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Has there not been a biography of William Herschel written in the last century or so?

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Oh yes. Since nobody else has mentioned it, The Herschel Partnership (as viewed by Caroline) is an excellent, though rather sad book.

And speaking of women, Galileo's Daughter, which has been mentioned already, is more than just an astronomer's biography; it's a genuinely important book. It manages to combine the very highest possible standard of academic scholarship with a thoroughly lucid (i.e. non-academic!) and enjoyable presentation. It covers not only Galileo's life in the context of his times, and his fascinating relationship with his fascinating daughter, but it's also a superb explanation of his scientific contributions.

And who would have thought that in our day and age, there would still be something brand-new and genuinely illuminating to say about Galileo, who has been studied intensively for centuries? Hats off to Dava Sobel!

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Tony Flanders

eyeglasses
6x15 and 8x32 monoculars
8x25, 7x35, 10x30 IS, 10x50, and 15x70 binoculars
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