Secrets of the night sky : the most amazing things in the universe you can see with the naked eye

A practical guide to stargazing, Secrets of the Night Sky shows precisely how to locate every object it describes, all of which can be readily viewed from anywhere in North America and Europe. At the same time, it provides an extraordinary armchair journey through time and space. More than 150 original drawings accompany the text, and eight pages of remarkable color photographs capture our universe's unforgettable astral occurrences. And for readers who wish to probe the night sky more deeply with binoculars or a telescope, this book offers invaluable, money-saving advice. Unlike any other book on astronomy, Secrets of the Night Sky focuses on objects that can be seen with the naked eye, and the astonishing secrets that they yield. Bob Berman, Discover magazine's popular "Night Watchman" columnist, offers fascinating facts and incredibly accessible descriptions of the most astounding heavenly phenomena. The book is illustrated with more than 150 original, cosmic drawings. Eight pages of color photos capture breathtaking astral occurrences. Following the natural order of the seasons, Berman reveals the cosmic mysteries embodied in the sun, moon, stars, and planets, while maintaining an exuberant sense of humor and a poetic sense of wonder. Unburdened by technical jargon, he tells why the moon seems brightest in the winter, how to tell a military from a weather satellite, and what causes the dreamy magic of the northern lights. Berman tours the turbulent center of the Milky Way and illuminates one of nature's greatest spectacles, the total solar eclipse. He makes understandable and exciting such apparently arcane phenomena as the birth of stars, black holes, and white dwarfs