This article examines, analyzes, and compares four popular science books on traditional Chinese celestial knowledge:Decoding the Celestial Sphere, Roaming the Chinese Starry Sky, China's Starry Sky, and Starry Empire. These popular works draw extensively from earlier specialized literature, encompassing comprehensive histories of astronomy, comparative studies of Chinese and Western star nomenclature, research on the history of stellar observations, explorations of the social history of ancient Chinese astronomy, as well as integrated studies of ancient mythology, ethnicity, and archaeology. The evolution of these celestial-themed popular science books is marked by continuous refinement in both content creation and the graphical representation of constellations. Each book offers its own distinctive flavor, striving for a harmonious blend of science, humanity, and artistry. Collectively, they serve a dual purpose: to disseminate scientific knowledge and to promote the rich heritage of traditional Chinese culture.

ancient China  /  history of astronomy  /  celestial knowledge  /  Song of the Sky Pacers  /  scientific popularization