Book Description

The Messier Catalogue is a list of one hundred and ten galaxies, star clusters and nebulae, and includes many of the brightest and best-known objects in the sky. Amateur astronomers who find all the objects on the list in one night have successfully completed the Messier Marathon. The Observing Guide to the Messier Marathon contains over 90 easy-to-use star maps to guide the observer from one object to the next, and provides tips for a successful night of observing. Don Machholz also tells the story of the eighteenth-century astronomer, Charles Messier, and how he came to compile his extensive catalogue. His complete guide to the Messier Marathon will help the amateur astronomer to observe the Messier Objects throughout the year, using a small telescope or even a pair of binoculars.Don Machholz is an engineer in Auburn, California. Interested in astronomy since childhood, he is a renowned comet hunter, having discovered nine comets that bear his name. He writes articles for local California newspapers and radio stations for special astronomical events.Between 1988 and 2000, Don Machholz was the Comets Recorder for the Association of Lunar and Planetary Recorders. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Excellent addition to my growing astronomy book collection
This well thought out book is an excellent source for those of us who are pursuing the entire Messier catalog.Everything about it helps in the chase. Written in a manner that is not intimidating or too technical for those just starting out in amateur astronomy. Very helpful,interesting,and comprehensive. Can't go wrong with this one!Clear skies,all!! ... Read more

Book Description

On the clearest nights, in the darkest rural areas, it's possible to see as many as 2,000 stars. On what kind of scaffolding are they hung?

Every moment thousands of neurons fire in our brains, giving rise to our thoughts and emotions. Is it possible for us to map and understand the complex internal cosmos that makes us who we are?

These two disparate questions became of immense importance to award-winning writer Jan DeBlieu in the spring of 1996, with the appearance of the Comet Hyakutake, the first of two great comets to visit Earth within a year. That spring, her husband, Jeff, began a long slide into a clinical depression. One night, unable to sleep, she stepped outside and found herself face-to-face with Hyakutake. Her encounter with Hyakutake sparked a desire to learn all she could about the stars, comets, and the makeup of the universe.

Through her family's story, DeBlieu describes the pain of watching her husband suffer, as well as his healing—indeed, their healing as a couple. She brings the Year of the Comets full circle with the appearance of Hale-Bopp in 1997, which coincided with Jeff's recovery. ... Read more

Book Description

Here's a great way for amateur astronomers to get started in the study of stars, planets, and other celestial objects. This handsomely packaged kit provides stargazers with the following items: A Planisphere, a 9" diameter laminated double disk with a night sky star chart on the base disk and a movable top disk providing directional bearings and scales that mark hours of the night and months of the year; an Astrotorch, a small flashlight that gives off a beam of red light, allowing star watchers to study charts when they're outside on a dark starry night; "Mapping the Skies," a 128-page spiral-bound book of sky maps and charts; "The Star Guide," another 128-page spiral-bound book of full-color sky photos, illustrations, and a lively text that explains the science of astronomy. Lucky owners of this kit will be off to a great start in understanding what they're seeing when they gaze up at the night sky. It's also a great teacher's tool for science class. ... Read more

Reviews (3)

Can't go wrong with this!
I am just beginning to pursue a life-long dream of becoming a backyard astronomer,and have found these books(there are two,each spiral-bound)to be an excellent introduction to the hobby.Easy for the novice to understand,and each book is beautifully presented.If you are thinking of taking up astronomy as a new interest,I think Mr.Kerrod has done a wonderful job. I'm sure you will find the set of books;planisphere;and flashlight a great beginning!

Fantastic Kit!
Robin Kerrod's The Sky at Night is a fantastic kit that includes a planisphere, a red flashlight and two spiral bound books; Mapping the Sky and The Star Guide. Mapping the Sky has maps of major southern and northern constellations for each month of the year. The Star Guide is a concise but complete astronomy guide. Both books come with full color photographs and charts. The kit comes accomodated in a beautiful box so you can carry it everywhere. It is an ideal kit for your nightsky watching sessions. A great buy!

