This is a great reference for those who enjoy looking at the stars! Appropriate for all ages and all levels of science background… You just need a passion for the sky.

**I received and voluntarily read an e-ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.**

Incredibly informative, both for the amateur and semi-pro astronomer. Anyone who loves looking at the sky should have a copy of this book.

I love space. For as long as I remember I have always looked towards the stars with awe and been mesmerised by it. The older I have gotten, the more intrigued I have become by it. I very clearly remember my first time seeing a star cluster through my brothers telescope. I honestly do not think that I will ever forget how I felt looking through that eyepiece to a distance part of our galaxy and being speechless.

For me, the Yearbook of Astronomy fits in perfectly with how I look towards space. I like to know when certain events are going to take place (and try and plan my days / nights around these) so knowing a year in advance of when everything is going to occur is a huge bonus for me.

From my perspective, the Yearbook of Astronomy 2021 is split into 2 seperate aspects. The first everyone will find something useful in. Included are the position of the stars throughout the year in both hemispheres, when meteor showers are at their the peak, as well as the best times of the years to view planets. This section is extremely well laid out, with a very logical sequence as to how it is put together.

The second portion of the Yearbook of Astronomy 2021 is aimed towards the astronomy scholar. A multitude of articles are included from many people about many different aspects of astronomy. From Māori Astronomy in Aotearoa-New Zealand to Solar Observing, a plethora of articles are included. I, unfortunately, found these to be very wordy and overall unnecessary to what I required from the Yearbook of Astronomy 2021.

While more aimed towards the avid stargazer, everyone who looks towards the stars will find one thing of use in this yearbook.

Disclaimer: I would like to thank the publisher, Pen & Sword, for providing a review copy of this book.

The Yearbook of Astronomy 2021, edited by Brian Jones with over 20 contributing authors, is the latest publication of this yearly reference book that started in 1962. As an armchair/backyard astronomer, I felt like this book was written for me. The sky charts and monthly description of astronomical events and what to look for when sky gazing in 2021 are well done, if slightly redundant in this age of easily accessible planetarium software. The strength of this reference is in the many well written and informational astronomy articles that it contains. These articles are both educational and interesting. Topics include the history of astronomy and famous astronomers, space related accomplishments from the previous year, and planned space exploration in the coming years. The detailed observation lists and descriptions regarding meteors, comets, planets, asteroids, variable stars, double stars, deep space objects, etc gave me encouragement to grab my telescope and head out to a dark viewing spot! I particularly enjoyed the articles on solar observation, early artifacts made from meteorite metals, the history of constellation naming, the geological history of the moon, and Maori astronomical history. Finally, the comprehensive glossary will serve as a useful reference to the occasional technical term.

This book will appeal to the kind of reader that likes astronomy magazines, and I definitely recommend this to the hobbyist astronomer that enjoys reading and learning about astronomy.

I thought this Yearbook of Astronomy would be a light read with mostly pictures and fun facts. I was wrong. It was a highly informative and useful book about many topics including Moon phases and Constellations. I thought I had a base knowledge of Astronomy but I was mistaken. This book has provided me with useful information and I learned a lot. I was very pleased to learn that this annual yearbook has been published for decades and I look forward to reading this every year. Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for an ARC in exchange for an unbiased and honest review.

The Yearbook of Astronomy made its first appearance way back in 1962, shortly after the dawning of the Space Age. Now well into its sixth decade of production, the Yearbook is rapidly heading for its Diamond Jubilee edition in 2022. It continues to be essential reading for anyone lured and fascinated by the magic of astronomy and who has a desire to extend their knowledge of the Universe and the wonders it plays host to.


When I saw this book up for request, I knew I had to. Since the beginning of the year with all the world happening right now, Astronomy has been something I’ve delved into and enjoyed and hope to carry on and this book certainly is going to help. Packed with every date and transition you need to be a keen astronomer, it’s a really good guide for a rookie like figuring it out and a pro who just needs a place to find all you need about the night skies.

Inbetween each month’s planetary calendar, are really interesting articles. ‘The Star That Was Older Than The Universe’ was a really intriguing read about ‘HD140283′ known as ‘The Methusulah Star’ due to its incredible age. Another really interesting piece in this book includes ‘Your Name In Space’ about the history of sending your name into space, with millions of people’s names being put on a chip or a disk and sent to distant planets (I know I have my own ’boarding pass’ for the 2020 mission to Mars myself!).

In the second halof of the book are longer articles on anniversaries going on in the year, the work of Henrietta Leavitt and her incredible contributions that led to discoveries by Shapley and on to Hubble and the article on Maori Astronomy is also another interesting read.

A really great guide to the skies of 2021, if you’re an astronomer, this is a great book to have handy next year and highly recommend it!

This book was a bit more advanced than I was looking for. I had hoped it was one I could share with my 10 year old who loves astronomy like I do. The book was very informative and gave a lot of history and information I did not know.

I was about 10 pages into this book when it hit me: I couldn't NOT have a physical copy of this book, so I went ahead and pre-ordered! I feel a bit stupid really, because this book is exactly what I have been wishing existed... and it does exist, and has done for quite a few years. Aside from the priceless star maps (which are really simple to use once you get yourself pointed in the right direction!), you're offered an abundance of information (in an easy to read and well-laid out manner) on all sorts of interesting things like comets, planets, meteor showers, space exploration... the list goes on and on, all packaged up in a truly beautiful and user-friendly book. Get in touch if you want to hear me rave a little more about "Yearbook of Astronomy 2021"!

My thanks to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for an advance copy to review. This review is entirely my own, unbiased, opinion.

I love to read about space and planets. As an amateur reader this book was a little more advanced. It is being published for last 60 years annually.
It is for real and amateure astronomers. It has tables if constellations, star locations , comets and moon phases.
This was not for me.
There was a lot of good stuff. Various space expeditions done in current year were nice to read.
First parts of Soyuz and it's accidents was great to read.
Reading abound second interstellar comet observed.
Indian moon mission and curiosity rovers work are detailed.
It was wonderful to read. Although normal reader has to pick up what they read out of around 329 pages.

I'm kind of new to astrology, but I like it a lot and want to learn and find book that will help me. This was also my first yearbook of astronomy and this is a good reference book, I don't know if my ARC will be available all year long, I doubt it, but this is a book I would love to go back too during the year to see what is coming in term of astronomical even, look at the sky charts and just find and use information to try and see great stuff with my telescope. I also like the more general information about astronomy that help you build some knowledge on the subject. I would recommend it to young astronomers like me!