Anonymous
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It might sound like a rudimentary introduction to astronomy, or even like one of those "dummies" books; however, it covers an overwhelming amount of information in a very easy-to-read book. I have many, many books on various sciences, and often times I like a single source that helps at least aggregate the ideas into a single resource; a reference if you will. Most of the ideas are probably not new to most of you, but it provides an overview of many things that you could then choose to expound on with additional resources. For example, the chapter on stellar evolution is quite short, but if you wish to learn more than you can pick up a more academic book ( e.g. Principles of Stellar Evolution and Nucleosynthesis).
In short: It's a great book that helps summarize what you probably already know, and it helps identify those areas that you are not familiar with. If you're like me, you'll want to seek additional resources to learn more.
I'd also like to know of any other texts that cover most facets of astronomy in relative detail.
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desertstars
Reged: 11/05/03
Posts: 41911
Loc: Tucson, AZ
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Who publishes this one?
I'm familiar with many of the Dummies books, and have found them anything from mildly to extremely helpful. (Home Buying for Dummies save us, conservatively, $20K.) If they have one on astronomy, I would seriously consider adding it to my library.
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Thomas Watson
Author of Mr. Olcott's Skies. Available in paperback and ebook from Amazon and Barnes & Noble.
@desertstarsbks
Under Desert StarsEither Way, It's Reading
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Anonymous
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My apologies, I forgot to link to the book. It looks like it's published by John Wiley and Sons.
The only reason I said it was like a dummies book is because it often skims over the details; however, sometimes you don't want the details, but if you do you can find a book entirely dedicated to that subject. I think this book is invaluable for such a task.
If you do get the book make sure you get the 6th edition. My local Barnes and Noble had both editions available.
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desertstars
Reged: 11/05/03
Posts: 41911
Loc: Tucson, AZ
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Ah, that's what I though. I've used their math guides (algebra and calculus) and those books were life savers. If they have done as well with astronomy, it is definitely a book worth having. I'll check it out.
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Thomas Watson
Author of Mr. Olcott's Skies. Available in paperback and ebook from Amazon and Barnes & Noble.
@desertstarsbks
Under Desert StarsEither Way, It's Reading
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Anonymous
Unregistered
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Hi all
I'm working my way through Astronomy stg just now, and finding it very helpful. As a newcomer to astronomy I wanted to understand more about the mechanics behind the movement of the stars, planets etc. 
This book does that in a user-friendly way - quite small chunks of info and lots of little self-tests to make sure you're getting it!
The author is Dinah L. Moche and it's published by John WIley. My copy is the 6th edition and it cost £13.95.
Fiona
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Peter Argenziano
Watcher of the Skies
Reged: 11/11/03
Posts: 3642
Loc: Desert Southwest
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Quote:
I'm familiar with many of the Dummies books, and have found them anything from mildly to extremely helpful. (Home Buying for Dummies save us, conservatively, $20K.) If they have one on astronomy, I would seriously consider adding it to my library.
There is an Astronomy for Dummies in the series.
Another good book along these lines is 'Astronomy Demystified' by Stan Gibilisco (McGraw Hill).
Peter
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Peter
I come from a small town whose population never changed. Each time a woman got pregnant, someone left town.
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desertstars
Reged: 11/05/03
Posts: 41911
Loc: Tucson, AZ
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Now, if someone would just do somthing of the same for cosmology!
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Thomas Watson
Author of Mr. Olcott's Skies. Available in paperback and ebook from Amazon and Barnes & Noble.
@desertstarsbks
Under Desert StarsEither Way, It's Reading
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Peter Argenziano
Watcher of the Skies
Reged: 11/11/03
Posts: 3642
Loc: Desert Southwest
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The closest you'll likely find is a tome entitled 'The Big Bang: What It Is, Where It Came From and Why It Works' by Karen Fox.
Peter
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Peter
I come from a small town whose population never changed. Each time a woman got pregnant, someone left town.
