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Library Lines 4/21/2022

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Article Date
April 21, 2022

April is Global Astronomy Month and as the temperature get warmer, it’s a great time to step outside and look to the sky. For a closer look at the stars, check out the Chatham Area Public Library’s telescope. That’s right, the Library a telescope that can be checked out for 2 weeks. Pair it with a book about constellations and you’re ready for sky seeking fun. Here are some informational and fictional books to help you enjoy Global Astronomy Month.

These nonfiction books are great to help you learn more about our night sky even without a telescope. NightWatch by Terence Dickinson is a practical guide to the stars, galaxies, and planets that are visible in the night sky from North America and the Southern hemisphere. Also by Dickinson is The Backyard Astronomer’s Guide. This book is more about the practicalities of stargazing, including selecting an observation site, contending with light pollution, and choosing appropriate equipment. Astronomy: a visual guide by Ian Ridpath traces the history of astronomy, uncovers some mysteries of the universe, and helps navigate the night skies. All three of these books include plenty of pictures to help aid in understanding.

Here are some fiction books that have an astronomy tie-in. In Honey Girl by Morgan Rogers, the main character, Grace Porter, has just finished her Ph.D. in astronomy. She’s a straight-laced, type A personality, and certified high achiever.  When she goes on a girls’ weekend to Vegas to celebrate finishing school, she drunkenly gets married to a woman whose name she doesn’t even know. As reality comes crashing in, Grace must face the fears that make us human, the family scars that need to heal, and the need for connection in the messiness of adulthood. How to Tell Toledo from the Night Sky by Lydia Netzer is a mind-bending, heart-shattering love story. Two astronomers meet while studying at the premier center of astronomical discovery in Toledo. George and Irene have everything in common, the air seems to hum when they’re together. But George and Irene's attraction was not written in the stars. In fact their mothers, friends since childhood, raised them separately to become each other's soulmates. When that long-secret plan triggers unintended consequences, the two astronomers must discover the truth about their destinies.

For grade school readers, try these books.  Your Place in the Universe by Jason Chin is a nonfiction introduction to the massive scale of the known universe. Chin makes this complex subject accessible to readers of all ages by making things relatable, for example, most eight-year-olds are about half as tall as an ostrich. A Child's Introduction to the Night Sky by Michael Driscoll shows the history of space exploration, the story of our solar system, the myths behind the constellations, and how to navigate the night sky. The Care and Feeding of a Pet Black Hole by Michelle Cuevas is a fiction story about eleven-year-old Stella Rodriguez. One day, Stella finds herself in possession of a strange new pet, a black whole that swallows up everything in sight. Stella names the black hole Larry and she especially likes it when he swallows up items that remind her of her dad who recently died. But when Larry swallows something too precious to lose, Stella must embark on an epic interstellar adventure to get it back.

All of these books, plus many more, plus a telescope can be found at the Chatham Area Public Library. All are waiting patiently to go home with you and be used and enjoyed.