A complete introduction to observing and understanding the night sky Unlock the mysteries of the night sky with this comprehensive guide to astronomy. The Practical Astronomer explains and demystifies stargazing and teaches you how to observe and navigate the night sky. Learn how to set up your binoculars and telescopes and find out how to spot different celestial bodies, such as stars, planets, nebulae, and galaxies. Train your telescope into the sky and learn astrophotography with your smartphone camera or digital camera. Hop from one star to another to locate the different constellations or other deep space objects. The book contains sky maps charting all the 88 constellations in both northern and southern hemisphere, helping you map the star patterns, from Ursa Major and Orion to Pavo and Aquarius. The Practical Astronomer also contains monthly star charts that follow the changing positions of stars in the night sky through the year. Discover the solar system and know about other objects, such as satellites and space stations, that light up the sky. A reference section at the back of the book provides handy information about every planet and includes information about eclipses. Become an accomplished amateur astronomer with this practical guide.