Stars on a cold night

WINTER in the northern hemisphere on a crisp and cold night is a good time for star-spotting. Ian Nicolson’s Heavenly Bodies (BBC Books, pp 128, £9.99 pbk) offers a useful starting point for would-be astronomers. A pinch of history and some good illustrations make the book a good read. If you want to get serious, try the astronomy pack project (£9.99) with its planisphere and posters (write to PO Box 7, London W3 6XJ).