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Pages: 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | (show all) David A Rodger professor emeritus Reged: 08/12/03 Loc: North Vancouver, BC, Canada Re: Your very first astronomy book ? [Re: nunciusaustralis]       #4207995 - 11/24/10 08:25 PM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   Introducing Astronomy by JB Sidgewick, purchased in Toronto, April 1956 (it says in the flyleaf) and Field Book of the Skies by Olcott and Mayall, purchased in Saskatoon, October 1963. Still have them and still refer to them - - occasionally. DAR Post Extras:       KidOrion professor emeritus Reged: 07/07/07 Loc: Carbondale, IL Re: Your very first astronomy book ? [Re: nunciusaustralis]       #4208097 - 11/24/10 09:11 PM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   I don't really recall the title of the book, but it was a kids' book, very oversized, and had the planets (watercolor painted) semi-to scale next to the limb of the Sun. I think the title was Exploring the Planets, but a search for that title doesn't bring it up. First books I tried to observe with were Alcott and an atlas by Patrick Moore (stars in color). All of these were library books. The vast majority of the astronomy books in my local library at the time were from the 40s and 50s. Post Extras:       djeber2 Pooh-Bah Reged: 07/02/04 Loc: Cloudy Midwest Re: Your very first astronomy book ? [Re: Kokopelli]       #4208949 - 11/25/10 10:57 AM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   Quote: Golden Guide Stars by Herbert Zim and Robert Baker 1975 edition This was my first book also, the sky observers guide wass about my third, still have both, as well as most of my other early collection of astro books including the Edmunds mag 5 star atlas. Post Extras:       cpsTN Carpal Tunnel Reged: 04/26/07 Loc: Rutherford Co, TN Re: Your very first astronomy book ? [Re: Pollux556]       #4213165 - 11/27/10 01:27 PM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   Mine was also the Sky Observer's Guide (a Golden Guide). The copy of mine has a blue cover and is from 1985. I still have it in the safe. Its funny to read about the "upcoming" Mercury transits of 1986 and 1993, which were future events when I bought the book. The copyright dates in my edition are: 1959, 1965, 1971, 1977 and 1985. Post Extras:       rookie Good Night Nurse Reged: 01/14/06 Loc: St. Petersburg, FL Re: Your very first astronomy book ? [Re: cpsTN]       #4213265 - 11/27/10 02:22 PM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   A friend showed me Mars through his C11 in 2005 and gave me this book: Celestron Sky Maps "A Seasonal Guide to the Stars, Planets and Nonstellar Objects". It's pages are hardboard and moisture resistant. There is a simple planisphere on the front cover. The book is divided by seasons and shows targets to about -45 deg. Constellations are described and have lists of noteable stars. Viewing objects are sorted "For the Naked eye or Fieldglass" and "For the Telescope". I was told that it had numerous typo's, and it was a happy day for me when I first discovered one. My patient friend, and this now tattered book lead me into astronomy. Post Extras:       Alan Grant member Reged: 04/20/10 Loc: Deseret Territory Re: Your very first astronomy book ? [Re: Pollux556]       #4215084 - 11/28/10 01:52 PM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   Tom Swift and his Flying Lab Edited by desertstars (11/29/10 12:38 PM) Post Extras:       City Kid Carpal Tunnel Reged: 05/06/09 Loc: Northern Indiana Re: Your very first astronomy book ? [Re: Pollux556]       #4215245 - 11/28/10 03:36 PM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   Mine was Nightwatch by Terence Dickinson. Post Extras:       Rick Woods Postmaster Reged: 01/27/05 Loc: Inner Solar System Re: Your very first astronomy book ? [Re: Kokopelli]       #4215461 - 11/28/10 05:37 PM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   Quote: Golden Guide Stars by Herbert Zim and Robert Baker 1975 edition Not sure what the first one was, but this was one of them (1960 softcover edition). I still have it, but it's pretty disintegrated now. A couple of years ago I chanced upon a hardcopy of it in a used book store and snarfed it. No printing date in it, only the copyright 1951 and 1956. Kind of sad; it was a gift from "Mom" on 1/81. I wonder how it ended up at that store? (But it's OK, it's in good hands now). Edit: Wow, I just looked at the review of it - that doesn't look anything like the cover of my copies! Edited by Rick Woods (11/28/10 05:42 PM) Post Extras:       Kokopelli sage Reged: 11/01/10 Re: Your very first astronomy book ? [Re: Rick Woods]       #4216826 - 11/29/10 12:14 PM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   Quote: Edit: Wow, I just looked at the review of it - that doesn't look anything like the cover of my copies! The publisher reprinted many of the Golden Guides and updated the covers. The content is pretty much the same. You probably have the "classic" blue cover with a large Saturn and a motley crew of everything from a comet to a galaxy to planets. Post Extras:       Rick Woods Postmaster Reged: 01/27/05 Loc: Inner Solar System Re: Your very first astronomy book ? [Re: Kokopelli]       #4217016 - 11/29/10 01:47 PM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   Quote: Quote: Edit: Wow, I just looked at the review of it - that doesn't look anything like the cover of my copies! The publisher reprinted many of the Golden Guides and updated the covers. The content is pretty much the same. You probably have the "classic" blue cover with a large Saturn and a motley crew of everything from a comet to a galaxy to planets. Yup, that's the one(s) I have. Post