Sky Gazing: A Guide to the Moon, Sun, Planets, Stars, Eclipses, and Constellations

Product Description

The sun, moon, stars, and planets have been a source of wonder for as long as humans have lived on earth.

In this highly visual guide to observing the sky with the naked eye, kids aged 9–14 will delve into the science behind what they see. This captivating book offers a tour of our solar system and deep space, explaining how objects like Earth’s moon were formed and introducing the “why” behind phenomena such as eclipses, northern lights, and meteor showers. Sky gazers will learn how to find and observe planets — no binoculars or telescopes required — and star charts will show them how to spot constellations through the seasons and in both hemispheres.

Activities include tracking the cycles of the sun and moon and observing the sky during daylight hours or on a cloudy night. Includes profiles of professional astronomers and sidebars on space technology and current issues, such as light pollution.

From School Library Journal

Gr 4-8-The deep origin and projected future of the universe? How to observe the sky effectively from your own neighborhood? The composition, density, and temperature of our sun? It’s all here. Thacher, who teaches astronomy at Smith College and runs a summer science and engineering program for high school girls, offers a clear, highly engaging narrative voice throughout the text. The pages are visually stunning and include colorful backgrounds, small chunks of text, multiple drawings, comics, illustrations, and gorgeous photos. Some sections explain elements of basic science, such as how the solar system came to be. A recurring cartoon character called “Star Dude” provides definitions and other salient facts. In a chapter about constellations, Thacher features star stories from southern Africa, China, the Indigenous people of North America, Polynesia, and ancient Greece. Additional chapters focus on the sky, the moon, the sun, planets, and stars. Many sections include instructions for crafts, such as how to make a red flashlight to protect night vision or a pinhole projector to view an image of a solar eclipse. Source notes are not included, but Thacher lists two pages of recommended resources. VERDICT This title is a bonanza for upper-elementary or middle school independent reading, especially for students with an interest in the sciences.-Bob Hassett, Luther Jackson M.S., Falls Church, VAα(c) Copyright 2011. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.

Review

“Packed with fun activities and fascinating facts, 
Sky Gazing is perfect for sharing with kids or letting them enjoy on their own. By inviting us outside to look up in wonder, 
Sky Gazing inspires our best defense against the continued growth of light pollution and the loss of natural night: a love for the sky gained by knowing it firsthand. You couldn’t ask for a better guide to that experience than Meg Thacher’s marvelous book.”
— Paul Bogard, author of
The End of Night: Searching for Natural Darkness in an Age of Artificial Light

“This title is a bonanza for upper-elementary or middle school independent reading, especially for students with an interest in the sciences.”
—
School Library Journal, starred review
 

From the Back Cover

Explore the Wonders of the Sky

The sky is a gateway to the marvels of the universe. Night and day spectacular things are happening overhead, and you don’t need a telescope or binoculars to see them. With this book as your guide, take a journey through our solar system, around our galaxy, and into deep space, and experience the excitement of scientific discovery.

Know your way around the moon – understand cosmic events like eclipses, auroras, and meteor showers – learn star stories from all over the world – make your own astronomy notebook to keep track of your discoveries – and much more!

About the Author

Meg Thacher is a lab instructor in Smith College’s astronomy department and the academic director for the Summe