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Astronomy (page
1)
 Advanced
Skywatching
Our review: We spent a good amount of time on the floor at the local
bookstore going through all the choices before putting our own money
into this book, and we're very happy with it. The approach is somewhere
between a field guide and a comprehensive historical atlas; it helps
you understand the what and the why behind the things you can see up
there.
We recommend this book as step one along any path of amateur
astronomy -- even before you buy a telescope (there's a helpful chapter
on how to buy the right one). For more advanced astronomers, the book
is full of facts, diagrams and illuminating skywatching tips. Note,
however, that this book does not replace a good field guide to the night
sky (see below). Subtitled The Backyard Astronomer's Guide to Starhopping
and Exploring the Universe, this Nature Company Guide is authored by
Robert Burnham, Alan Dyer, Robert A. Garfinkle, Martin George, John
O'Byrne, Jeff Kanipe, David Levy. $20.97
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this book: ships within 24 hours
Hardcover - 288 pages (October 1997) Time Life; ISBN:
0783549415; Dimensions (in inches): 1.13 x 11.41 x 6.84
TOP
 National
Audubon Society Field Guide to the Night Sky
Our review: Before you can find anything, you need star charts and a
good field guide. This book has both, and it's the one we use. The book
is well organized, easy to understand, and contains more facts than
you'll need while trying to read in the dark. It's written by Mark R.
Chartrand, Mark R. Chatrand, Jane Friedman (Editor) $13.30
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this book: ships within 24 hours
Hardcover (November 1991) Knopf; ISBN: 0679408525 ; Dimensions
(in inches): 1.13 x 7.73 x 4.23
TOP
 Rocks
from Space
Meteorites and Meteorite
Hunters
by O. Richard Norton, Dorothy S. Norton (Illustrator)
Our review: Don't be fooled by the cartoon-like cover. This lengthy
and detailed discussion of meteors and meteorites is a very useful cross
between an essay and a field guide. There are numerous historical accounts
and vignettes, plus a rundown of ancient myths and skepticism. Did you
know that most meteorites are found not by scientists but by amateur
rock hunters? That fact is the premise for the book's emphasis on how
to look for them, though it's a solid, no-nonsense reference work for
the armchair meteoriticist, as well. Includes useful, Spartan diagrams.
Non-technical. $24.00
Order
this book: ships within 2-3 days. Holiday Note: This item will not
arrive by Dec. 24. Order an e-mail Gift Certificate instead.
Paperback - 467 pages 2nd edition (March 1998) Mountain
Press; ISBN: 0878423737 ; Dimensions (in inches): 1.10 x 9.00 x 6.02
TOP
 Comet
by Carl Sagan, Ann Druyan (contributor)
Our review: Originally published in 1985, this updated version by the
venerable and enthusiastic Sagan is still the standard. We simply can't
find one better. And, as can be expected, you'll learn something while
enjoying the writing. The book begins: "These are the snows of
yesteryear, the pristine remnants of the origin of the solar system,
waiting frozen in the interstellar dark." Indeed! And we had the
nerve to call them dirty snowballs. Sagan, never one to get to the point
too quickly, did not intend to write a wimpy handbook here, but along
the way he does cover the basics as well as you could ask. $12.80
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this book: ships within 2-3 days
Paperback - 496 pages 1 ballanti edition (January 1997)
Ballantine Books (Trd Pap); ISBN: 0345412222 ; Dimensions (in inches):
0.96 x 9.12 x 6.12
 Mars
: Uncovering the Secrets of the Red Planet
by Paul Raeburn
Our review: This is a must-have coffee table book for the Marsophile.
It includes the latest images from the Pathfinder lander, including
the very cool (and probably scientifically significant) 3-D images that
made us go "wow!" Glasses included. It's published by National
Geographic, so you get plenty of history, biographies of famous explorers
and, of course, more pictures. $28.00
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this book: ships within 24 hours
Hardcover - 224 pages (August 1998) National Geographic
Society; ISBN: 0792273737 ; Dimensions (in inches): 0.92 x 12.35 x 9.60
TOP
 A
Field Guide to the Stars and Planets
(Peterson Field Guides)
Our review: We've long used the Peterson Field guides as a quick reference
in many categories. They're tops in helping you identify things in the
field, and that's what makes them different from other books we recommend.
If you trust the Peterson Guides and you're used to navigating them,
go with this one. We were slightly more impressed, however, with the
Audubon version above. $14.40
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this book: ships within 24 hours
Paperback Reissue edition (January 5, 1998) Houghton
Mifflin Co (Pap); ISBN: 0395910994 ; Dimensions (in inches): 1.03 x
7.24 x 4.53
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All book reviews
written by Robert Roy Britt
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