Updated and Improved Night Sky Guide

We’re excited about this updated and improved edition of the Night Sky guide.

Stargazing is among the most peaceful and inspiring outdoor activities. Night Sky: A Field Guide to the Constellations, the award-winning book by Jonathan Poppele, makes it more fun than ever!

The Night Sky guide takes a simple approach to finding 62 constellations by focusing on one at a time. It teaches readers how to locate any constellation in relation to the Big Dipper, the North Star, and the top of the sky. It also includes mythology, facts, and tidbits—plus, it comes with a new and better red-light flashlight for night reading. With two ways to locate each constellation, readers will know where in the sky to look and what to look for!

What else is new in this updated edition of the Night Sky guide?

• Night Sky now features all the constellations in the sky (all 88). Those found in the far southern sky are in their own section, three to a page, with a bit of info about each, as well as a map of where they are visible.
• A map showing light pollution levels across the country, as well as a chart showing how much each level of light pollution affects what you can see
• A wholly revamped and updated introduction
• Tips for observing the planets, the moon, and deep sky objects; this includes new discoveries, including an image of Pluto from the New Horizons probe
• Updated planet location tables that are good until 2030; a chart that covers the 100 brightest stars in the sky; a chart of all 88 constellations, with a wide variety of details about each; and a chart of asterisms (with graphics) that are useful in “getting around” the night sky

About the author: Jonathan Poppele is a naturalist, author, and educator with wide-ranging interests. He earned a master’s degree in Conservation Biology from the University of Minnesota, studying citizen science, environmental education, and how to cultivate a personal relationship with the natural world. He has taught college level environmental studies, biology, and writing courses and currently teaches in the Department of Writing Studies at the University of Minnesota. An avid outdoorsman and student of natural history, Jon is a member of the Astronomical League, the Minnesota Astronomical Society, the Minnesota Trackers Club, and the International Society for Professional Trackers.

A companion deck of playing cards (sold separately) is available to help learn about the constellations. Each card features a different constellation, and the suit indicates the season in which the constellation is most prominent. The cards are also ranked by how easy it is to spot a given constellation. Playing with the cards helps you learn the patterns of the constellations without even trying.