Seeing in the Dark is a poetic love letter to the skies and a stirring report on the revolution now sweeping amateur astronomy, in which backyard stargazers linked globally by the Internet are exploring deep space and making discoveries worthy of the professionals. Timothy Ferris invites us all to become stargazers, recounting his lifelong experiences as an enthralled stargazer, and capturing the exquisite experience when ancient starlight strikes the eye and incites the mind.
Reporting from around the globe -- from England and Italy to the Florida Keys and the Chilean Andes -- on the revolution that's putting millions in touch with the night sky, Ferris also offers an authoritative and magical description of what is out there to be seen, from the rings of Saturn to remote quasars whose light is older than Earth.
Astronomy is the most accessible and democratic of all the sciences: Anyone can get started in it just by going outside with a star chart on a dark night and looking up. A pair of binoculars suffices to see galaxies millions of light-years away, and a small telescope can probe what Ferris calls the "blue waters" of deep space. An accessible, nontechnical invitation to get to know the sky, Seeing in the Dark encourages readers to make the glories of the stars a part of their lives.
"The universe," Ferris writes, "is accessible to all, and can inform one's existence with a sense of beauty, reason, and awe as enriching as anything to be found in music, art, or poetry."
An appendix includes star charts, observing guides, and tips on how you can get involved with the night sky.
Rich with information, written with passion, the book is fascinating, moving, and absolutely beautifully written.
An explanation of how a new variable star is discovered and studied, based on Levy's personal experience Levy explores topics as diverse as the features of the Moon from night to night; how to observe constellations from both urban and rural observation sites; how best to view the stars, nebulae, and galaxies; and how to map the sky. David H. Levy is one of the world's foremost amateur astronomers. He has discovered seventeen comets, seven using a telescope in his own backyard, and had a minor planet, Asteroid 3673 Levy, named in his honor. As a respected astronomer, he is best known for being the co-discoverer of the famous Shoemaker-Levy9 comet in 1994. Levy is frequently interviewed by the media and succeeded Carl Sagan as science columnist for Parade magazine. He has written and contributed to a number of books, most recently The Scientific American Book of the Cosmos (St. Martin's, 2000), Advanced Skywatching (Time Life, 2000), and Deep-Sky Companions (Cambridge, 2000).
Customer Reviews:
Great Book.......2006-05-06
This book has everything you could want to know about hetting started and observing techniques for the amateur astronomer great for the beginner or the seasoned observer
Book Description
In May 2001, billionaire Dennis Tito made history as the first "space tourist" he's the guy who paid $20 million to travel to the International Space Station. Since that landmark voyage, many others have followed in his footsteps all courtesy of Space Adventures, the first travel agency devoted exclusively to outer space.
But before you can blast off, there's plenty to learn. In this illustrated handbook, Space Adventures CEO Eric Anderson gives would-be space tourists the exact same training program that he gives to the billionaires. Here are step-by-step instructions for liftoff, sleeping in weightless environments, using the "vacuum toilet" on the spacecraft, living in zero gravity, and much more. It's all so informative, the instructors at Space Adventures are already integrating this handbook into their lesson plans.
With more than 25 illustrations (and a special full-color section showing popular vacation "destinations"), The Space Tourist's Handbook is fascinating reading for amateur astronauts of all ages.
Customer Reviews:
Good Book, Utilization Should Go Up in 2007.......2007-01-07
While the significant focus of the book is on orbital space toruism at $20 to $21 million a pop blast-off, (w/o spacewalk), Eric Anderson's book should become more relevant in late 2007 as testing of the commercial piloted suborbital vehicles will be tested above the Karmen Line. I enjoyed the book and commend it for reading by any one have the slightest interest in space affairs. The author should consider a new edition to be more inclusive of the more reasonably priced suborbital flights that hundreds, if not thousands, will purchase tickets to fly as the first decade ofthe 21st Century ends. The new FAA regulations effective in Februray should be reviewed and incorporated into the book and comparative analysis as to what regulations will be imposed in Singepore and the UAE as those commercial spaceports open on non-US regulated soil. But in all, I enjoyed the book, and cite it from time to time in research work writing in this area. It is effective and timely.
