Burnham's Celestial Handbook

Does any one know of a source that corrects the errors in that most famous
and usefull handbook of all handbooks the "Burnham's Celestial Handbook".

(HAVRILIAK) wrote:

Does any one know of a source that corrects the errors in that most famous
and usefull handbook of all handbooks the "Burnham's Celestial Handbook".

http://www.phoenixnewtimes.com/issue...tml/page1.html

"A year ago, a talented astronomer who has worked both as an amateur
and a professional began considering taking on the task of updating
Burnham's massive work.
His name is Brian Skiff, he works at Lowell Observatory, and he knows
the night sky about as well as anyone in the world.
He says that before taking on the challenge of producing a new,
improved Celestial Handbook, he decided he'd better take another look
at the old one.
"I was amazed. I think it's just fantastic," he says.
It was also daunting. Skiff thought better of the idea, and has put
the task aside, at least temporarily."

--
Martin Frey
http://www.hadastro.org.uk
N 51 02 E 0 47

"Martin Frey" wrote in message
...
(HAVRILIAK) wrote:

Does any one know of a source that corrects the errors in that most
famous
and usefull handbook of all handbooks the "Burnham's Celestial Handbook".

http://www.phoenixnewtimes.com/issue...tml/page1.html

"A year ago, a talented astronomer who has worked both as an amateur
and a professional began considering taking on the task of updating
Burnham's massive work.
His name is Brian Skiff, he works at Lowell Observatory, and he knows
the night sky about as well as anyone in the world.
He says that before taking on the challenge of producing a new,
improved Celestial Handbook, he decided he'd better take another look
at the old one.
"I was amazed. I think it's just fantastic," he says.
It was also daunting. Skiff thought better of the idea, and has put
the task aside, at least temporarily."


Thanks for that link. Even after all this time, with all of the PC based
planetarium programs, and later books I have bought. Burnham's still has
pride of place, and there is not a nights observing I undertake when I don't
approach my now dog eared copies.

"Wally Anglesea" wrote in message
...

Thanks for that link. Even after all this time, with all of the PC based
planetarium programs, and later books I have bought. Burnham's still has
pride of place, and there is not a nights observing I undertake when I
don't approach my now dog eared copies.


The prices have dropped so low that I picked up a second pristine set off
ebay ($10). I keep it secured until my field copies become unusable (or i
give them away). Burnham makes a good read on cloudy nites too. Scotty
Houston comes close to his inspirational writing. Do you know of anyone
else?

peace,
jon

Does any one know of a source that corrects the errors in that most famous
and usefull handbook of all handbooks the "Burnham's Celestial Handbook".


Hi:

Which "errors" are you talking about? Other than outdated information in the
introductory matter, the errors are surprisingly few. Naturally, the book's
coordinates, which are at Epoch 1950, are a little out of date now, but if you
need precision, any number of programs can precess Burnham's coordinates.

Me? I don't _want_ to see the book updated. It's fine as is and should remain
that way. Anybody who wants MORE, MORE, MORE, should take a look at The Night
Sky Observer's Guide, which is like a Burnham's without the poetic prose, but
with many more objects. ;-)

Peace,
Rod Mollise
Author of _Choosing and Using a Schmidt Cassegrain Telescope_
Like SCTs and MCTs?
Check-out sct-user, the mailing list for CAT fanciers!
Goto http://members.aol.com/RMOLLISE/index.html

On 06 Sep 2004 15:14:08 GMT, Rod Mollise wrote:

Me? I don't _want_ to see the book updated. It's fine as is and should remain
that way. Anybody who wants MORE, MORE, MORE, should take a look at The Night
Sky Observer's Guide, which is like a Burnham's without the poetic prose, but
with many more objects. ;-)


It's like spending time in a section of a any city where most of the
buildings have been there for a long while. They don't look like
multistory, propped up panes of tinted glass laced with shiny metal and
topped with spindly antennas that scratch the sky and radar dishes which
capture information that is rushed off somewhere to be converted to cash.

The Burnham's trilogy is a brick and mortar masterpiece equipped with
pigeon-fouled ledges, gargoyle-tipped corners, and elevators that require
the manual closing of a sliding laced gate.

Look for me sitting at a sidewalk table outside a coffeehouse in this area
of town, slowly sipping a double shot of straight espresso and gradually
turning the pages of Burnham's Celestial Handbook.


--
Martin
"Photographs From the Universe of Amateur Astronomy"
http://home.earthlink.net/~martinhowell

But I wouldn't compare it to
Burnham.


Hi:

I agree. _Burnham's_ is something that can't be easily duplicated, and it's
probably good that no one has tried.


Peace,
Rod Mollise
Author of _Choosing and Using a Schmidt Cassegrain Telescope_
Like SCTs and MCTs?
Check-out sct-user, the mailing list for CAT fanciers!
Goto http://members.aol.com/RMOLLISE/index.html

"Jax" wrote in message
...

"Wally Anglesea" wrote in
message ...

Thanks for that link. Even after all this time, with all of the PC based
planetarium programs, and later books I have bought. Burnham's still has
pride of place, and there is not a nights observing I undertake when I
don't approach my now dog eared copies.


The prices have dropped so low that I picked up a second pristine set off
ebay ($10). I keep it secured until my field copies become unusable (or i
give them away). Burnham makes a good read on cloudy nites too. Scotty
Houston comes close to his inspirational writing. Do you know of anyone
else?


I don't know of any practical astronomy writing that comes close to the
effort Burnham put in.

Jax wrote:

"Wally Anglesea" wrote in message
...

Thanks for that link. Even after all this time, with all of the PC based
planetarium programs, and later books I have bought. Burnham's still has
pride of place, and there is not a nights observing I undertake when I
don't approach my now dog eared copies.


The prices have dropped so low that I picked up a second pristine set off
ebay ($10). I keep it secured until my field copies become unusable (or i
give them away). Burnham makes a good read on cloudy nites too. Scotty
Houston comes close to his inspirational writing. Do you know of anyone
else?

peace,
jon

My set was free with an astronomy book offer about 30-years ago.


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I have a set of paperback Burnham's in my observatory and a set of
hard cover in my library. Now that I think about, if I had to save
any of my books, Burnham's would be at the top of the list.

Where my interest in astronomy is skewed toward the aesthetic
pleasures, I couldn't have a better guide than Robert Burnham Jr. May
he rest in peace.

His life story is both one of the most inspiring and sorrowful tales I
have ever heard. I suppose bitter-sweet is a good term.