Download or read book Night Skies of Botswana written by Stephen James O’Meara and published by Penguin Random House South Africa. This book was released on 2020-04-01 with total page 251 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This easy-to-use, accessible guide to starwatching in Botswana is ideal for beginner and amateur stargazers. All stars described can be seen with the naked eye – binoculars and telescopes are not necessary. The book opens with stargazing tips while introducing important astronomical concepts, describing our galaxy and the Earth’s place in it. The body of the book offers four star charts per month giving views from north, south, east and west, with supporting descriptions of the stars and constellations. Users can dip in during any month. The final chapter surveys the solar system, including the Sun, Moon, planets and leftover debris. There’s information on a meteorite strike in Botswana in 2018, and how to identify artificial satellites orbiting the Earth (including the International Space Station). Botswana’s ancestral stories about the stars are scattered throughout the book, honouring indigenous interpretations of the night skies and giving a unique African flavour. Sales points: Easy-to-use star maps (four per month); no previous stargazing knowledge is necessary; all stars described can be seen with the naked eye; numerous stunning photos; Botswana star lore adds cultural interest.