Another high quality offering from the folks at Quirk Books (highly recommended for student science enthusiasts!).......2006-08-27
The Space Tourist's Handbook is another educational, spunky offering from the folks over at Quirk Books (publishers of The Worst Case Scenario Handbook). It provides a decent treatment of the history of space travel, including overviews of edge-of-space aircraft and sub-orbital and orbital vehicles. Potential space tourism destinations, from space stations to the Moon, are also covered. The meat of the book discusses training for space flight, recommended packing, the logistics of launch and space travel, and, finally, life in space. Like any good travel guide, space travel options are ranked by relative cost, training effort required, and mission time. It also offers a comprehensive index for quick reference purposes.
Any engineer is going to know the majority of the information presented in this handbook, and anyone without an interest in space is going to be bored by it. The prime audience is students (and armchair enthusiasts) with an interest in science and engineering, who will no doubt glean both scientific facts and a healthy enthusiasm for the space industry.
Fun to read and educational, I couldn't put it down until I finished.......2005-11-24
In one of the most unique formats for such a book, the author has produced a highly educational and yet entertaining book on space travel. Written in a tourist handbook style, it starts with a series of vacation postcard style pictures including space pictures, vehicles, and training. From there you turn to the various potential space destinations. This section includes Spaceports you might leave from and destinations you might go to such as a space station or the moon. Now that you have picked your destination you have to choose how to get there. The next section of the book covers space vehicles and systems you might use, what to do when you get there and the approximate price. This section includes information on zero-gravity flights, sub-orbital flights, space shuttle flights, Soyuz flights, and even trans-lunar cruises. For each of them it shows the approximate cost range, training time, and mission time. Of course it includes a section on space flight training including the various exams you will have to pass, equipment training, physical training, etc. Typical of most foreign tourism books it even includes a section on space travel dos and don'ts, personal items to bring along, and even how to approach and dock with a space station. The section on life on the spacecraft includes how to do the common tasks you take for granted here on earth including how to sleep in zero gravity, how to spacewalk, eating, drinking, bathing, and even using the toilet. And, when you are done with the trip the tourist handbook ends with a section on the voyage home. This section includes information on things like reentry and landing. An innovative way to learn about the space industry and what an astronaut goes through, or what you will go through to become a space tourist, this is brilliantly done and a fascinating read. Scattered throughout the book are some tongue-in-cheek comments that just make it all the more entertaining. The Space Tourist's Handbook is highly entertaining and educational and as such a highly recommended read.
Your Trip Into Space.......2005-11-01
One of my favorite volumes in my collection of space-related books is a library discard titled "Your Trip Into Space."
The book by Lynn Poole -- "Producer of The Johns Hopkins TV Science Review," the title page proudly proclaims -- was published in 1953, four years before the beep heard 'round the world ushered in the space age, and eight years before anyone would actually take their own trip into space.
It's a fascinating piece both for what it got right, years before the U.S. would being serious work on putting a man into space, and for what it got wrong. Practically on the eve of Sputnik and then Gagarin, the book boldly pronounces, "No one can give you the precise time and exact date for departure. We are willing to take a chance on predicting that man will fly out into space within your lifetime, at least within fifty years." Emphasis theirs.
Looking back from a little more than that half-century later, "Your Trip Into Space" really isn't of much use if you're actually planning your trip into space. But it is a captivating snapshot of the state of spaceflight -- and public perception thereof -- at that moment in time.
Fast-forward now to the present, and a new book with a title that echoes the spirit of that half-century-old library discard, "The Space Tourist's Handbook." This book's bona fides are equally impressive, with the name on the spine belonging to Eric Anderson, president of tourism company Space Adventures. (The author credit beneath Anderson's name adds, "And Joshua Piven, co-author of The Worst-Case Scenario Survival Handbook.")
To be honest, I wasn't entirely sure what to expect from the book when I first heard about it, and Piven's author credit did little to allay that. The success of his above-listed work has spawned a variety of imitators, how-to guides that promise the reader everything up to and including, literally, superpowers. I feared a book that might have some interesting information, but, in living up to its title, would fall as flat as those would-be Supermen. On the flip side, there was also the possibility that it would go the other way, serving as nothing more than a 192-page brochure for Space Adventures.
The book's similarity to its spiritual forebear was pleasantly surprising. Like the earlier book, "The Space Tourist's Handbook" uses the conceit of preparing you for "your trip into space" to present a surprisingly complete picture of the state of human spaceflight at this particular moment in time. From the space shuttle to Soyuz to SpaceShipOne to Shenzhou (and many other things that don't start with S), the book provides an overview of all the major elements of spaceflight in 2005. A person who knew nothing about current events in space could pick up the book and in a couple of hours be relatively conversant about what's going on today. And for the reader taking the book off the shelf as far into the future as "Your Trip Into Space" is into the past would get an excellent idea of what was going on in this moment in history.