Dust off the telescope
This kit is great for children and adults. My husband is enjoying it as much as our 12 year old. They dusted off the telescope for it's first use in a long time. ... Read more

Book Description

Reviews (1)

Good beginner's guide to constellations & astronomy
This is an excellent starter book for stargazers, and fits into your pocket. ... Read more

Book Description

Here is the perfect reference for anyone who owns a telescope or a pair of binoculars, but doesn't know what to look for amid the constellations. It explains how to find double and multiple stars, variable stars, open and globular clusters, nebulae, and galaxies -- and what you'll see when you do. Includes 36 full-page sky charts; equipment, books, and software suggestions; sketches of how deep-sky objects look through a small telescope; and more than 100 black-and-white photographs. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Essential reference work for the amateur astronomer
This work by Phil Harrington should be in the reference library of any amateur astronomer. Although it has been to some extent superseded by the author's "Star Watch" , information is provided on a more exhaustive listing of objects.

The general impression one receives upon cracking the cover of this book , is of library quality rather than a "field book" , since the paper stock is of high quality gloss finish. I would use this book indoors to plan my observing sessions and use either photocopies of the star charts appended at the end of the book , or a field type star chart for outdoor use.

More classes of objects are covered in this volume than in "Star Watch" : galaxies , asterisms , star clusters , multiple stars , and quasars are all represented. Rather extensive verbal descriptions are included with directions for finding approximately 300 celestial objects , along with very interesting descriptions and explanations of them. The only criticism I have is that a few of the Messier objects are not included.

In a direct comparison with "Star Watch" , I find this volume to be more difficult to use. For a beginning astronomer , I would recommend this book as a follow-up project once the skies are familiar. "Star Watch" is a bit more user friendly for beginners. I still rate this work 5 stars and recommend it. The author has an excellent approach to finding and explaining celestial wonders.

A Valuable Reference for Beginning Amateur Astronomers
The well written content of this book aids the reader in star-hopping to find about 300 of the finest deep sky objects down to 60S declination, using excellent text, photos and sketches to describe their appearance.

The first five chapters contain excellent instructive material, followed by the seasonally ordered descriptive material. The reference material in the back includes useful listings of data on the objects described in the book, the constellations, the Messier Objects, an excellent Bibliography and useful addresses listing many web sites in both cases, in addition to a Star Atlas.

The unusual atlas included at the back is appropriate for the magnitudes of the objects described in the book. Unfortunately the author failed to include a crucial bit of information for each description by omitting a page reference for the location of the objects in the Atlas. Perhaps this will be corrected in a future edition of a book which will certainly merit further printings.

Despite this annoying defect, this is a good buy and a valuable tool for a beginning star observer. Although some of the objects described can be seen with good binoculars and a few with the naked eye, you will need at least a 100mm telescope or better to see many of them. ... Read more

Book Description

The Ever-Changing Sky is a comprehensive and uniquely non-mathematical guide to spherical astronomy. In a clear and lucid text, it guides through terrestrial and celestial co-ordinate systems, time measurement and celestial navigation, on to the stars and constellations (with useful star maps provided), the motions and appearance of the Moon and planets, tides and eclipses, and the smaller bodies of the Solar System (asteroids, meteors, meteorites and comets). There is also a brief overview of atmospheric phenomena. This text is invaluable to students of naked-eye astronomy, amateur and professional astronomers, and more general readers wanting to know how the night sky changes. ... Read more

Reviews (3)

Excellent reference work, but MISSING pages.
A concise and comprehensive work on astronomy. I'm a casual amateur astronomer, and chose the book for its first ~ six chapters explaining the coordinate system, relative motion and the like. Consequently, I've not read the entire book and use it primarily as a reference. Today, 20 June, I was looking up a topic in the index, p. 137. Went in search of p. 137 and discovered pp. 108-140 are missing. They were not torn out, but simply are not bound in the text. Page 107 has a drawing and the next page is 141. The missing pages include such sections on binary stars, variable stars and the Milky Way galaxy. My book is copyrighted ~ 1995.

