Including the latest star data from the Hipparcos satellite, The Monthly Sky Guide offers a clear and current introduction to the skies of the northern hemisphere for beginners of all ages. The fifth edition of Ian Ridpath and Wil Tirion's famous guide is updated to include all planet positions and forthcoming eclipses up to the end of the year 2004. Organized by each month of the year, this accessible handbook helps readers identify constellations, star clusters, nebulae, galaxies, and meteor showers; to plot the movement of planets; and to witness solar and lunar eclipses. Most of the features discussed are visible to the naked eye, and all can be seen with a small telescope or binoculars. Ian Ridpath's engaging text is infectious and inspires readers to discover the wonders of the night sky for themselves. Once out under the stars, readers will find Wil Tirion's skill in celestial cartography to be an ideal guide. This incredible combination accounts for the amazing success of this book, edition after edition. Ian Ridpath has been a full-time writer, broadcaster and lecturer on astronomy and space for more than twenty-five years. He has written and edited more than 40 books, including Norton's Star Atlas and Reference Handbook (Longman, 18th edition 1998) and A Comet Called Halley (Cambridge University Press 1985). Wil Tirion made his first star map in 1977. It showed stars to the magnitude of 6.5 and was issued as a set of maps by the British Astronomical Association in 1981. He has illustrated numerous books and magazines, including Sky Atlas 2000.0 (Cambridge University Press 1998). Read Less