A SELECTION OF MY BOOKS
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New Simple Stargazing [iPad]
This iPad book is the latest incarnation of my first book Simple Stargazing, which was published as a hardback back in 2005. The idea back then was to write a guide for those interested in the night sky with more of a chatty, personal style, while keeping the jargon to a minimum.
Now it has been revised and updated into this new technological form with images you can swipe and tap. But the whole concept is just the same - to give you a friendly overview of what you can see at night. So, you'll find guides to viewing such things as shooting stars, eclipses, the Moon, planets, space stations, nebulae and seasonal charts to help you find the constellations. I have also added in one extra chapter on buying binoculars and telescopes.
Now it has been revised and updated into this new technological form with images you can swipe and tap. But the whole concept is just the same - to give you a friendly overview of what you can see at night. So, you'll find guides to viewing such things as shooting stars, eclipses, the Moon, planets, space stations, nebulae and seasonal charts to help you find the constellations. I have also added in one extra chapter on buying binoculars and telescopes.
Simple Stargazing [Hardback & Paperback]
My first book has scribblings on all sorts of things like planets, eclipses, the constellations, shooting stars, comets and lots more. Everything is aimed at understanding and knowing what you're looking at with nothing more than your eyes. Seasonal charts will let you know what stars are visible during the year together with any particularly great starry objects you can see.
Simple Stargazing was first published in the UK by Collins on 3 October 2005 and in the US on 1 March 2006. The Spanish version appeared in September 2006, the Chinese in 2008, and the Finnish edition in 2009.
Simple Stargazing was first published in the UK by Collins on 3 October 2005 and in the US on 1 March 2006. The Spanish version appeared in September 2006, the Chinese in 2008, and the Finnish edition in 2009.
Stargazing Secrets [Hardback & Paperback]
Book two includes the same seasonal charts at Simple Stargazing, but with additional objects you can easily see with binoculars and small telescopes. In fact there's a section on how to choose equipment as well. Plus, find out about how day, night, seasons and years really work; sections chatting about the northern lights and why sunsets are red as well as ghostly phenomena!
Stargazing Secrets was published by Collins in September 2007 and in the US in March 2008. The Spanish version appeared in November 2008.
Stargazing Secrets was published by Collins in September 2007 and in the US in March 2008. The Spanish version appeared in November 2008.
The Practical Astronomer [Hardback]
A complete beginner’s guide to observing the night sky. Start by taking a tour around the night sky learning to recognise the constellations and discovering how it works. Then take a closer look at the objects you can see and learn to recognise basic patterns of constellations and how to tell planets apart from other celestial bodies. There’s also advice on buying and using binoculars and telescopes.
The Practical Astronomer was published by Dorling Kindersley in the UK on 1 June 2010.
The Practical Astronomer was published by Dorling Kindersley in the UK on 1 June 2010.
Reviews of Simple Stargazing
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New Simple Stargazing *****
by David Bowen Having just been given an iPad and being keen on the night sky, I've been downloading some relevant apps, including the amazing Star Walk, and I was interested to see what night sky books they had. What a find this title was! Not only a fascinating book, it's also 200 pages long! It covers most of the things you can see in the night sky like meteors, planets, satellites, the moon, etc. and let's you know how to get the best out of viewing each. I would say this book works both as an introduction to astronomy or it's just great for someone who just wants to know what to look at and when, all without feeling like it's a text book in any respect. The writing style is very personable and clearly the author knows the subject very well. It's nice to see humour in there too. For example, the caption to an old painting of a constellation called Monoceros, the Unicorn, says, 'Ride like the wind, Dobbin! Or whatever unicorns used to be called'. This really does make the book enjoyable to read, and you find these gems dotted throughout. The large constellation chapter is divided into seasons (both for the northern and southern hemispheres) detailing all the main ones you can see at the various times through the year along with any good objects, like nebulas or star clusters. I'm actually amazed how many things I can see with just my eye, and now the weather has cheered up a bit I shall be out to check them out. I have only had the book for a couple of days, but I can tell it is set to become one of my classics. For anyone with even a passing interesting in the night sky, I would absolutely recommend New Simple Stargazing. What a great book! ***** by Jess Watts No, this is a brilliant book! I agree wholeheartedly with David Bowen's review, but thought it worth me adding mine in as it so deserves more than one comment. I've been interested in what the night sky has to offer more from the natural environment point of view rather than wanting to become and astronomer, and this book does the trick. It explains clearly in everyday language the main sights that are on offer in the night sky and in such a lively style. Other books on the subject have always fascinated me, but the author's personal approach of New Simple Stargazing just sets it apart, and that is so refreshing. The scrolling images and the quiz section in particular give the book a great interactive feel, much more than I was expecting, and just like the other review, the constellation section is laid out very well, with some amusing captions and comments. Well worth the small price tag! |
Review of Simple Stargazing by Sky at Night Magazine
Book Illustrations
For my books, Simple Stargazing, Stargazing Secrets, Night Sky Guides and Choosing & Using a Telescope, I took most of the photographs and also created or produced all the artwork.
Comet Hale-Bopp in 1997
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Venus transits the Sun on 8 Jun 2004
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A road sign from the future
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My hand in relation to the size of The Plough in the night sky
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The constellation of Orion can be used as a signpost to find many other stars
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MY LATEST
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© 2025 Anton Vamplew
