Discover the stars and explore constellations -- a kid-friendly guide to navigating the sky.
Over thousands of years, stargazers have noticed shapes in the stars, known as constellations. Different cultures have seen mythical animals and heroes within these constellations, while many travelers have used the stars as a guide for their journeys. This book will show young astronomers how to read the night sky as they discover more than 20 unique constellations.
From Canis Major to Cassiopeia, each constellation includes easy-to-check star maps with bright illustrations and guidance on the direction and how high from the horizon you'll need to look. You'll also find step-by-step directions on how to use other stars to guide your way, plus a look at the mythology behind each constellation.
- Reach for the stars. A brief intro to the night sky covers the basics you need to know to understand how to find the constellations.
- Connect the dots. Find each constellation with ease using tables telling you where to look, maps with simple illustrations, and super easy steps linking other stars to lead the way.
- Learn the legends. Did you know Lyra is the only Greek constellation that is a musical instrument? Explore cool celestial facts and the fantastic mythology written in the stars.
Kelsey Johnson is a professor of astronomy and founding direction of the award-winning Dark Skies, Bright Kids program. She has won numerous awards for her research, teaching, and promotion of science literacy. Her TED talk on the importance of dark skies has more than 1.5 million views, and her writing has appeared in nationwide publications.