Summer Stargazing: A Practical Guide for Recreational Astronomers

Christy Conte is a member of the Parents Advisory Committee at the
YMCA’s Parent and Child Enrichment Centre and a journalist.

As the title suggests, this guide is intended for use by stargazers
across North America in the summer. The book is divided into four main
sections: “Introducing the Night Sky”; “The Main Charts”
(broadly drawn sky maps); “Close Up Charts”; and “Celestial
Phenomena” (such as meteors, auroras, comets, etc.). Most of the photo
credits go to Dickinson himself.

Those familiar with Dickinson’s newspaper column already know that he
is passionate about introducing neophytes to the magical world of the
night sky. Summer Stargazing is therefore an approachable book; the
author assumes no scientific knowledge on the part of the reader.
Concepts and terms are explained clearly and graphically. Light
pollution, for example, is shown through photos rather than just
described in the text. And instead of using exponential numbers to
describe the number of stars in the sky, Dickinson uses an analogy
(grains of sand in a thimble or a wheelbarrow). He also steers the
beginner away from telescopes, encouraging naked-eye (and then
binocular) viewing.

Summer Stargazing offers a great introductory overview that campers,
cottagers, or indeed anyone interested in astronomy will enjoy. The maps
are easy to use, with the possible exception of the circular charts (a
nightmare for the spatially challenged!). The planetary appearance
listings are good through to the year 2010.