Publisher’s Description of Sky Gazing

The sun, moon, stars, and planets have been a source of wonder for as long as humans have lived on earth.

In this highly visual guide to observing the sky with the naked eye, kids aged 9–14 will delve into the science behind what they see. This captivating book offers a tour of our solar system and deep space, explaining how objects like Earth’s moon were formed and introducing the “why” behind phenomena such as eclipses, northern lights, and meteor showers. Sky gazers will learn how to find and observe planets — no binoculars or telescopes required — and star charts will show them how to spot constellations through the seasons and in both hemispheres.

Activities include tracking the cycles of the sun and moon and observing the sky during daylight hours or on a cloudy night. Includes profiles of professional astronomers and sidebars on space technology and current issues, such as light pollution.

Rebecca’s Thoughts on Sky Gazing

Who doesn’t get entranced looking up at the stars? Whether you’re searching for constellations or imagining blasting off from Earth to found the first settlement on Mars, the night sky gets your imagination rolling. And you have much more knowledge to work with if you’ve read up on the objects you’re gazing at.

That’s where Sky Gazing comes in. The author walks you through the solar system and then the universe, explaining each type of celestial object along the way. She provides fun activities for kids like charting the moon right from their own backyard, designing their own solar system, and making up new constellations from the stars they can see. The book also includes star stories from all over the world.

Sky Gazing is beautifully illustrated with images and drawings of the night sky, stars, planets, galaxies, and more.

Sky Gazing is perfect for middle school readers who dream of becoming astronauts, but also for those who just want to learn more about the universe around them.

I received a free advanced reader copy in exchange for an unbiased review.

Sky Gazing was published on October , 2020. You can add it to your “want to read” list on Goodreads, or order on Indiebound, Barnes & Noble, or Amazon.

If Sky Gazing sounds good, you might like these other nonfiction books we’ve recently reviewed:

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