There are times when that spaceflight overview is shoehorned into the book's space tourism approach. The book notes the prospect of the space shuttle being used for tourism may be "tantalizing," and, while it notes that there is "no indication" that the government plans for it to be put to such use, to say that's an understatement would be an understatement. The book also notes that a spacewalk is "space tourism's ultimate walk on the wild side--the outer-space equivalent of bungee-jumping, parasailing, and skydiving all rolled into one amazing rush." And that description may be true, but overlooks the fact that while EVA may be "just a single step outside your door," that's one giant leap that no space tourist will be taking any time soon. (The space tourism bias also shows up in such ways as when it promises that "you will be an official astronaut upon completion of your sub-orbital flight." That's "official" according to whom, exactly?)
Those issues aside, the amazing thing about "The Space Tourist's Handbook" is that, in addition to providing an overview of the state of modern spaceflight, it actually lives up to its name. Unlike Poole's book, a person could actually read this book as preparation for their own trip into space. Granted, that's more because of the difference in the age than the difference in authors -- though, to be sure, Anderson has done his part to bring the change about -- but it adds a level of excitement knowing that chapters that still read almost like science fiction are, in fact, rooted in fact.
Even if the $20 million price tag for a Soyuz ticket is slightly out of your budget, the space tourism hints can be fascinating reading while you're waiting for suborbital costs to fall -- the book shares everything from how to prepare for a spaceflight medical exam to how to pass the psychological exam (though one wonders if the tips for seeming sane were actually left over form one Piven's other projects) to what to expect during cosmonaut training to why not to play chess in space (I suggest a new strategy -- let the Russkie win.)
To top it off, furthering its idea that the era of spaceflight for the average man is upon us, a card in the back of the book offers you a chance to enter to win a free suborbital spaceflight.
So when will we actually see someone use this book as preparation for a ride as a passenger on a suborbital spaceflight? I am willing to take a chance on predicting that man will fly out into space on commercial flights within your lifetime, at least within fifty years."
And probably a lot sooner.
Amazon.com
You don't need expensive instruments to appreciate the beauty of the night sky, as Bob Berman exuberantly demonstrates in Secrets of the Night Sky. Berman takes you on a tour of the night sky, pointing out its highlights and its history, along with a wealth of practical tips and tricks, such as how to categorize satellites that appear overhead. Secrets of the Night Sky is not only a how-to manual for enjoying the celestial sphere but is also a painless introduction to the science of cosmology. With a flair for analogies, Berman imparts a visceral understanding of the scale of stellar objects. And in case your explorations do lead you to buy a telescope, the book's appendices contain a variety of no-nonsense advice that may save you from getting fleeced.
Book Description
From blue moons to Betelgeuse, it's all in this witty, fact-packed, profusely illustrated guide to the heavens by the author of Discover magazine's popular "Night Watchman" column.
Customer Reviews:
A great basic astronomy read for the casual observer........2006-01-30
I first read this book when in the Navy stationed in Japan, I would read it on the train to and from Tokyo and Yokosuka. It was light, enjoyable reading about what you can see in the night sky. Now I am reading again to refresh my memory of constellations, stars, Jupiters moons and how to see satellites. My daughter loves stars and I want to refresh my basic knowlege so I can stimulate her curiosity as we view the sights together. I cannot think of a better text to do so. It is a quick read and filled with intersting facts about spacial relationships, space travel and just the magnitude of it all. If there is a down spot it would be the frequent analogies of size and distance which really become meaningless after a point. Still the text will give the lay reader a vocubulary and understanding of the night sky in an easy to read, fun text, what more can you ask for?
Great author........2005-02-24
This book is one of the most informative and entertaining I have ever read. The author provides the information is such a way that you want to keep reading about why there are really more than 24 hours in a day. Anyway, it's a great book, very interesting, very well written. Buy it.
A wonderful book.......2003-09-18
I have been in amateur astronomy for 15 years, and this is one of my favorite books, for beginner or astronomy hobbyist. This is, mercifully, NOT a textbook. You can learn your way around the sky with Raymo's "365 Starry Nights" (also an excellent book), but Berman supplies the humor. The beauty of the night sky is, unfortunatly, a "secret," as few people know anything about it! Let Bob Berman describe the scene up there, get yourself a star chart, and get outdoors!
