The Constellations Pocket Guide covers each constellation as a whole (hence, ‘macro’). The constellation's myth is given -- if it has one -- or its origins are explained if it's more recent. There is a star map of its asterism, showing the brightest stars. And other features as well: a table of proper names for each constellation (nominative and genitive). Thus you can verify that ‘alpha of Orion’ is called alpha Orionis. The date of transit (due south at midnight) for each constellation is given, so you know when it's going to be visible.
The Binocular (and Naked Eye) Guide answers the challenge: "are you sure that's the right star?"
Even if you just want to be able to walk outside on a summer's night (or, indeed, enjoy the dark skies of a winter's night), and confidently name the stars or point out the various constellations, without ever buying a pair of binoculars (much less a telescope!) this guide lets you do that.
With binoculars (and they don't have to be the most expensive type) many more objects become visible, including stunning wide binaries -- some with colour differences. A table of the best of these binaries is found at the back of the guide.
Other delights are the various star clusters, large ones such as The Pleiades and The Hyades; fainter ones such as The Wild Duck Cluster and the curious Coathanger, all quite lovely and quite accessible in binoculars. And all quite easy to find with The Binocular (and Naked Eye) Guide to the Stars.
A ‘field edition’ of the Constellations Pocket Guide, also spiral bound, is now available, to complement the Binocular Guide.
Click field guide for a comparison of the regular edition with the field edition or here to order the field edition with the Binocular Guide.
