Collins Spacewatching - The Ultimate Guide to the Stars and Beyond (Hardcover)

The Twentieth Century has seen enormous leaps in our understanding of the universe. Ever larger telescopes provide views of distant galaxies and nebulas. New technologies reveal extraordinary objects that are invisible to the human eye. The space age has expanded our horizons; people walk on the Moon and live in space stations, and probes travel to the outer reaches of the Solar System.

'Spacewatching' reflects the latest knowledge garnered from these daring journeys and equips you for space explorations of your own. A companion volume to 'Skywatching', it provides practical advice on selecting the right tools for the kind of skywatching you wish to pursue and included useful hints on sketching and photographing celestial sights.

The Sun and Moon dominate our skies, and reward a closer look with a wealth of intricate features. You can learn how to safely chart the progress of sunspots across the face of the Sun, or explore the craters and seas of the Moon using the eight detailed maps provided.

The extraordinary variety of the planets, Earth's neighbours, is revealed by the spectacular images taken by spacecraft. Once you know what to look for, a small telescope can show you such details as the icy polar caps of Mars, the changing cloud patterns of Jupiter, and the splendid rings of Saturn.

Beyond the Solar System, stars, nebulas, and galaxies beckon. The wonders of deep space are explored in the Starhopping guide, Designed for both Northern and Southern Hemisphere observers, this easy-to-use series of charts offers 20 telescope tours through the sky's most fascinating regions.

• Companion to the highly successful 'Skywatching: The Ultimate Guide to the Universe'
• Over 500 stunning full-colour photographs and illustrations
• Packed with facts , figures and a wealth of practical information