Terence Dickinson, Alan Dyer <\/strong>Firefly Books \u00a335 HB<\/p>\n\n Get excited \u2013 the fourth edition of The <\/em>Backyard <\/em>Astronomer\u2019s <\/em>Guide <\/em>is here. First published in 1991, the latest edition boasts 48 additional pages and five new bang-up-to-date chapters. Beautifully put together by authors Terence Dickinson and Alan Dyer, the new edition firmly brings the book into the modern age of astronomy. the right gear<\/p>\n\n Spanning 416 pages and split into four parts, it covers how to get started, choosing and using a telescope, the telescopic Universe and capturing the cosmos. Within each part are chapters to wow and inspire and prove that you too can view the Milky Way, lunar eclipses, planets and constellations with just the naked eye. There are some truly stunning<\/p>\n\n The latest edition helps beginners manage expectations and choose images packed in to take your breath away and motivate you to get outside. Perhaps the most vital chapters are the guides on what binoculars to buy; plus choosing, buying and then using a telescope \u2013 an absolute must for those considering purchasing their first piece of optical equipment.<\/span><\/p>\n\n The guides explain everything from aperture, power and optical design to mounts and filters, each illustrated with handy photographs ensuring the reader knows the difference between a Newtonian and Maksutov telescope or an altazimuth and Go-To mount.<\/p>\n\n Among the pages are sky tours, star charts, future astronomical events and a fantastic short Moon tour by astronomy communicator Ken Hewitt-White.<\/p>\n\n The authors really help manage a beginner\u2019s expectations, giving honest advice such as \u2018leave astrophotography to the last\u2019 \u2013 an important lesson that first-time astronomers often ignore.<\/p>\n\n This invaluable guide will appeal to anyone no matter their experience, the equipment they have (or not) or where they matter the limitations. The authors write with years of experience and it is well <\/span>live. Dickinson and Dyer do just that with this book \u2013 emphasising that astronomy truly is a hobby for all, no worth the attention \u2013 it might be the best advice you pay for. The only downside to this book is that it\u2019s not printed in paperback and ring-bound to make it easier to use outside and take full advantage of these resources! <\/span>\u2605\u2605\u2605\u2605\u2605<\/p>\n\n Katrin Rayno<\/strong><\/em>r Eva<\/strong>ns <\/strong><\/em>is an amateur astronomer, a fellow of the Royal Astronomical Society and the librarian for Cardiff Astronomical Society<\/p>\n\n Natalie Starkey <\/strong>Bloomsbury \u00a316.99 HB<\/p>\n\n Fire and Ice: the Volcanoes of the Solar System <\/em>is a masterful geology lesson disguised in the excitement of fire, ice and alien worlds. When you think of a volcano, you are probably thinking of something you made at school: a tall cone-shaped structure with bubbling \u2018lava\u2019 cascading down the side. <\/span>In this assumption you would be right, but also simultaneously completely wrong.<\/p>\n\n Fire and Ice <\/em>will introduce you to a whole range of volcanoes, from those forming under pressure at the bottom of the ocean, to the moving wonder of hot spots from the core of Earth forming island chains in the middle of nowhere, to those that are pouring out blue flames \u2013 and those are just on our planet.<\/span><\/p>\n\n Beyond Earth, you will learn about the largest volcano in the Solar System (Olympus Mons), the cryovolcanoes made of solid ice spraying jets of salty water tens of kilometres into space, and how a world can be stretched so much it has tides of molten rock that are five times as high as the ocean tides on Earth.<\/p>\n\n This is highly recommended for anyone who has ever been fascinated by the glow of a volcano, or wondered if there is life \u2018out there\u2019. The author combines events at the frontier of Solar System exploration with our knowledge of the role of Earth\u2019s volcanic activity to take a look beyond and answer: what really is a volcano?<\/span><\/p>\n\n \u2605\u2605\u2605\u2605\u2605<\/p>\n\n Dr Hannah Wakeford <\/strong>is an astrophysicist at the University of Bristol who studies exoplanets using space telescopes<\/em><\/p>\n\n Colin Stuart <\/strong>Seven Dials \u00a39.99 HB<\/p>\n\n For such a familiar concept, time is actually a rather complex topic. There are subtleties, such as how exactly we measure it, but also debates as to what it even <\/span>is <\/em>in a physical sense. But it turns out that discovering more about the nature of time doesn\u2019t have to take a lot of it. In Time: <\/em>10 <\/em>Things <\/em>You <\/em>Should <\/em>Know, <\/em>you can cover a lot of ground in just 100 pages.<\/p>\n\n The book is made up of 10 essays, each 10 pages, covering a different aspect of time. To begin with, they\u2019re fairly straightforward, starting with the definition of how we measure time \u2013 you\u2019ve heard of leap years, but why on Earth do we need leap seconds? It moves on to other ways we mark and measure time, both here on Earth and with timetravelling telescopes.