Editorial Review:
Designed with the beginner in mind and useful to anyone interested in astronomy. Star Maps for Beginners is the classic guide to viewing and understanding the heavens. Its superb maps -- drawn in the shape of two crossed ellipses -- provide the reader with a unique perspective on the sky and have been widely acknowledged as the easiest system yet devised for locating any constellation at any time of the year.Now revised for the 1990s, with updated planet charts and a new section on spotting meteor showers. Star Maps for Beginners includes: 12 complete maps -- one for each month -- showing the positions of the constellations viewed from every direction a synoptic table that shows how to choose the proper map for use at any time special tables that give approximate positions of the planets for the years 1992 through 1997 the most up-to-date overview of the solar system available today the latest facts about each of the planets -- orbit, size, atmosphere, internal structure, climate, and terrain a full chapter on the history and development of the constellations, and the ancient legends and mythological lore surrounding them a special section on meteors -- how they originate and when and where to spot them. Initially published in 1942 and now celebrating its 50th anniversary, Star Maps for Beginners has sold more than 450,000 copies.
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Customer Reviews
Average Customer Rating: 
You Can Do Better  2008-08-01
When you compare this book to the 2-sided PLANISPHERE,the book is almost useless.Go with a planisphere and or a software such as "Galileo Planetarium",(Complete Guide TO The Cosmos Ver.1.8).A planisphere will track by the month and the hour.A software will include the planets.New comers should be careful to order a planisphere within the latitude of their location.
I myself would not have bought this book if I had fliped through it in a book store.I expected more.The knowledge is better than nothing,but you can do much better.
Ancient Eg(I)pt Not [Greek Or Europe?]  2007-11-27
The Zodiac On The Ceiling Of The Denderah Temple In Abydos, EgIpt(Egypt).
You can borrow, but you must give proper respect to the rightful heirs.
Star maps 2007-09-19
My son loved this book of constellations. They were easy to read and had good information.
Expect to Wear Out Your Copy  2003-01-02
My tattered copy sitting on the shelf as I write this attests to it's value. I'm no major astronomer in any sense of the word, but a major part of what I DO know about the night sky was gleaned from its pages. It is what the title suggests: "For Beginners". It refrains from being too technical, the charts for the months of the year are easy to understand and use, and it's ar less expensive than other books of its kind. If your wish is to begin a hobby in astronomy, or better yet, if you simply are curious as to how to find your way around the night sky, this is a wonderful place to start. You will amaze yourself with what you'll know after only a few nights with this book. However, please note how up-to-date your copy is when buying it here or elsewhere. Hopefully, it will be as much a joy to you as it has been for me these past six years.
best book for beginners 2002-01-06
I'll echo the comments of the reviewers below. I've looked at many books of star maps and I've written articles on the night sky for local newspapers. This book is by far the best - it's easy to use and the constellations are depicted just as they appear in the sky - without a lot of confusing, unnecessary additions. The accompanying essays are informative, entertaining and easy to understand.It's a huge shame that this book evidently has not been updated in 10 years. So, yes, the planet information is out-of-date. (But before you learn to find planets you first need to learn to identify constellations and bright stars - that's where Star Maps for Beginners outshines all the others.) I, too, have given away countless copies of this book. It's great for almost all ages. (Well, let's say for a bright 10-year-old and up.) I'm buying it again as a gift for someone who sells telescopes for a living. He never heard of it and he doesn't know what he's missing.
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