Learning about space doesn't have to be difficult when writing sci-fi or fantasy

It's Fiction Friday! Let's talk...the wonders of the night sky in The Practical Astronomer by Anton Vamplew and Will Gater. Now, before you start saying "but isn't that a non-fiction book?", know that I have done this deliberately. This week's Fiction Friday is a little different. There are many writers who will need to incorporate facts into their piece of fiction, and there will be fiction readers looking for those moments or those one lines that make their story that much more real.

A lot of fantasy and sci-fi fiction will need to know some facts, especially when it comes to space, and dipping into a subject area is like dipping your big toe into the pool to see how cold it is - it can either make you run from it, or make you want to dive right in.

Here is one of those books that make you want to dive right in.

Synopsis

For anyone who's ever looked at the night sky and wanted to know more about the galaxy around them, The Practical Astronomer shows readers how to discover and understand the mysteries of the solar system and beyond. Illustrated throughout with detailed photographs and illustrations, and using clear, easy-to-follow text, The Practical Astronomer takes you on a step-by-step journey from the basics of what can be seen with the naked eye, to how you can view more distant objects such as the planets of the solar system, and even galaxies far, far away-all in your own backyard.

Unlock the mysteries of the night sky with this comprehensive guide to astronomy.

The Practical Astronomer explains and demystifies stargazing and teaches you how to observe and navigate the night sky. Learn how to set up your binoculars and telescopes and find out how to spot different celestial bodies, such as stars, planets, nebulae, and galaxies.

Train your telescope into the sky and learn astrophotography with your smartphone camera or digital camera. Hop from one star to another to locate the different constellations or other deep space objects. The book contains sky maps charting all the 88 constellations in both northern and southern hemisphere, helping you map the star patterns, from Ursa Major and Orion to Pavo and Aquarius.

The Practical Astronomer also contains monthly star charts that follow the changing positions of stars in the night sky through the year. Discover the solar system and know about other objects, such as satellites and space stations, that light up the sky. A reference section at the back of the book provides handy information about every planet and includes information about eclipses.

Become an accomplished amateur astronomer with this practical guide.

---

Reviews

Amazon Best Sellers Rank:

• 25 in Astronomy Charts

• 98 Solar System

• 129 in Stars & Interstellar Matter

4.27 stars on Goodreads with 144 ratings and 14 reviews

My Review

Besides being an avid reader, I have always been intersted in seeing planets, stars and the Moon with my own eyes (ok...through my binoculars). But I am also a writer of fantasy fiction and happened to stumble into a situation with my characters that required some truth about how stars and planets are formed. I instantly turned to The Practical Astronomer. It was much easier that looking through various - and sometimes conflicting - answers online, and it granted me the ability to save time researching and using that time to write instead. This book has been a handy companion to my fiction writing, enabling me to write characters with scientific backgrounds or build worlds using the basics of how gravity works and how stars are born.

They - whoever the writing Gods are - say we should read what we write. If you are writing about something you do not know, even if it's in your control to create or imagine it, your work will be more respected if you do you research. Whilst we should read fiction if we are writing a piece of fiction ourselves, we should also occassionally dip into the world of non-fiction to ensure our stories are believable to our audiences and to aid us when creating the foundations of our fictional world.

Also, this book rocks for anyone simply interested in the night sky!

---

Author

Anton Vamplew is an author, writer and presenter of astronomy. He was born in Rainham, Kent UK in 1966, and by the age of six he was fascinated by the night sky. Over the years Anton has has always tried to promote the subject with passion and fun, but always with accuracy. After many radio features and television appearances, as well as articles in magazines, his first book Simple Stargazing was published by Collins in 2005. Now with his sixth book just released, he is finding there is just as much interest about the night sky from those young and old as there has ever been.

Will Gater is an astronomy journalist, author and science presenter. He has written extensively for some of the world's top science magazines including New Scientist, BBC Sky at Night Magazine, Physics World, Focus and Astronomy Now, among others.

He is the author of several popular astronomy books and is an experienced observational astronomer & astrophotographer.

Alongside his efforts to popularise science & astronomy on television and radio, he has also recently toured with his first live theatre show, The Story of the Solar System.

Publication Information:

Publication Date: 17th May 2010 (1st Edition)

Publisher: DK Publishing (Dorling Kindersley)

Author: Anton Vamplew, Will Gater

Format: Paperback

Pagination: 256 pages

Genres: science, astronomy, stargazing, space, solar system, non-fiction

Buy Now:

Amazon

DK

Don't forget to support your local bookshops!

If you have any recommendations for Watch Wednesday, please let me know by filling in the form, or find us on Instagram @lets_talk.uk. Like, follow, subscribe, comment - we'd love to hear your views. Stay tuned for next week's Fiction Friday. Let's talk then!

---