Philip's Stargazing 2009

PHILIP'S STARGAZING 2009 is a concise guide to the night sky, helping starwatchers to see the year's most fascinating events, whether observing with the naked eye, binoculars or a telescope. The guide is suitable for use between latitudes 40N and 60N, including Britain and Ireland, Europe as far south as Rome, and Canada and the northern USA as far south as Philadelphia. Each chapter (one for each month of the year) has a colour star map showing the positions and phases of the Moon, the positions of the planets, and other useful information. Each month also includes a constellation described in detail; special events during the month, such as eclipses; a featured astronomical object, usually a deep-sky target; an astrophotograph, with details of how it was taken; plus times of sunrise and sunset. The Solar System Almanac explains the movement of the planets, with particular attention paid to their positions in 2009. Solar and lunar eclipses, meteor showers and comets are also described.