<\/span><\/p>\n\n The middle chapters cover the very nature of time and how we experience it, and it\u2019s not long before you find yourself discussing the implications of general relativity. The later chapters of the book investigate how time can be manipulated and what that might mean. Whether that means trying to slow time (or even stop it!) or travel through it (being careful not to kill your grandfather!), it can be quite philosophical at times.<\/p>\n\n The book is incredibly easy to read and very enjoyable. It\u2019s full of little facts and turns of phrase that you can share with others. And with its slightly philosophical angle, it might even get you thinking about how you spend your time.<\/span> \u2605\u2605\u2605\u2605\u2605<\/p>\n\n Chris North <\/strong>is Ogden Science Lecturer and STFC Public Engagement Fellow at Cardiff University<\/em><\/p>\n\n Tom Kerss <\/strong>Royal Observatory Greenwich \u00a38.99 PB<\/p>\n\n An awful lot of people get the Northern Lights wrong and return home from the Arctic Circle disappointed and feeling conned. Host of the excellent Star Signs weekly stargazing podcast and founder of Stargazing\u2022London, Kerss has here produced a wonderfully comprehensive and well-written guide about all facets of Northern Lights-hunting. It sets expectations and arms the reader with exactly what they need to know, and much more besides.<\/span><\/p>\n\n As evidenced by the inclusion of many of his own photos, Kerss has spent a lot of time in the Arctic Circle. Indeed, the section on how to photograph the Northern Lights is very impressive, with lengthy advice on how to take images, but also how to post-process the results when you get home. There\u2019s even tips on using the latest smartphone cameras.<\/p>\n\n Clearly a student of the history of astronomy, Kerss also provides an entertaining overview of how our understanding of the aurora has changed over the centuries. Within these sections there are some surprising facts. For example, did you know the term aurora borealis was coined by Galileo in 1616? Or that Captain Cook witnessed the aurora over nine consecutive nights in 1770 while sailing south of the equator?<\/span><\/p>\n\n Along the way Kerss explains everything from our planet\u2019s magnetosphere to space weather, but crucially in language that\u2019s always straightforward. That\u2019s no mean feat when it comes to solar physics.<\/p>\n\n As Kerss states, you\u2019ll need perseverance and patience to see and photograph the Northern Lights. You won\u2019t need either to find enjoyment from this excellent guide to a fabulous natural phenomenon. \u2605\u2605\u2605\u2605\u2605<\/span><\/p>\n\n Jamie Carter <\/strong>is the author of <\/em>A Stargazing Program For Beginners: A Pocket Field Guide (Springer, 2015)<\/p>\n\n Take time to learn your way around the sky. People often want to buy a telescope right away. Don\u2019t. Instead of spending money, spend time with star charts to identify the brightest stars and constellations. Use binoculars to hunt down famous objects such as the Andromeda Galaxy.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n Almost every page and paragraph received updates, including wholesale rewrites and new images. We updated our equipment recommendations in chapters on buying binoculars, telescopes and accessories. Also new are three chapters with tours of selected regions of the Moon, and our picks for samplers of deep-sky targets for both binoculars and small scopes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The hobby has been revolutionised by digital technology. Even since the third edition in 2010, the gear and software we use has changed. Smart phones and tablets were just coming into their own; not to mention social media. The new edition reflects this.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The highlight of the coming year is the run of semi-annual eclipses of the Moon. We have an almost-total eclipse on 19 November, followed by two deep total eclipses in 2022, first on 16 May, then on 8 November. The UK misses out on the latter. To make up for it, Britons can enjoy a partial eclipse of the Sun on 25 October 2022.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Alan Dyer <\/strong>is an astrophotographer, eclipse chaser and author of several best-selling astronomy books<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div><\/section>\n\n New astronomy and space titles