Skywatcher's Companion
Constellations and Their Mythology
- Publisher
- Heritage House Publishing
- Initial publish date
- Nov 2007
- Category
- Sky Observation
-
Paperback / softback
- ISBN
- 9781894974363
- Publish Date
- Nov 2007
- List Price
- $9.95
-
eBook
- ISBN
- 9781926613277
- Publish Date
- Mar 2011
- List Price
- $9.99
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Where to buy it
Recommended Age, Grade, and Reading Levels
- Age: 12 to 14
- Grade: 4
Description
An informative sidekick to Stan Shadick's annual award-winning Skywatchers calendars, Skywatcher's Companion presents fascinating stories for skywatchers of all ages.
Discover the wonders of the night sky and learn how to find the star patterns that have inspired the myths and storytelling of great cultures of the past. Meet the gods and goddesses of Rome, Greece and Mesopotamia and see how they found their way into the many constellations that dominate the ever-changing northern sky. Learn how the same stars inspired legends of the Native peoples in Canada, the United States, northern Europe and elsewhere. See how the sky changes with the seasons but always remains the biggest movie screen in the universe.
About the author
Stan Shadick developed his passion for astronomy as a youth from discussions with teachers and members of the Royal Astronomical Society of Canada. With the encouragement of his father, John Shadick, Stan decided to pursue a career in astronomy. He earned an Honours BSc in physics from the University of Saskatchewan and an MSc in astronomy from the University of Western Ontario. Stan currently teaches introductory and advanced astronomy courses at the University of Saskatchewan and supervises its observatories. He also writes an astronomy column for the Saskatoon Sun. He is an active advocate for recreational stargazing and writes an astronomy column for various newspapers. Stan encourages us all to preserve our view of the starry skies and reduce light pollution by decreasing unnecessary use of outdoor lighting.
Librarian Reviews
Skywatcher’s Companion: Constellations and Their Mythology
This book discusses the constellations visible from 37° to 60° latitude North. The introduction includes a table of the Greek and Roman gods and heroes and their domains, and a map of the viewing area featured in the book. It explains that many ancient cultures observed groups of stars, imagined lines connecting them and created myths based on these constellations. Each chapter features a nighttime photograph of an actual skyline, with the darkened sky visible above. Stars are named and lines show the constellations, which are also identified. Each photograph indicates the month, time of night and the direction of viewing. Suggested reading list and glossary are included.Source: The Association of Book Publishers of BC. BC Books for BC Schools. 2008-2009.
