2434 replies to this topic

[Knasal]

Looking forward to that review.

+1, Thomas! Sounds like an interesting book.

 

Kevin

[WillR]

Agnes Clarke's Discovering Double Stars: Double stars for light-polluted skies (Version 2022-1) just arrived!

 

 

Putting this in the queue. Thanks, Mike!

[BFaucett]

Agnes Clarke's Discovering Double Stars: Double stars for light-polluted skies (Version 2022-1) just arrived!

 

I am about as excited to try this out as having a new telescope.

 

Clarke Double Stars 131 (s).jpeg

 

The core of the book is two of these on each page, a grapical map and a verbal description.

 

There's much more in the 244 spiral bound print-on-demand pages. So, I will have a full review in a different topic.

 

Clear skies,

Mike M.

 

Thanks for the heads up about this book!  

 

I just wanted to mention that the book is also available as a FREE pdf file download. Also, there are three books that are available. The printed versions of the books can be purchased via the website. See below. 

 

Cheers! Bob F. 

 

 

Discovering Double Stars
 

New edition! Extended to 300 doubles, with more coverage of the southern sky. Each double now lists available SAO and HIP catalog numbers.

Discovering Double Stars helps you to find and learn about 300 carefully selected double stars visible to amateur observers. This series of books is specifically for those living in the glare of urban sprawls, where all but the brightest stars are lost to light pollution. Color overview charts tailored to light polluted skies show the general position of the doubles, while generously proportioned detail charts show the precise star patterns around the doubles themselves, enabling an observer to locate the stars through a finder scope.

You can support the development of this book and other books in the series by purchasing a handy printed copy of this PDF. The star charts are optimised for use with a red light torch.

 

website: https://transtextual...ng_doubles.html

 

 

Screenshot from the website:

 

 

 

 

 

Screenshot from the pdf file that I downloaded:

 

 

Edited by BFaucett, 03 June 2022 - 08:04 AM.

[obrazell]

I must admit I would be rather cautious about anybody using a pseudonym like this as it suggests something to hide. Agnes Clerke was of course a famous Irish populariser of astrnomy in the 19th Century.

[BFaucett]

I must admit I would be rather cautious about anybody using a pseudonym like this as it suggests something to hide. Agnes Clerke was of course a famous Irish populariser of astrnomy in the 19th Century.

 

Yeah, now that you mention it, it does seem a little odd. Especially with the other titles and authors listed on the website's home page. And many of the links for the books go to an Amazon (German site) page.

 

https://transtextuals.web.app/

 

Oh well, I didn't send any money so no harm done. I've just glanced at the book that I downloaded but it does seem interesting.

 

Cheers! Bob F.

Edited by BFaucett, 03 June 2022 - 08:10 AM.

[desertstars]

I must admit I would be rather cautious about anybody using a pseudonym like this as it suggests something to hide. Agnes Clerke was of course a famous Irish populariser of astrnomy in the 19th Century.

Do we know this is a pseudonym?

 

The author's last name is Clarke, not Clerke

[BFaucett]

Do we know this is a pseudonym?

 

The author's last name is Clarke, not Clerke

 

Hmmm.... 

 

The book is listed on Amazon and the listing says:

 

Ships from Amazon.com
Sold by Amazon.com

 

so it's not being sold by a third-party seller on Amazon's site.

 

https://www.amazon.c.../dp/B09C3NBHNK/

 

Bob F. 

[desertstars]

Hmmm.... 

 

The book is listed on Amazon and the listing says:

 

Ships from Amazon.com
Sold by Amazon.com

 

so it's not being sold by a third-party seller on Amazon's site.

 

https://www.amazon.c.../dp/B09C3NBHNK/

 

Bob F. 

The book is self-published, which is no longer an unusual thing these days. My own work is distributed in the same way, mostly through Amazon (not my choice - that's just the reality of the marketplace these days). Many self-published authors use a pseudonym, especially if they write in more than one genre (not a practice I follow, but to each their own). But I'm not going to assume that's the case here.

 

It is interesting that the author provides the option of a free download. 

[desertstars]

Especially with the other titles and authors listed on the website's home page. And many of the links for the books go to an Amazon (German site) page.

 

 

Yeah, I just now took a look at that list. The top row is astronomy related, by Agnes Clarke. The rest is a collection of work long since in the public domain, by the likes of Oscar Wilde. 

 

[BrentKnight]

Moderator Note:

 

All...this recent discussion is relevant but might be better for it's own topic as we are straying from this present one now.

