The book is structured as follows:
In Chapter 1, "Basic Knowledge", the reader is introduced to elementary concepts about the celestial sphere and its apparent motion, celestial coordinates, stellar magnitudes and the measurement of angles in the sky. This chapter also provides a summary of how to orientate oneself in the celestial sphere and identify the brightest stars and the constellations to which they belong.
Chapter 2 – "Deep sky objects" – is devoted to a general description of celestial bodies known as deep sky objects and stars. Considerable space is devoted to the latter, where we have sought to introduce amateur astronomers to the world of stars through interesting explanations and numerical applications, while also demonstrating that, based on the laws of astrophysics and the manipulation of mathematical formulas and equations, anyone can create their own image of the diversity of form, colour and variety in which matter is organised in the universe.
The last chapter, "Constellations", will open up the sky for you. For each month of the year, the constellations that are best visible in the early hours of the night are listed. In the space allocated to each region of the celestial sphere, there are images and brief descriptions of the most interesting and brightest celestial bodies. These are followed by a table in which you will find descriptions of the most beautiful binary and multiple star systems. The presentation of the colours of the stars and the apparent distance between the components allows each reader (observer) to test their visual acuity and the limits to which their own instrument can be used.
PACKAGE CONTENTS
1. one copy of the book "Stars and Constellations", 216 pages, A4 format with colour cover;
2. one CD (free astronomy software, appendices, helpful tables and much more);
3. one copy of the Celestial Atlas, in A4 format. It contains 24 plates showing stars up to magnitude +7.5 and deep sky objects up to magnitude +12.5.
The CD and the celestial atlas are distributed free of charge and are included as a bonus with this package.