Covers many hard to find topics in "cultural astronomy"
I would just like to add one point to the review of Gudzent. In his preface, Kaler explains that one of his reasons for writing the book was that he was teaching a course in astronomy for antrophologist. He's covering a lot of topics about terrestial and planetary motion that is of interest to a wide range of people, but that is often no longer covered in modern astronomy textbooks. If you're interested in a solid background for "cultural astronomy", this is the book for you!

A great book to learn astronomy and astrophysics
I am a retired physicist and astronomer and I have seen many textbooks in astronomy, popular as well as written for the serious student, and in more languishes than just English. This book may well be the best, it deserves more than 5 stars. It covers an amazing range: Spherical astronomy, astronomical mechanics and the motions of the heavenly bodies, planetary science, astrophysics, and instruments on just 500 pages. The book even includes atmospheric phenomenons such as sun dogs, halos, rainbows, which are generally omitted in the popular astronomical literature. The author manages to explain with lucid clarity difficult details without any use of mathematics. I checked several rarely well explained points in the field of spherical astronomy and astronomical mechanics and was deeply satisfied. He even touches on astrology and UFOs (in a critical manner). The book has included pictures illustrating facts I knew very well but had never seen so well demonstrated. The author is obviously not only a good scientist he is also a superior lecturer. If you want just one book to explore what you want to know in astronomy and astrophysics you have it here. Since I am teaching astronomy at my local college I will make it my textbook. ... Read more

Book Description

Star names, the zodiac, constellations; folklore and literature associated with heavens. The basic book of its field. Fascinating reading solidly based on years of thorough research into astronomical writings and observations of the ancient Chinese, Arabic, Euphrates, Hellenic and Roman civilizaitons.
... Read more

Reviews (2)

Amazingly Erudite
This book is an unusual, carefully crafted look at an unfortunately little-known subject. Richard Hinkley Allen shares with us his research into the ancient names carried by our stars... He delves into the etymologies of dozens, or more likely hundreds of stars, and also of constellations. The book starts out with two brief sections discussing features of the Zodiac as a whole, then goes into great detail about each constellation in the sky, zodiacal or otherwise. He draws upon mythology and folklore from the Chinese, Arabs, Greeks, Romans, Egyptians, Old Norse, Hebrews, Celts, many Native American peoples, Assyrians, etc... There are a few problems with nineteenth century terminology for the modern reader, such as calling Mesopotamian peoples "Euphratean," and frequently the spellings Allen uses are no longer accepted, but, well, I for one don't care about that. This just a gem of a book, that's all there is to it.

If you're like me, you may find yourself startled at how many of the stars carry Arabic names, which Europe adapted in the later Middle Ages. Somehow, that makes me wonder if that obscure fact could somehow help bring about some peace and mutual understanding between the West and the Islamic world... Anyway, I wanted to also mention that if you happen to get really into this stuff, and want to do further research, you could do a lot worse than go online and try to contact a reference librarian at any good divinity school library. That sounds funny, given that this book is about astronomy, and considering the traditional tensions between astronomy and religion, but if you can get access to such a library, you'll be able to leaf through mouldering old dictionaries of many ancient tongues. Especially if the school has offerings in comparative religion. Just a thought. Keep looking up!

A superb scholarly literary reference (but a bit dated)
This book is filled with ancient and classical literary references and catalog designations of the stars. At the price, it's an outstanding bargain. Greek, Latin, Persian, Arabic, Chinese, and European lore are all there. I think it's a"must have" for anyone interested in historical astronomy.

