Seeing in the Dark‹just wonderful---a short review

Timothy Ferris's book, Seeing in the Dark, is terrific. (Subtitled:
How Amateurs are Discovering the Wonders of the Universe.) It's a great
read and a solid blend of astronomical observing history and portraits
of amateur astronomers over time. He's quite convincing on the impact
amateurs had on astronomy through the ages and continue to have today.

He provides wonderful vignettes of many leading amateur observers (one
or two who turned professional): Barbara Wilson, Jack Newton, Clyde
Tombaugh, David Levy, etc. (Even Brian May of Queen gets a couple of
pages.)

I really appreciated the extended portraits of Sir Patrick Moore (a
boyhood idol) and Stephen O'Meara (whose incredible talents and
accomplishments are richly detailed).

Ferris captures well the nostalgic feeling in remembering one's
childhood and early observing experiences. His own growing up provides
a good though brief look at Florida and families in the 1950s. He also
describes observing through classic telescopes and experiencing several
key NASA missions, e.g., sitting with Sagan and looking at the first
Mariner panorama. That gives the book a real you are there feeling.

It's organized, generally, from the local to the global‹from the solar
system to the Milky Way to the far-flung reaches of the cosmos.

I'm still reading it, and just when it started drag a bit---oddly in the
very section on the Night Sky that should have appealed to star gazers
(his survey of constellations, the celestial grid, and the major bright
stars is too cryptic for novices and too superficial for veterans), he
rescues it by portraying E.E. Barnard. Now there's a story and a half
about a tough childhood, perseverance, and ultimate success.

If you haven't read it yet, I'd recommend going out and buying it. I
think most amateurs would really enjoy it and even find it
inspirational. It truly makes one want to get back out there and
observe!

Larry Stedman
Vestal

Thanks Larry. After reading your comments, I put it on reserve at the
library.

Clear Skies

Chuck Taylor
Do you observe the moon?
Try http://groups.yahoo.com/group/lunar-observing/
And the Lunar Picture of the Day http://www.lpod.org/
************************************

"Larry Stedman" wrote in message
...
Timothy Ferris's book, Seeing in the Dark, is terrific. (Subtitled:
How Amateurs are Discovering the Wonders of the Universe.) It's a great
read and a solid blend of astronomical observing history and portraits
of amateur astronomers over time. He's quite convincing on the impact
amateurs had on astronomy through the ages and continue to have today.

He provides wonderful vignettes of many leading amateur observers (one
or two who turned professional): Barbara Wilson, Jack Newton, Clyde
Tombaugh, David Levy, etc. (Even Brian May of Queen gets a couple of
pages.)

I really appreciated the extended portraits of Sir Patrick Moore (a
boyhood idol) and Stephen O'Meara (whose incredible talents and
accomplishments are richly detailed).

Ferris captures well the nostalgic feeling in remembering one's
childhood and early observing experiences. His own growing up provides
a good though brief look at Florida and families in the 1950s. He also
describes observing through classic telescopes and experiencing several
key NASA missions, e.g., sitting with Sagan and looking at the first
Mariner panorama. That gives the book a real you are there feeling.

It's organized, generally, from the local to the global system to the
Milky Way to the far-flung reaches of the cosmos.

I'm still reading it, and just when it started drag a bit---oddly in the
very section on the Night Sky that should have appealed to star gazers
(his survey of constellations, the celestial grid, and the major bright
stars is too cryptic for novices and too superficial for veterans), he
rescues it by portraying E.E. Barnard. Now there's a story and a half
about a tough childhood, perseverance, and ultimate success.

If you haven't read it yet, I'd recommend going out and buying it. I
think most amateurs would really enjoy it and even find it
inspirational. It truly makes one want to get back out there and
observe!

Larry Stedman
Vestal