The fun, easy way to get into stargazing and start navigating the stars and planets – right away! You don't need a degree in astrophysics to plumb the mysteries of the universe, and this book proves it. Stargazing For Dummies makes navigating the stars easy. From finding your way around our solar system to hunting for elusive deep-space objects, this book provides everything you need to get started on your journey through the cosmos. Meet the neighbours – get to know the celestial neighbourhood, from the Moon and Venus to Orion and the Seven Sisters Peek into the private lives of stars – learn the basic science of stars, such as what they're made of, the different types, how many there are, distances between them and more Magnify the magnificent – learn about binoculars and various types of telescopes, how to buy them and how to use them to see farther into the cosmos Connect the dots – learn how to recognise constellations and tell the difference between near stars, distant galaxies, globular clusters and nebulae Venture forth into the Cosmos – using detailed illustrations you'll confidently navigate the stars as seen in different seasons in both the Northern and Southern Hemispheres Open the book and find: Instructions on finding your way around the night sky with the naked eye A guide to buying a pair of binoculars or a telescope Tips for identifying key constellations Astronomy and astrophysics basics made easy The low-down on photographing stars Detailed illustrations for all the major constellations in both hemispheres Learn to: Navigate the night sky with the naked eye, binoculars or a telescope Identify key constellations and night-sky objects, wherever you are in the world Take your first steps toward night-sky photography