week myself: my sleep deprivation EEG, my second Covid vaccine, Lucy's speech IEP meeting, I'm leading a book club discussion, Penelope turns six, I have therapy AND my new psychiatrist appointment, and then I prep for Teacher Appreciation Week pretty much all weekend.  

So, you know.... the usual. HA! 

Backyard Guide to the Night Sky 

Stargazing's too much fun to leave to astronomers. In these inviting pages, "Night Sky Guy" Andrew Fazekas takes an expert but easygoing approach that will delight would-be astronomers of all levels. Essential information, organized logically, brings the solar system, stars, and planets to life in your own backyard. Start with the easiest constellations and then "star-hop" across the night sky to find others nearby. Learn about the dark side of the moon, how to pick Mars out of a planetary lineup, and which kinds of stars twinkle in your favorite constellations. Hands-on tips and techniques for observing with the naked eye, binoculars, or a telescope help make the most out of sightings and astronomical phenomena such as eclipses and meteor showers. Photographs and graphics present key facts in an easy-to-understand format, explaining heavenly phenomena such as black holes, solar flares, and supernovas. Revised to make sky watching even easier for the whole family, this indispensable guide shines light on the night sky--truly one of the greatest shows on Earth!

When I was younger, my favorite unit in science was always the space unit. Even as an adult, I am fascinated with all things space. I love to look up in the night sky and look at the stars. Remember a few months ago when we could see Saturn? I still have a photo on my phone and randomly look at it. Seeing photos in a book is one things, but looking up in the sky in my backyard and seeing an actual planet, with its rings, just blows my mind. If ever there was a time that would make you feel so incredibly insignificant, that's it right there. 

If you're a fan of sky watching, or just like to geek out on your own, National Geographic has released the second edition of BACKYARD GUIDE TO THE NIGHT SKY, and wow. It's just under 300 pages, and the perfect size to throw in your backpack for your next camping trip or evening hike to look at some stars. The great thing about this updated edition is that it does take into consideration modern and updated technology that us regular folk have access to, different cameras and photography skills, and even just the knowledge of space. We're continually learning new things and this accounts for it. 

This is such a great book if you're looking to learn new things, or even just an abbreviated lesson on things, but it's also a great reference guide. My kids loved the constellation guide (because we always forget), too. Also helpful? If you're in the market for a new telescope, there is a great section that gives you information on what to look for, depending on what you want to see. I loved learning about tricks of light and about our atmosphere in general. I have seen a few things that I thought were the Northern Lights and yeah.... it definitely wasn't. The book is laid out really well, the photos throughout are stunning and there really is something for everyone in this. 

Thank you to TLC Book Tours and National Geographic for having me on this tour- another 5 star read for sure. I can't wait to take this out when it's warmer this summer and see what we can see. We definitely need to drive a little ways out of the city to really get a pretty view of the universe, but it is always worth it. 

 

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