The book loses 1 star because the original text was written in 1895: before the constellation names and boundaries were fixed by the International Astronomical Union in 1930. So a beginner could get confused by references to a star being in one constellation whereas the IAU put the star in another. ... Read more

Book Description

A leading stellar astronomer summarizes our understanding of supernovae and their interaction with interstellar gas, including the ambient interstellar medium, the gas ejected in the explosion itself, and the gas emitted as stellar wind. She examines the evolution of supernova remnants as they interact with the gas and considers the role of supernovae and stellar wind in the physical state of the interstellar medium. Essential reading for specialists in supernovae and stellar evolution. ... Read more

Book Description

This long-awaited graduate textbook, written by two pioneers in the field, provides a comprehensive introduction to the observations, theories, and consequences of stellar winds. The rates of mass loss and the wind velocities are explained from basic physical principles. This textbook also includes chapters clearly explaining the formation and evolution of interstellar bubbles and the effects of mass loss on the evolution of high- and low-mass stars. Each topic is introduced simply to explain the basic processes and then developed to provide a solid foundation for understanding current research. This authoritative textbook is designed for advanced undergraduate and graduate students and researchers seeking an understanding of stellar winds and, more generally, supersonic flows from astrophysical objects. It is based on courses taught in Europe and the United States over the past twenty years and includes seventy problems for coursework or self-study. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

One of the best book about stellar winds
"Introduction to Stellar Winds" is simply one of the best book for those who need to know more about this topic. It's not just about the most massive stars, which have the strongest winds (e.g. Wolf Rayet stars), but also other stars (cooler, e.g. our Sun) with fainter wind. As a PhD student working on hot stars, this book is a reference. It sum it up all modern concepts, usually previously published in several articles in some astronomical publications. Mainly for astrophysicists, or for interested astronomy amateur whith extensive mathematical and physical knowledge. ... Read more

Book Description

Exploring the X-Ray Universe describes the view of the stars and galaxies that is obtained through X-ray telescopes. X-rays, which are invisible to human sight, are created in the cores of active galaxies, in cataclysmic stellar explosions, and in streams of gas expelled by the Sun and stars. The window on the heavens used by the X-ray astronomers shows the great drama of cosmic violence on the grandest scale. This account of X-ray astronomy incorporates the latest findings from several observatories operating in space. These include the Einstein Observatory operated by NASA, and the EXOSAT satellite of the European Space Agency. The book covers the entire field, with chapters on stars, supernova remnants, normal and active galaxies, clusters of galaxies, the diffuse X-ray background, and much more. The authors review basic principles, include the necessary historical background, and explain exactly what we know from X-ray observations of the Universe. ... Read more

Book Description

This compendium summarizes the astronomical data for all stars brighter than 8.0.For every object listed, it includes designations from the HD (Henry Draper) and SAO (Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory) star catalogs; the star name and constellation; the common name; the position for the equinox and epoch 2000.0; the star's proper motion; its visual magnitude and color index; the absolute magnitude; the spectral type; the radial velocity; the inferred distance; and, where appropriate, additional information on multiplicity, variablity and cluster membership.There is an index of Flamsteed and Bayer designations as well.The information given in this catalog is derived from the SIMBAD (Set of Identifications, Measurements, and Bibliographical References of Astronomical Data) database held at the Strasbourg Observatory.Together with the first edition of Volume 2 (which covers double stars, variable stars, galaxies, etc.) this is the definitive reference set used in professional astronomy. Serious observers of stars and star systems will appreciate the material found in this established reference work. ... Read more

Reviews (3)

Detailed Data
I bought this book because I was looking for a reference for all the double stars and deep sky objects shown in SkyAtlas 2000.0 charts that I could not find listed or old coordinates used in Burnham's Celestial Handbook made difficult to tell which is which.This is the one.For every object I am looking for data, this reference shows the mag, size, seperation. For galaxies it also lists the brightness, which is usefull and will help you to understand why you have spent endless nights searching for a mag 9.5 galaxy only to discover it's brightness is only mag 10.5 because it's light is spread over such a wide area.This is not a star chart format book, it is a data reference listed in order of RA for double stars and in order of NGC # for most everything else.There is a notes column that will cross reference the M objects, but you cannot look them up unless you have the NGC #.It's easy really, if you have a good set of charts that you are starting from.If you want to know all about the objects by constellation, get the three books that make up the set of Burnham's.Even though they are 1950 coordianates, the will teach you more than you ever thought you could know about the sky.Use this as a current data reference to fill in the blind spots.