General knowledge only.......2003-06-14
This book is probably intended for the vast masses that want and look for general information about the universe. The writer indeed contribute a little bit of amazing information about the sizes of stars but many pages are wasted on tidbits which contribute nothing for the science of astronomy. The book is written in light English with not so many words in every page. The diagrams and pictures are of a very low quality and it is very difficult to understand the names of the stars in the diagrams. The pictures are simply disappointing and the paper quality is low as well. The book is as far as possible from a scientific book. Don't come closer to this book if you are after the science of astronomy.
sky at night.......2003-04-12
Very good book for the lovers of sky , especially at night..
beautiful examination and imagination... lovely and kind
Book Description
Lunar Base Handbook provides an overview about the Moon and its environment, the current status of lunar base design, tools we need to design a lunar base, checklists and flow charts that outline the design process, and technological requirements of a lunar base.
The main audience for this book is engineers, but it is also interesting for scientists, managers, lawyers, undergraduates, and high school students, and readable for the interested layman.
Customer Reviews:
Start With This Book.......2006-11-21
I started reading this book and nearly threw it down after just two chapters. There were numerous spelling and grammatical errors which initially made me question the validity of the material being presented. Fortunately I pressed on. This book, though not a masterpiece of English prose, is hands down the most understandable, comprehensive text on the subject that I have read. The book breaks down material from vastly diverse disciplines and explains them in a manner that a layman can understand. Prior to reading this book, I read Space Mission Analysis and Design (SMAD), also of the NASA Space Technology Series. I found that this book (The Lunar Base Handbook) presented the same topics as SMAD, but in a more understandable format. I found myself often reading a topic in The Lunar Base Handbook and then continuing my education in other books from the Space Technology Series such as SMAD. I highly recommend this book to anyone interested in lunar development or space exploration.
The Latest Engineering Concepts for Lunar Base Development.......2001-09-10
In this book, Peter Eckart has assembled the collective writings of many of the leaders who are developing advanced engineering and science concepts for a return to the moon and the establishment of a permanent lunar base, which is capable of exploring the moon in great detail. These writings are not reprints from a conference or a previously published paper, but a detailed summary of the work to date on a variety of subjects from the site selection of a lunar base and the transportation means to get to the moon, to the details regarding advanced exploration and regenerative life support systems. The book also includes the more mundane systems needed to make a lunar base function, such as the thermal control system and the communication system.
While portions of this book maybe overly technical for some readers, there are numerous sections that provide a general overview of equipment, lunar exploration history, and transportation techniques. There are two sections, one written by Buzz Aldrin and one by Jack Schmidt that describe in great detail various aspects of lunar exploration. Typically, most astronauts authored writings found in books are simply a page or two. All in all, I couldn't find a topic that was omitted from the book.
I also conducted a comprehensive review of several sections of the book, which are related to my engineering area of expertise. Specifically, I reviewed the thermal control system, power system, EVA, and life support sections. In all these sections, I only found one error, which appeared to be a typo. The lone error leads me to believe that other sections were equally as error free.
In summary, I always enjoy reading books like these, because they show that even though the US government does not support going back to the moon, many individuals are still committed to returning people to the moon. Finally, regardless of your technical ability, you can learn a great deal from this book.
Most used book with my MSc. thesis.......2001-01-17
This book, which is not only extensive and exetremely usefull but also very easy to read, provides the only complete overview of aspects considering the moon from an engineering point of view. All aspects are explained and start with basics and summarizes all possibilities. My book is full of post-it notes where the parts are marked that I had to use frequently. It is the most used book from all my moon-related books I have, because it is so complete. The essays from lunar explorers around the world are a nice extra. It would be a good study object for a course.
Most used book with my MSc. thesis.......2001-01-17
This book, which is not only extensive and exetremely usefull but also very easy to read, provides the only complete overview of aspects considering the moon from an engineering point of view. All aspects are explained and start with basics and summarizes all possibilities. My book is full of post-it notes where the parts are marked that I had to use frequently. It is the most used book from all my moon-related books I have, because it is so complete. The essays from lunar explorers around the world are a nice extra. It would be a good study object for a course.
The Lunar Base Handbook (Space Technology Series).......2000-12-15
This book is a MUST for eveyone seriously interested in lunar exploration. Since Wendell Mendells generatuion-inspiring lunar base document, this is the most complete overview on technical and non-technical aspects of the selenological adventure. One can start as an amateur: after having completed this large volume he/she will have an excellent interdisciplinary insight into our future on the Moon.
