Pattern Asterisms by John Chiravalle
Since the very beginning of astronomy, people have looked up sky and constructed patterns – the constellations – out of the almost random scattering of stars in the night sky. The fact that the constellations are still used to day reflects not their historical origins, but their usefulness in identifying bright stars in the rotating dome of the sky. Most people (and all astronomers) are familiar with, for example, the constellation of Orion and can thus easily point to Betelguese and Bellatrix as being Orion’s "shoulders". It is the pattern made by the constellation that makes them easy to identify. Suitable for observers using binoculars and medium size telescopes, this catalog includes star pictures, dot-to-dot outlines of the objects ( on a negative photograph for clarity ), and an artistic image next to the star patterns. Size, stellar magnitudes, and coordinates are provided, along with north direction, star-hopping instructions and Sky Atlas 2000 references. The imaginative observer will surely begin to develop a new insight into star patterns, and will start seeing patterns of his own, under this catalog's influence!"At the age of 14,"the author writes, "I became aware of the sky above meThe next day I announced, as a student in my seventh grade science class, that I had found constellation coffee pot. A brief burst of laughter ensued. I was politely told to take my seat." Nevertheless, "I still see the Orion asterism as a coffee pot."
This book is the result of Chiravalle's liftetime search for eye-catching asterisms, most of them visible in binoculars or a telescope. --Alan M. MacRobert, Sky & Telescope, November 2006, p. 80)
| SKU | Unavailable |
| ISBN 13 | 9781846283277 |
| ISBN 10 | 1846283272 |
| Title | Pattern Asterisms |
| Author | John Chiravalle |
| Series | The Patrick Moore Practical Astronomy Series |
| Condition | Unavailable |
| Binding Type | Paperback |
| Publisher | Springer London Ltd |
| Year published | 2006-05-08 |
| Number of pages | 172 |
| Cover note | Book picture is for illustrative purposes only, actual binding, cover or edition may vary. |
| Note | Unavailable |