2000.0 stars to Magnitude 8.0
This is NOT to be purchased unless you are very advanced in astronomy. I was hoping for a rework of the "New General Catalog" and this, as a gift, was way beyond me. I feel the description of this tomb shouldreflect its complexity

The Best Star Catalogue Ever made!!!!
This book contains hundreds of stars, down and including the magnitude 8.0.It is 99.999% accurate and no smudges!I recomend this book to anyone who is searching the stellar realm of the universe. ... Read more

Book Description

This book is aimed at students and researchers who wish to use reflectance and emittance as quantitative tools to measure the properties of surfaces and materials. It is intended primarily for use in the interpretation of remote observations of the surfaces of the Earth and other planets, and it will also be useful to chemists, physicists, geologists, engineers and others who deal with particulate media. Topics include propagation and absorption of light in continuous media, reflection by smooth surfaces, scattering by spheres and irregular particles, reflectances and emissivities of particulate media, reflectance and emittance spectroscopy, and the polarization of light scattered by particulate media. Many examples of applications are given. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Useful reference
Good coverage of the physics of planetary remote sensing. Also useful forothers interested in reflectance spectroscopy. (coverage is mainly aboutreflectace, despite the title.) ... Read more

Amazon.com

There are many atlases showing features on the surface of the earth, but this book is the only one (in late 1998, at least) to cover the whole universe. Patrick Moore, who has hosted BBC Radio's popular The Sky at Night program for more than 40 years, gives straightforward, though not simplistic, explanations of astronomical objects of every order of magnitude. He includes charts of every mapped body in the solar system (except Earth), as well as maps and guides to every constellation.

Throughout this encyclopedic work, Moore emphasizes information likely to be useful to amateur astronomers. He provides better coverage of comets and variable stars than do most general works, for instance, because these are areas where amateurs can make important observations. Although he includes a number of gorgeously colored pictures from the Hubble space telescope and other top-flight observatories, Moore retains a focus on what you yourself might be able to see. An excellent single-volume reference, Atlas of the Universe is also a good starting point for your own exploration of the heavens. --Mary Ellen Curtin ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Informative
I am pleased with the up to date information available in Atlas of the Universe. I bought the book as a research tool and found it very resourceful. If you are interested in the study of the planets and known cosmos or have a child interested in the same, this is a reasonable purchase. ... Read more

Book Description

Observing variable stars is one of the major contributions amateur astronomers make to science. There are 36,000 variable stars listed in the General Catalogue of Variable Stars, so it is clearly impossible for the limited number of professional observatories to target even the majority of them. That's where amateur astronomers come in, thousands of them turning their telescopes to the sky every night. Variable star observing is the most popular of "real science" activities for amateurs, and Gerry Good's book provides everything needed. The first part of the book provides a highly detailed account of the various classes of variable star, with examples, illustrations and physical descriptions. The second section covers practical aspects of observing, everything from preparation and planning, through observing techniques, to data management and reduction. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Great book for all amateur astronomers
This is a great book for all amateur astonomers but variable star observers will be most pleased. The book covers a great amount of information such as how to observe variable stars, record observational data and report observations regarding variable stars. Also, there is a great amount of information regarding the many types of variable stars such as pulsating Mira type stars, cataclysmic variables, eclipsing binaries as well as many of the less known type variable stars such as SX Phe stars, BY Dra stars, Be stars and many, many more. The book does a very good job of covering so much information, much better than any other book available to the amateur at this time.
I would recommend this book to any amateur astronomer but I would strongly encourage any variable star observer to add this book to their library as soon as they possible could do so. This is a great book for the beginning variable star observer; you'll have more information than you can use for years. ... Read more