Book Description
An abundantly illustrated guide to the year's best stargazing season.
"Summer brings with it fine stargazing weather; it also happens to be the time of the year when our galaxy, the Milky Way, arches high across the sky."
-- Terence Dickinson
The cool, clear nights from May to October offer astronomers the best opportunities for stargazing. Few sights in nature can compare with the splendor of a dazzling star-filled sky.
Summer Stargazing captures the grandeur of the universe with down-to-earth simplicity. All that is needed is a reasonably dark night sky, a pair of binoculars or a simple telescope, and this book.
The book features everything else the amateur astronomer needs, including easy-to-use color star charts that cover the entire North American sky for one year and photographic-quality charts for this main stargazing season.
With
Summer Stargazing, astronomers can delve into the majesty of the starry night to explore:
- Planets of the Solar System
- Galaxies
- Remote star-forming nebulas
- Glittering star dusters and more.
Helpful advice is given for safely viewing special phenomena such as eclipses and auroras.
Summer Stargazing is both a stargazing guide and a pictorial celebration of the summer night sky.
Customer Reviews:
For the right audience, a must have -- read on..........2002-12-13
If you are ages 10-15, or an adult who wants to get "up to speed" on astronomy-speak in under a 5 hour read -- this is the book to own! This chronology of major astrological events to look for in the sky which comes at the end of the book is outdated by a few years due to the publish date, but the sky charts (actually full page photos) -- specifically and only for summer months in the U.S. -- were actually usable! Also useful was the section on purchasing a telescope for a novice or even decent binoculars (a $50 investment to start was recommended, imagine that!). Also, a handy refernce for dates of meteor showers is a great thing for kids in large groups. And for a freeze-baby who lives in a northern climate who only takes the time to stargaze on warm, summer, cloudless nights, this is the only book I need.
You'll pull this book out time and time again........2000-11-15
My third year of owning this great night time aid has only increased my appreciation of what lies above. This book has great reference guides for planetary location, eclipse tables, lunar maps, and enough material for the person observing with binicoulars (which I started out with), to someone with an intermediate telescope (I moved up to a 6" reflector because I wanted to see more of what is presented). The lay-out of the book is very straight forward, and any one may pick it up and begin to locate everything pictured. Owners of small refracter telescopes will find renewed interest in what they will be able to view with the help of this book. A must have companion if you starting out, an old friend as time goes by.
Nice Pictures but too little material........1999-01-11
This book is a handy book with nice pictures for starters . There should be more materials than these as the pages are filled with more pictures than words and too little explainations. There are too little detail or advice or tips said about stargazing as the main subject. Conslusion: Good, but should contain about 50% more materials and advices/details.
Amateur friendly with photos and common sense.......1998-06-29
There will be a glut of astronomy books as we approach the millenium. If you want a classic, timeless dose of education and common sense this is the book for you. The best summer nights since Grease.
An excellent Guide for kids and adults........1998-04-24
This is an excellent guide to the night sky. It is great for kids and adults alike. I especially like the use of actual photos of the sky with and without diagrams of the constellations (not just charts or drawings.) This makes it much easier to find them in the sky.
Books:
- How to Be Invisible: The Essential Guide to Protecting Your Personal Privacy, Your Assets, and Your Life (Revised Edition)
- Humanists and Reformers: A History of the Renaissance and Reformation
- In Search of Dark Matter (Springer Praxis Books / Space Exploration)
- Interferometry and Synthesis in Radio Astronomy
- Introduction to Cosmology
- Kaleidoscope: Ideas And Projects to Spark Your Creativity
- Leaving Microsoft to Change the World: An Entrepreneur's Odyssey to Educate the World's Children
- Life in the Universe (2nd Edition)
- Lifting Titan's Veil: Exploring the Giant Moon of Saturn
- Lonely Planet Road Trip California Highway 1 (Road Trip Guides)
Books Index
Books Home
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- Tropic of Night
- Civil Service Arithmetic & Vocabulary, 15th edition
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Astronomy
| Astronomy & Space
| Science, Nature & How It Works
| Children's Books
| Subjects
| Books
How it works: how nature works (How It Works)
How Science Works (Reader's Digest )
How weather works (How It Works)
How body works (How It Works)
How Math Works (How It Works)