Extras:       Rick Woods Postmaster Reged: 01/27/05 Loc: Inner Solar System Re: Your very first astronomy book ? [Re: Rick Woods]       #4221355 - 12/01/10 03:16 PM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   Sheesh! The very first good Mars map I remember seeing was in a children's book in my grade school library. This would have been in the late 50's. It was a great map covering two pages, with all those wonderful names - Tempe, Syrtis Major, etc. and wonderful Mars colors. There were little stick-figure guys all through the book making little educational comments. I sure wish I could remember what that book was. I'd love to get a copy of it, just for the intense nostalgia. If this description (which is all I can remember) sounds familiar to anyone, please, let me know! Thanks all! Post Extras:       Pollux556 Pooh-Bah Reged: 12/14/08 Re: Your very first astronomy book ? [Re: Rick Woods]       #4221880 - 12/01/10 06:46 PM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   Quote: Sheesh! The very first good Mars map I remember seeing was in a children's book in my grade school library. This would have been in the late 50's. It was a great map covering two pages, with all those wonderful names - Tempe, Syrtis Major, etc. and wonderful Mars colors. No canals ??? Post Extras:       rmollise Postmaster Reged: 07/06/07 Re: Your very first astronomy book ? [Re: Pollux556]       #4221881 - 12/01/10 06:47 PM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   _Stars_, and I am still enjoying it 45 years later: http://uncle-rods.blogspot.com/2010/08/stars-instead-of-cars.html Post Extras:       Rick Woods Postmaster Reged: 01/27/05 Loc: Inner Solar System Re: Your very first astronomy book ? [Re: Pollux556]       #4221906 - 12/01/10 06:57 PM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   Quote: Quote: Sheesh! The very first good Mars map I remember seeing was in a children's book in my grade school library. This would have been in the late 50's. It was a great map covering two pages, with all those wonderful names - Tempe, Syrtis Major, etc. and wonderful Mars colors. No canals ??? There probably were, I don't remember. Post Extras:       Rick Woods Postmaster Reged: 01/27/05 Loc: Inner Solar System Re: Your very first astronomy book ? [Re: rmollise]       #4221913 - 12/01/10 06:59 PM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   Boy! I guess Zim, et al, got to a lot of us early! Post Extras:       Shadowalker Apocaloptimist Reged: 11/23/04 Loc: Bay Saint Louis, Mississippi, ... Re: Your very first astronomy book ? [Re: Rick Woods]       #4221916 - 12/01/10 07:00 PM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   Like others, Stars by Zim and Baker. I checked it out of the school library so often they stopped letting me check it out. I nagged my parents into buying it for me. This was early 60s. I still have it. Post Extras:       Radiostar professor emeritus Reged: 10/16/08 Loc: Thunder Bay, Ontario Re: Your very first astronomy book ? [Re: Shadowalker]       #4222589 - 12/02/10 01:45 AM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   Gee....can't remember back that far but I do know that I read every book on space in the children's Library. In my teens the most memorable was Asimov's Guide to the Sciences. Eddy B Post Extras:       jsiska professor emeritus Reged: 07/12/06 Loc: NW Ohio Re: Your very first astronomy book ? [Re: Radiostar]       #4224829 - 12/03/10 12:49 AM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   My very first astronomy book was EXPLORIG THE UNIVERSE, by Dr. Allen Hynek, 1961, American Education Publications. This 48 page magazine type book is a really great publication and it seeded my passion for astronomy. At the time, I was 12 years old. The entire front cover has a photograph of M31, M32 and NGC 205 (M110) set in a black background. Because of that book, I saved up my allowances for an entire year and purchased a Tasco 9TE in 1962. I still have that book and I still have the Tasco 9TE. Interestingly, recently Jupiter made the nearest approach to the Earth since 1962. Last month using the 9TE with a 0.965 to 1.25 diagonal and modern eyepieces, I observed Jupiter. I was really impressed at how well the view of Jupiter still was through that diminutive 60mm telescope. The next book I purchased just after getting the 9TE was A GOLDEN GUIDE - STARS, 1956 edition. That book eventually fell apart, so I replaced it with the 1975 edition. The third book I got was EARTH, MOON AND PLANETS; by Fred L. Whipple copyright 1958. In order to read that book, at the time not being advanced enough in reading skills, I had to look up several words on each page in a dictionary to understand what I was reading. Jim Edited by jsiska (12/03/10 01:16 AM) Post Extras:       Rick Woods Postmaster Reged: 01/27/05 Loc: Inner Solar System Re: Your very first astronomy book ? [Re: jsiska]       #4224842 - 12/03/10 01:01 AM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   Quote: I had to look up several words on each page in a dictionary to understand what I was reading. LOL! I still have to do that! Post Extras:       Darren Bly sage Reged: 07/24/06 Loc: Bakersfield, Ca Re: Your very first astronomy book ? [Re: Carl Kolchak]       #4231230 - 12/05/10 11:58 PM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   Quote: My first store bought book on astronomy would be "The Stars" by H.A. Rey, 1966 or so. I still have it. I wish I had kept all my How and Why Wonder books. I know I had the Stars How and Why Wonder book soon after "The Stars". peace & clear skies, That was my first too, 1971! Post Extras:       Pages: 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | (show all)

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