[Agnes]

Hi all, my name really is Agnes Clarke, and I was quite surprised to find a have a famous namesake. Curiously I am also quarter Irish. You can find me on LinkedIn:

https://nl.linkedin....-clarke-5972145

As some of you have seen elsewhere on my website, I have put together a few public domain books in a format for note-taking (basically wide margins). Those books are mostly related to my background in English Literature, which explains the non-astronomical nature of those books. They are not offered for sale in the USA because our insurance doesn't cover selling in the NAFTA region, and you never know when a public domain book might turn into an arcane rights issue - business insurance for the USA is pricey, and we only sell a couple of these books with razor-thin margins.

The astronomy books are version two of my book enterprise - I work as a tech author and programmer, and I like astronomy, so I thought why not make books I want to read? Printing overheads are high for print-on-demand books so I make sure the books are all available as free PDFs so people know what they are getting.

There is a thread about this book in Vendor Announcements, where you can find more information.

https://www.cloudyni...s/?fromsearch=1

It might cause less confusion if I separate the astronomy books to their own website - I will look at that if this really becomes as issue.

Edited by Agnes, 03 June 2022 - 05:09 PM.

[desertstars]

It might cause less confusion if I separate the astronomy books to their own website - I will look at that if this really becomes as issue.

Hello, Agnes. Thanks for the clarifications.

 

I wouldn't call it an issue, really, more like a curiosity.

[WillR]

Well, I didn't expect to return from Cherry Springs with more books and charts, but I did!

 

I now have three volumes of George Kepple's voluminous guides ( Vol 4 was a gift from my friend George Burnley). What an epic undertaking! It was an honor to meet George K. and now I have autographed copies as well! These are exceptionally thorough, chock full of drawings, photos and charts. I particularly like the descriptions of each object for different size telescopes.

 

George is an excellent and poetic writer who gives Robert Burnham a run for his money in that department.

 

I also came away with a well loved set of Sky Atlas 2000 charts which I think are going to see a lot of observing time on my music stand.

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[Herchel]

Just got these books from amazon 

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[Mark Gingrich]

Just got these books from amazon 

 

I noticed you bought The Messier Objects by Stephen James O'Meara.  I've been waiting impatiently for O'Meara to complete the remaining two books in the trilogy: The Messy Objects (the "prequel") and The Messiest Objects (the sequel).  

[Herchel]

I noticed you bought The Messier Objects by Stephen James O'Meara. I've been waiting impatiently for O'Meara to complete the remaining two books in the trilogy: The Messy Objects (the "prequel") and The Messiest Objects (the sequel).

eh ! for real those books are coming out ? .. i might get the The Caldwell objects
Book by Stephen O'Meara .I have to build up the astronomy library again

Edited by Herchel, 14 June 2022 - 02:44 PM.

[desertstars]

 .. i might get the The Caldwell objects
Book by Stephen O'Meara .I have to build up the astronomy library again

Of his Deep Sky Companion series, I lack only Southern Gems. They're all well worth owning, IMO.

[Herchel]

Arrived in the mail this afternoon.

AstroLeague Carbons copy.jpeg

That would be great to have

[Herchel]

Of his Deep Sky Companion series, I lack only Southern Gems. They're all well worth owning, IMO.

I am up north in Canada so not much southern skies 😄 ,, I am waiting for a chance to buy Agnes Clarke
Discovering Double Stars: Double stars for northern, light-polluted skies

Edited by Herchel, 15 June 2022 - 02:19 PM.

[desertstars]

I am up north in Canada so not much southern skies ,, I am waiting for a chance to buy Agnes Clarke
Discovering Double Stars: Double stars for northern, light-polluted skies

I can see more of them from where I am than I could growing up in Illinois, but not enough that I've ever felt motivated to acquire books specific to the southern hemisphere.

 

There should be a copy of that very same double star guide landing on my doorstep tomorrow. 

[Herchel]

Arrived in the mail this afternoon.

AstroLeague Carbons copy.jpeg

do you have a link please.

[obrazell]

https://store.astrol...g6qpkc81cvi5n97 also see https://www.astrolea...serving-program

[desertstars]

A copy of Discovering Double Stars: Double Stars for Light-polluted Skies by Agnes Clarke did, in fact, arrive the other day. I haven't had a chance to do more than flip through it, so far, but I'm favorably impressed by the layout and print quality. 

[Herchel]

https://store.astrol...g6qpkc81cvi5n97 also see https://www.astrolea...serving-program

Thank you 👍

[mikemarotta]

 

do you have a link please.

The Astronomical League is here: https://www.astroleague.org

(If your membership in your local club does not include a membership in the AL, you can join as a Member-at-Large though it costs more.)

 

Their store is available to anyone. And anyone can download their tutorial programs - 80+ total - though only AL members get certificates and badges for completion.

https://store.astroleague.org

[NOTE that the store website will be down for maintenance until after 01 July 2022.] 

From the menu at left, click OBSERVING MANUALS.

 

Clear Skies,

Mike M.