The stars have captivated artists, romantics, sages, and scientists for centuries, inspir-ing countless civilizations as symbols of humanity's highest aspirations. The very word astronomy means "ordering of the stars," and studying these stunning pieces of fire is an ideal way to begin to appreciate the limitless wonders of the sky.
In this book, you'll meet the twenty-one brightest stars visible from Earth and discover their remarkable secrets. From Sirius and Alpha Centauri to Rigel and Regulus, you'll learn how to find these stars and the major constellations and discover the best ways to see them. Each star is profiled in a separate chapter, with detailed guidance on what to look for while observing it. There is fascinating information about the lore and legends connected with each star through history, as well as what the science of astronomy has to teach us about the star's physical nature based on exciting discoveries made in the last few years, including new, more accurate data on star distances, mass, and composition.