Book Description

On a clear night, the vastness and beauty of the star-filled sky is awe inspiring. In Stargazing: Astronomy without a Telescope Patrick Moore, Britain's best known astronomer, tells you all you need to know about the universe visible to the naked eye. With the aid of charts and illustrations, he explains how to "read" the stars, to know which constellations lie overhead, their trajectory throughout the seasons, and the legends ascribed to them. In a month-by-month guide he describes using detailed star maps of the night skies of both the northern and southern hemispheres. He also takes a look at the planets, the Sun and the Moon and their eclipses, comets, meteors, as well as aurorae and other celestial phenomena--all in accessible scientific detail. This captivating book shows how, even with just the naked eye, astronomy can be a fascinating and rewarding hobby--for life. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Excellent introduction to the night sky
I enjoyed this book very much. I liked the fact that the author goes through each month of the year and does an excellent job of describing the constellations, and provides maps to help find the stars he mentions. He even covers both the Northern and Southern Hemispheres. While I obviously live in the Northern Hemisphere, and so the Northern Hemisphere's sky maps are the most helpful in my own stargazing, I thought it was fun to read about how the sky in other parts of the world compares with my own backyard sky. He also gives helpful advice for finding each of the planets visible with the naked eye. He also describes comets, meteors, and other astronomical phenomona visible with the naked eye. I highly recommend this book for those who want to enjoy astronomy without necessarily spending a lot of money on equipment. ... Read more

Book Description

In 1996 Meade, the world's largest astronomical telescope manufacturer, introduced the ETX, a low-cost and genuinely portable instrument capable of results close to the theoretical limits of optical performance. Since then several different models have been introduced, most of them controlled by on-board computers that automatically point the telescope at objects selected from a database of 12,000. Unfortunately not all these objects are visible when looking through the ETX! (They are included because they can be imaged with special equipment.) Mike Weasner is a world-renowned expert on the ETX range, and describes the "best" 100 objects to start with, and offers hints and tips about using and looking after the telescope to get the best possible results. ... Read more

Reviews (3)

Bad
I eagerly awaited this book, but then I deeply regretted that I've bought it. It's definitely not worth the paper. Well, the book contains everything I knew before, but all I want to know in addition (and there is still a lot!) is not adequately addressed. Very sparse technical information, no drawings, bad illustrations, no hints at all, nothing but ridiculously simple explanations.
In summary, there is no need to buy this book, except for a very beginner.

I would love a good ETX book - but this is not it
I wanted to like this book, but unfortunately it's not worth the paper it's printed on. There is more and better information available free on Mike Weasner's terrific website (referenced on almost every page of the book). Nor does the book provide a valuable and handy reference - the long text articles about tuning the scope etc lack diagrams, illustrations, useful pictures... I almost laughed when the Seasonal Name Star Charts appeared several to a page and so small as to be utterly useless. Want to know how to carry your ETX outside? This book is for you. Want to know anything about accessories, programming the AutoStar, what the inside of the ETX looks like, CCD imaging, or similar topics? Forget it, it's not in there. Conclusion: If you want a good astronomy book, consider "The Backyard Astronomer's Guide" or "NightWatch". If you want ETX-specific information, visit Mike Weasner's website. And save your money until a useful ETX book is published - there is a need for one, but unfortunately this is not it.

Mike Weasner -- the Champion of ETX owners
This eagerly awaited book has finally arrived! Best of all, it is specifically directed to those of us who own and you use one of the Meade ETX scopes. It is an essential tool/accessory for anyone who uses an ETX to view the universe, and I'm sure others will no doubt find it helpful, as well. For those of us familiar with Mr. Weasner's site on the Internet, we all know that it is an invaluable source of information for any amateur astronomer, regardless of level of experience or equipment used. There is something for everyone, from the very first-time night sky watcher, to the novice beginner or the advanced user of the most complex and expensive gear available. As many times as I will return to that web site, now I have a handy, well organized, clearly written and equally useful compendium of information that I can carry with me and read anywhere at all (without having to download page after page and print, to bring with me in the field, or elsewhere). Great features are the wonderfully organized table of contents and useful index to quickly locate the kinds of things I want to know while using the book as a reference, whether away from the scope, or actually out observing the stars and celestial bodies, etc. The book is a "fast read" if you choose to 'devour' it that way (I did!) Thanks Mike!!! ... Read more

