Synopses & Reviews
Sir Patrick Moore, CBE, FRS is without a doubt the world's most widely known and respected of broadcasters on astronomy. His BBC-TV program, The Sky at Night, remains the longest-running TV program in the history of broadcasting. For more than three decades The Amateur Astronomer has inspired generations of amateur astronomers. Almost uniquely, Patrick Moore has written a book that is useful to astronomers at all levels, from beginner to expert. Appendices - completely updated in this new edition - provide extensive star, lunar and planetary maps, along with a vast amount of data and information that makes this book an essential for every amateur astronomer's library.
Review
From the reviews of the twelfth edition: "The Amateur Astronomer is aimed at both novice and experienced amateur, although evidently biased towards the former. ... should be mandatory reading for anyone thinking of buying a first telescope. ... We find here useful statistical data, cartographies, catalogues, and notes relevant to the owners of small to medium telescopes. ... Now approaching 50 years old ... this 12th edition continues the book's long tradition of providing an invaluable handbook for those requiring a broad introduction to amateur astronomy. A classic; absolutely recommended." (Steve Ringwood, Astronomy Now, June 2005) "Classic text that covers the basics of all the major areas of astronomical observing, from lunar and planetary studies to observing and measuring double and variable stars. The high-quality black & white illustrations and images in this book bring together the old and the new in a way that is refreshingly different. ... This highly recommended book will have pride of place on my bookshelf and I will continue to dip in and out of it for many years to come." (Neil English, Astronomy and Space, January, 2007)
Synopsis
any popular books upon astronomy have been written during the Mpast few years, but most of them cater either for the casual dabbler who is content to learn from the depths of his armchair or else for the serious amateur who already knows the main facts.What I have done, or tried to do, is to strike a happy mean. This book has been aimed at the needs of the beginner who knows nothing whatsoever, but who is nevertheless anxious to make a start with what equipment he can collect at limited cost. All astronomers, professional or amateur, were beginners once, and all have had to draw upon the experience of those who have learned before them.I feel some dif?dence about offering myself as a guide, but at least I have one quali?cation: in my early days as an observer I made almost every mistake that it is possible to make This explains the frequent occurrence of such phrases as I once saw. and I rem- ber that when I. I hope therefore that what I have written may prevent others from falling into the same ridiculous traps."
Synopsis
Writing in the easy-going style that made him famous as a writer and broadcaster, Sir Patrick introduced astronomy and amateur observing together, so that his reader gets an idea of what he is observing at the same time as how to observe. This brand new edition of Sir Patrick Moore's classic book - it has been going since 1957, with many revisions - has been completely updated in the light of changes in technology. Not only do these changes include commercially available astronomical telescopes and software, but also what we know and understand about the universe. There are many new photographs and illustrations. The hugely comprehensive appendices provide hints and tips, as well as data (year 2000 onwards) for pretty well every aspect of amateur astronomy. This is probably the only book in which all this information is collected in one place. Amateur astronomers at every level will want this book.
Synopsis
This 2000 Edition of Sir Patrick Moore's classic book has been completely revised in the light of changes in technology. Not only do these changes include commercially available astronomical telescopes and software, but also what we know and understand about the universe. There are many new photographs and illustrations. Packs a great deal of valuable information into appendices which make up almost half the book. These are hugely comprehensive and provide hints and tips, as well as data (year 2000 onwards) for pretty well every aspect of amateur astronomy. This is probably the only book in which all this information is collected in one place.
Table of Contents
Publisher's note. - Foreward to the First Edition.- Foreword to the 12th Edition.- Astronomy is a Hobby The Unfolding Universe.- Telescopes and Observatories.- The Solar System. The Sun.- The Moon Occultations and Eclipses.- Aurorae and the Zodiacal Light.- The Nearer Planets.- The Outer Planets Comets and Meteors.- The Stellar sky.- The Nature of a Star.- Double Stars.- Variable Stars Star-Clusters and Nebulae.- Galaxies.- Beginnings and Endings.- Appendices.- Bibliography