While there are guides to the visible sky, this is the first book to encompass the most important stars known in the universe at a level accessible to the layperson. The noted astronomer James Kaler takes us on a tour of the 100 most interesting stars, describing their characteristics and importance in words and vivid pictures.

The Sun.- Acrux.- Adhara.- AG Draconis.- Albireo.- Algol.- Alpha Centauri.- Aphard.- Antares.- Arcturus.- Barnard's Star.- Beta Canis Majoris.- Beta Cassiopeiae.- Beta Lyrae.- Beta Pictoris.- Betelgeuse.- The Black Widow.- Canopus.- Capella.- CD-38°245.- CH Cygni.- Chi Cygni.- Chi Lupi.- Cor Caroli.- Crab Nebula.- Cygnus X-1.- Delta Cephei.- Delta Orionis.- Deneb.- Deneb Kaitos.- DQ Herculis.- EG 129.- Egg Nebula.- Epsilon Aurigae.- Epsilon Eridani.- Epsilon Lyrae.- ESO 439-26.- Eta Carinae.- FG Sagittae.- 51 Pegasi.- FK Comae Berenices.- 40 Eridani.- FU Orionis.- Gamma Cassiopeiae.- Gamma Draconis.- Gamma-2 Velorum.- GD 165B.- Geminga.- Gliese 229B.- GRS 1915+105.- HD 93129A.- HZ 21.- IRC+10 216.- Kaptey's Star.- Keple's Star.- L 1551 IRS 5.- Lambda Boötis.- LB 11146.- Merope.- Mira.- Mizar (and Alcor).- Mu Cephei.- Mu Columbae.- MXB 1730-335.- NGC 6543.- NGC 7027.- Nova Cygni 1975.- OH 231.8 +4.2.- P Cygni.- PG 1159-035.- Polaris.- PSR B1257+12.- PSR B1913+16.- R Aquarii.- R Coronae Borealis.- R Leporis.- R Monocerotis.- Rasalgethi.- Rho Cassiopeiae.- Rho Ophiuchi.- RR Lyrae.- RS Canum Venaticorum.- RS Ophiuchi.- SGR 1900+14.- Sigma Octantis.- Sirius.- 16 Cygni.- 61 Cygni.- Spica.- SS cygni.- SS 433.- Supernova 1987A.- T Tauri.- Theta-1 Orionis.- Thuban.- Tycho's Star.- Vega.- VV Cephei.- W Ursae Majoris.- Zubenelgenubi.- ZZ Ceti.

I have always loved the stars. I watch them, photograph one. And you can hardly talk about Zubenelgenubi them, research them, write about them. Their wonder without bringing in Zubeneschamali, so they too are is that they are there not simply for scientists, but for treated within one story. The Sun is not included in the all of us, filling the night sky with their sparkling beauty. 100 list, but instead leads the pack as "Star Zero. " There are as many different kinds as there are stars Before describing the glories of the 100 stars, an themselves, each an individual. The heavens give us introduction briefs the beginning stargazer on basic bright ones, dim ones, near ones, far ones, the aged, stellar properties and explains the astronomical the young, those that help tell our ancient stories, and terminology, without which we would be continuously those nearly invisible even with the greatest of our tongue-tied. A separate glossary provides a quick technologies. Taken together, they relate the tale of our reminder. Then we move on to the stars themselves. existence, of the birth, life, and death of the Sun on Each of my favorite stars is introduced by a short which we depend.