Book Description

Almost a half-century after is completion, the 200-inch Palomar telescope remains an unparalleled combination of vast scale and microscope detail. As huge as the Patheon of Rome and as heavy as the Statue of Liberty, this magnificent instrument is so precisely built that its seventeen-foot mirror was hand-polished to a tolerance of 2/1,000,000 of an inch. The telescope's construction drove some to the brink of madness, made others fearful that mortals might glimpse heaven, and transfixed an entire nation. Ronald Florence weaves into his account of the creation of "the prefect machine" a stirring chronicle of ht birth of Big Science and a poignant rendering of an America mired in the depression yet reaching for the stars. ... Read more

Reviews (11)

The story of the Palomar telescope and its predecessors
I purchased this book at the telescope gift shop on Mount Palomar back in 1996. I read it in the next few days. It is the fascinating tale of George Hale, a remarkable man who had to battle personal demons (in the form of debilitating mental breakdowns) to build the world's largest telescope--then do it again and again! I can't remember the first one offhand, but the 100-inch Hooker Telescope on Mt. Wilson was next, then the 200-inch Hale telescope on Mt. Palomar. This book talks about all the technical, financal and other difficulties that were overcome to make the giant telescope possible. It explains large earlier telescopes and how the problems encountered in their construction provided lessons for the designers and builders of the Palomar telescope. Anyone interested in the history of technology or astronomy should give this book a look.

A fine rendering of a historic achievement
Florence's narrative brings alive the fascinating saga of the great Mt. Palomar reflector, in its time the world's largest telescope and a pioneering example of "Big Science." The instrument's gestation period, beginning in 1928 and interrupted by the second World War, was so long that three of the principal figures didn't live to see it dedicated in 1948. Included in this group was the project's founding father, George Ellery Hale, for whom the telescope is named. The author uses Hale's remarkable abilities and seemingly unending physical and mental travails as a unifying theme throughout the book.

A renowned telescope developer and respected solar astronomer, Hale had the establishment clout and scientific connections to launch such a grand project and assemble a team to carry it out. While suffering from a chronic nervous condition that often left him isolated in a darkened room, he was nevertheless able to lead the program through its most critical periods and help rescue it from a multitude of financial and organizational crises.

The immense 200-inch (nearly 17 ft) diameter of the Palomar telescope's main mirror gave it twice the theoretical resolution and four times the light grasp of its Hale-inspired predecessor, the 100-inch reflector on Mt. Wilson. Everything about the 500-ton machine was Brobdingnagian, perhaps best symbolized by the fact that an observer at the prime focus actually sat inside the telescope tube, with plenty of clearance for starlight to stream past him to the mirror some fifty-five feet below.

In the hands of Florence, what might have been a confusing welter of facts becomes a coherent and utterly engrossing suspense story. He seemingly overlooks nothing about the relevant issues of Astronomy, optics, engineering, business, politics and personalities; yet there is no sense of overkill and one always feels eager to begin the next chapter. The dozens of interacting characters are portrayed with enough subtlety, irony and humor to make them seem real and familiar. I have seldom gotten so much pure enjoyment from a book.

I bought it for my father
I have no trouble pinpointing the splendid-ness of this book. All I have to do is mutate a cliche and say that "the angel is in the details." Florence's full, dramatic account of the various attempts to create the mirror for this enormous telescope -- first by General Electric and then by Corning -- is worth many times the price of admission. What you get is an exciting story of engineering hurdles met, overcome, and sometimes not overcome ... I am not an engineer, but probably should have been one. My father _was_ an engineer and, while reading this book, decided he would probably find it enthralling, and I was right.

Florence is such a careful and masterful writer, that this tale of seemingly-insurmountable obstacles and struggles should appeal to anyone. He makes molten glass come to life. Bravo. One of the better books I've read in the past 5 years - and I read a lot.