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Victor Kennedy
Pooh-Bear
Reged: 05/22/03
Posts: 12190
Loc: Slovenia
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How about Astrology for Dummies?
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No matter how hard you push the envelope, it's still stationary.
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desertstars
Reged: 11/05/03
Posts: 41911
Loc: Tucson, AZ
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Certainly an appropriate title...
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Thomas Watson
Author of Mr. Olcott's Skies. Available in paperback and ebook from Amazon and Barnes & Noble.
@desertstarsbks
Under Desert StarsEither Way, It's Reading
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The Meal
sage
Reged: 07/15/04
Posts: 301
Loc: Longmont, CO
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Quote:
How about Astrology for Dummies?
Isn't that redundant? 
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~Neal
10x50 Fully Multicoated Binos
XT8i Orion Dobsonian
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Victor Kennedy
Pooh-Bear
Reged: 05/22/03
Posts: 12190
Loc: Slovenia
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No, more like accurate.
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No matter how hard you push the envelope, it's still stationary.
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desertstars
Reged: 11/05/03
Posts: 41911
Loc: Tucson, AZ
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For the record, I agree (having started the sarcasm). But let's not get too carried away with the bashing here, however much it may be deserved. (Boy, how was that for two-sided moderation?  )
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Thomas Watson
Author of Mr. Olcott's Skies. Available in paperback and ebook from Amazon and Barnes & Noble.
@desertstarsbks
Under Desert StarsEither Way, It's Reading
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Victor Kennedy
Pooh-Bear
Reged: 05/22/03
Posts: 12190
Loc: Slovenia
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All in fun. Some of my best friends are astrologers.
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No matter how hard you push the envelope, it's still stationary.
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desertstars
Reged: 11/05/03
Posts: 41911
Loc: Tucson, AZ
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--------------------
Thomas Watson
Author of Mr. Olcott's Skies. Available in paperback and ebook from Amazon and Barnes & Noble.
@desertstarsbks
Under Desert StarsEither Way, It's Reading
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The Meal
sage
Reged: 07/15/04
Posts: 301
Loc: Longmont, CO
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Yeppers, I know plenty of horrorscope followers (I even bite my tongue when they start telling me what to expect!).
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~Neal
10x50 Fully Multicoated Binos
XT8i Orion Dobsonian
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Victor Kennedy
Pooh-Bear
Reged: 05/22/03
Posts: 12190
Loc: Slovenia
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Some of my other best friends are lawyers (I'm a forgiving sort of person).
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No matter how hard you push the envelope, it's still stationary.
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TomC10
sage
Reged: 12/21/04
Posts: 279
Loc: Land of Enchantment
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Tom L,
I've found a book on cosmology you might like,
"An Introduction to Modern Cosmology" by Andrew Liddle {Wiley}
The explanations are to the point and the equations are easier to absorb, not a lot of derivations.
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Tom C
C10 NGT
Edited by TomC10 (12/29/04 01:47 AM)
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FAB
Stargeezer
Reged: 08/06/04
Posts: 2686
Loc: Blythe, CA USA
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Another good book, much of which relates to cosomology is the "Whole Shebang-A State Of The Universe Report" by Timothy Ferris, Simon & Schuster.
Upside: It presents very succinctly, and in fairly easy to understand language (even I understood most of it), cosomological and to some extent astronomical knowledge up to the time it was published.
Obviously it's more of a digest than a comprehensive work, but I think it's pretty good.
Downside: It was published in 1997.
FAB
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Floie
10.0" Hardin Dob
6.0" Konus Refractor
3.0" Celestron Tabletop Newtonian
10X50 Binoculars
Amscope T490A Trinocular Compound Microscope
Amscope SM 1TZ Trinocular Stereo Zoom Micoscope
http://home.earthlink.net/~blhtvl
http://www.cracblythe.org/index.html
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