reviewed<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":24,"featured_media":24590,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"ub_ctt_via":"","purple_page_number":"94","purple_custom_meta_purple_page_number":"94","purple_seq_number":"1","purple_custom_meta_purple_seq_number":"1","purple_source_article":"article_94-1.xml","purple_custom_meta_purple_source_article":"article_94-1.xml","purple_source_issue":"October-2021","purple_custom_meta_purple_source_issue":"October-2021","purple_external_id":"October-2021-94-1","purple_custom_meta_purple_external_id":"October-2021-94-1","purple_issue_code":"|0000086545||","purple_custom_meta_purple_issue_code":"|0000086545||","purple_android_product":"com.im.skyatnight.197","purple_custom_meta_purple_android_product":"com.im.skyatnight.197","purple_ios_product":"com.im.skyatnight.197","purple_custom_meta_purple_ios_product":"com.im.skyatnight.197","purple_web_product":"","purple_custom_meta_purple_web_product":"","purple_publication_id":"075fab74-0a21-4201-866a-899d6c41c40c","purple_migrated":"","kt_blocks_editor_width":""},"categories":[24],"tags":[14],"featured_image_src":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/77\/2021\/09\/29a8892f-8d89-4ec9-a64a-8bb3d736a765.jpg","author_info":{"display_name":"importmanagerhub@sprylab.com","author_link":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/bbcskyatnight\/author\/importmanagerhubsprylab-com\/"},"acf":{"readingTimeMinutes":"8"},"uagb_featured_image_src":{"full":["https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/77\/2021\/09\/29a8892f-8d89-4ec9-a64a-8bb3d736a765.jpg",650,785,false],"thumbnail":["https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/77\/2021\/09\/29a8892f-8d89-4ec9-a64a-8bb3d736a765-150x150.jpg",150,150,true],"medium":["https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/77\/2021\/09\/29a8892f-8d89-4ec9-a64a-8bb3d736a765-248x300.jpg",248,300,true],"medium_large":["https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/77\/2021\/09\/29a8892f-8d89-4ec9-a64a-8bb3d736a765.jpg",650,785,false],"large":["https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/77\/2021\/09\/29a8892f-8d89-4ec9-a64a-8bb3d736a765.jpg",650,785,false],"1536x1536":["https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/77\/2021\/09\/29a8892f-8d89-4ec9-a64a-8bb3d736a765.jpg",650,785,false],"2048x2048":["https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/77\/2021\/09\/29a8892f-8d89-4ec9-a64a-8bb3d736a765.jpg",650,785,false]},"uagb_author_info":{"display_name":"importmanagerhub@sprylab.com","author_link":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/bbcskyatnight\/author\/importmanagerhubsprylab-com\/"},"uagb_comment_info":0,"uagb_excerpt":"New astronomy and space titles reviewed","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/bbcskyatnight\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/23551"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/bbcskyatnight\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/bbcskyatnight\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/bbcskyatnight\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/24"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/bbcskyatnight\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=23551"}],"version-history":[{"count":17,"href":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/bbcskyatnight\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/23551\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":24967,"href":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/bbcskyatnight\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/23551\/revisions\/24967"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/bbcskyatnight\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/24590"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/bbcskyatnight\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=23551"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/bbcskyatnight\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=23551"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/bbcskyatnight\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=23551"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}![\"\"](\"https:\/\/dj9jqhxgw9833.cloudfront.net\/uploads\/sites\/77\/2021\/09\/Z14MMU1G42X7VOM7Z1M322H9114A-844x1024.jpg\")
<\/figure><\/div>\n\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/dj9jqhxgw9833.cloudfront.net\/uploads\/sites\/77\/2021\/09\/N255943DLYL0OJI9PRZ4H2K9T73F.jpg\")
\n\nFire and Ice: The volcanoes of the Solar System<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n
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<\/figure><\/div>\n\n
\n\nSHORT READ, BIG IDEAS<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n
Time: 10 Things You Should Know<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n
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<\/figure><\/div>\n\n
\n\nNorthern Lights<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n
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<\/figure><\/div>\n\nInterview with the author Alan Dyer<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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What advice would<\/strong> you give beginners?<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n
What\u2019s in this new updated edition?<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n
What\u2019s changed since the first edition?<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n
What upcoming astronomical events should be in our observing calendar?<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\n