2026 Observer's Handbook - US Edition

The 2026 Observer's Handbook is your essential guide to the night sky! The RASC Observer's Handbook is available in a USA edition with applicable sections tailored to the USA.

An indispensable astronomy book for amateur and professional astronomers, teachers, students, as well as interested general readers, the Observer’s Handbook is one of the oldest scientific publications in North America and has been published since 1907. 

The 352-page guide is published annually by The Royal Astronomical Society of Canada and includes information provided by more than 75 contributors.

Included upcoming astronomical events for the current year:

•    Times of sunrise and sunset
•    Moon phases and other lunar phenomena
•    Conjunctions, elongations, etc. of the planets
•    Eclipses and transits
•    Location of the planets and dwarf and minor planets
•    Returns of periodic comets
•    Times of meteor showers
•    Orbital positions of the brighter satellites of both Jupiter and Saturn
•    The Sky Month By Month which gives an extensive listing of events throughout the year

Astronomical reference information that does not vary much from year to year but is revised annually to ensure the information is the best available, including:

•    Information on observing artificial satellites
•    This year’s feature star field
•    Astronomical and physical constants
•    Light pollution and sky transparency
•    information on the Sun, including sunspots and aurorae
•    Information on solar and lunar observing
•    Sections on astronomical sketching and digital photography
•    Section and observing list "Wide-Field Wonders"
•    Advice on using the Observer's Handbook for teaching astronomy
•    Section on Sky phenomena
•    40 pages of authoritative tables dealing with stars, star clusters, nebulae, and galaxies
•    Maps of the Moon and of the entire stellar sky

The 2026 Observer’s Handbook contains information useful for well beyond the current year and would be a much-appreciated resource for any active observer. Don't miss this must-have reference book for anyone interested in astronomy!

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