Your Night Sky Companion! To gaze skyward is to be filled with wonder. You might find yourself asking questions like, “Is that bright object a planet or a star? What does the constellation Perseus look like? When’s the next meteor shower?” Find these answers and more in Simply Stargazing . The tabbed booklet is simple and convenient to use, with full-color photographs and illustrations. Topics are organized by season for quick and easy identification, and award-winning author Jonathan Poppele offers observation tips and instructions on everything from the moon, planets, and deep-sky objects to the ecliptic and the zodiac. Six full-sky charts make locating constellations a snap at any time of year. - You’ll learn about spotting planets, meteor showers, and more. - A timetable for meteor showers further enhances your knowledge of stargazing. - The booklet’s pocket-size format is much easier to use than laminated foldouts, and the tear-resistant pages help to make the book durable in the field. Keep Simply Stargazing close at hand on your next nighttime outing. 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 through animal tracking. He has taught ecology, environmental studies, biology, and technical writing at the University of Minnesota.An avid outdoorsman and student of natural history, Jon is a member of the Minnesota Trackers Club and the International Society for Professional Trackers, and he is the founder of the Minnesota Wildlife Tracking Project. A Black Belt in the peaceful martial art of Ki-Aikido, Jon is also the founder and director of the Center for Mind-Body Oneness in Saint Paul, Minnesota. The Big Dipper The Big Dipper, part of Ursa Major, is the most famous star pattern in the north and will guide you across the spring sky. 1. To Find True North and More The front edge of the dipper's ladle points to Polaris, the North Star. - Follow that line past Polaris to Cepheus. - The wide "W" of Cassiopeia lies on the opposite side of Polaris from the handle of the dipper. 2. Arc to Arcturus, Speed on to Spica, Continue to Corvus Follow the arc of the dipper's handle to Arcturus in Bootes. - Keep following the curve to Spica, the bright star in Virgo. - Continuing this curve leads to Corvus near Hydra's tail. 3. Follow the Ladle The back edge of the ladle points south toward Regulus in Leo and beyond to Alphard in Hydra. - The top of the ladle points to brilliant Capella in Auriga. - A diagonal line through the ladles points toward the twins of Gemini: Pollux and Castor.