A nearly perfect book about a nearly perfect machine
Not only does Ronald Florence give a vibrant account of the design and construction of the Hale telescope, he manages to make the reader share his fascination for an admirable project and an awe-inspiring science machine. The book is better than well written, it is captivating. Having been closely involved in a major telescope project, I can only state that his account of the production of the "giant eye" rings true. Rarely has a science writer shown so much understanding of the intricate processes, technologies, and human relations underlying a large science project. Still, there are a few disturbing inaccuracies in Florence's story. On a number of occasions, the author wrongly gives credit to the Palomar telescope designers for innovations that had been experimented long before, such as the principle of the support of the primary mirror, actually due to Lassel (Malta, 1861). The account of the in-situ finishing of the primary mirror sounds completely implausible, the metrology of the time (I saw the Hartmann screen on the occasion of a privileged visit in 1995) being of too low resolution to allow any meaningful verification of local refiguring as reported by Florence. The post-1950 period would also have deserved a somewhat broader and fairer account; the Russian 6-m may not have been a success comparable to the Palomar but paved the way for modern mechanical designs, and the advent of entirely new and far-reaching concepts, such as active optics, in the hands of European designers and suppliers is completely ignored. Still, the vision and the endeavour underlying the making of the Palomar telescope emanate from every page; it is a nearly perfect book about a nearly perfect machine.

A hugely enjoyable book about a huge project....
A tale of modern engineering. The design and construction of the 200 inch Palomar observatory was possibly the first "big science" project of the modern era. Florence also provides much biographical information on George E. Hale, a necessity since the building of this telescope and the life of Hale were so intertwined as to be inseparable. Put simply, even if you have no background in astronomy or telescope-making, this book presents a story of a huge engineering undertaken. Nothing of the scale had ever been considered before and the designers and builders had to confront countless unique problems and invent new techniques along the way. This book is a classic in the history of modern astronomy, but enjoyable for anyone who loves reading about massive construction projects. ... Read more

Book Description

This textbook gives a clear account of the manner in which knowledge in many branches of physics, such as gravitation, thermodynamics, atomic physics, and nuclear physics, can be combined to gain an understanding of the structure and evolution of stars.A major aim is to present the subject as one in which advances are still being made.The first half is an account of the observational properties of stars and a discussion of the equations that govern their structure.The second part discusses recent theoretical work on stellar evolution.The successes of the theory are stressed, but attention is also drawn to phenomena that are not completely understood.This is a new edition of a widely-used textbook first published in 1970.New topics include mass loss from stars and close binary stars. ... Read more

Book Description

The Cambridge Guide to Stargazing with Your Telescope is an indispensable guide to telescopes and how to choose the right one for your needs. It gives straighforward explanations of how they work, and how to progress from first-time user to skilled observer. It gives practical help for setting up and using any telescope, and provides lists of objects to look at with different sizes of telescope, from both town and country, including the Sun, Moon and planets, comets, asteroids, star clusters, variable and double stars, supernovae, nebulae and galaxies. Aimed principally at newcomers to astronomy, of all ages, this book describes the full range of telescopes that are internationally available, with examples of objects to observe taken from both hemispheres, appropriate for all observing conditions. It also gives advice about accessories, such as eye-pieces and filters, plus suggestions for photography through the telescope and choice of camera and film type. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Nifty little guide to buy before you buy your first scope
This is an appealing digest-sized guide that tells you everything you need to know before buying your first telescope. It presents the technical information you need to understand in plain English.

What's more, it's profusely illustrated and up to date. It has info on the latest scopes and the advantages and disadvantages of the different types (refractor vs. reflector etc.).

So why didn't it earn the fifth star? I wish the pages were larger. It's designed along the lines of a field guide but you're not going to read this book in the field. You're going to read it in your easy chair amidst a stack of Astronomy and Sky and Telescope magazines. In that venue a more traditional book size would be more appropriate.

Don't let that put you off though. If you're contemplating buying a good scope and you don't have a knowledgeable friend to lean on for advice, buy this book. ... Read more