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[Chicago Astronomer - Astro Joe]

40 Nights to Knowing the Sky

Sometime in the late '90's, I ordered this book and "Astronomy through the ages". After I got them in the mail, I put it away, mailing package and all, and forgot all about it. Three months ago, I came across them again in their unopened package. Quite an unexpected and pleasent surprize.

Now I haven't thoroughly read them yet, but "40 Nights..." writes about the basics of amateur astronomy from aligning telescopes, and figuring out eyepiece power to your basic constellation reading. It isn't complicated nor filled with string theory or hardcore physics.

It's a good addition to the library, but is a generalization of a multitude of topics. A good starter book.

[stargazer]

My bookcase is mainly full of textbooks but I do have a couple good books to read on there.

1. Failure Is Not An Option. Its about the early missions from Mercury to Apollo.

2. Man On The Moon. about the apollo missions.

Both are good books. I am looking for a couple others but will let you know about them when I read them.

B

[NatureDevil]

I have so many books it is sick. The ones I am reading now, I have either read a while ago, or plan to finish before the end of next month are as follows....I'll name the astonomy related ones first:

Atlas of the Skies - Put out by TAJ books, I found it for about $10 at Sam's Club. It has great pictures along with details sky maps, summaries of flight missions, histories of ancient astronomy, and a little bit of info on scopes. Great all around book.

Majestic Universe This is a huge hardcover book that is nothing but amazing photos of galaxies, nebulae, clusters of all kinds, in bright colorful photos with lots of info on each. A few years old, it is still one of my favorites to look through. Lots of physics in it.

The Physics of Star Trek I read this one years ago, and the author, Lawrence M. Krauss, actually wrote a second one ("Beyond Star Trek" which I also read) which was more about Sci Fi movies and whatnot. One of my favorites, he takes everything from warp speed, to beaming, to tachion fields and photon torpedoes and not only explains what they are but talks about the possibilities of them being a reality someday. This isn't one of those books where they show the specs of the damn starship, this is for anyone. TONS of physics in here (but then again, I am a physics guy more than a scope guy). Also, if you are a big Trek fan, you'll recognize a lot of the stories in it, but you don't need to like Trek to appreciate the ideas and science in this. A third book, though not written by the same author, is called "The Metaphysics of Star Trek," which is just that. I haven't gotten to it yet, but plan to before the end of the year.

The Hitchiker's Guide to the Galaxy This isn't at all what you you might think it is. Unless you already know about this, the name is midleading. Great science fiction by Douglas Adams. I read all of the books years ago when I was younger and finally read the 5th and last one, Mostly Harmless, just last year ago for the first time. They are making a movie based on this to be finished by next year. Goofy Brits.

The DaVinci Code Great novel by Dan Brown, it involves a lot more astronomy than you would think. Lots of talk about symbolism in history, religion, and the evolution of it all. Plus, a great mystery/suspense thriller while you learn. It gets hard to put this one down. I am actually in the process of writing a huge 2-part article on the ideas based in this book.

Tietam Brown A novel written by retired wrestler Mick Foley, a modern story of Catcher in the Rye, just a little more gory. I really liked it.

I could also recommend the Harry Potter books (great science fiction/fantasy) as well as some old classics, Chuck Palahniuk and whatnot, but this is enough for now. I am currently reading the new Sean Hannity book "Deliver Us From Evil", the Dale Carnegie "How to Win Friends and Influence People" classic, and some novels by Laurie R. King and Elizabeth Moon. I hope some of my suggestions are helpful to anyone.

Joe, specifically for you, I recomend the Physics of Star Trek. If I ever get around to showing you my scope, I'll let you borrow my copy if you want. You'll love the ideas in it.

NatureDevil

[Chicago Astronomer - Astro Joe]

Brian,

Quite a collection there and a lot to absorb.

Wow...The Atlas of the skies for only $10,00,,,too cool. Every astronomer needs a good atlas to explore by.

I remember the Hitchikers Guide...way back in the 80's! D'oh! PBS had a series, but I wasn't too swayed by it. I preferred the book better.

The Physics of Star Trek does sound interesting. Fantasy often does become reality, and would be an interesting read. I have that Shatner book..."Get a Life!", haven't read it yet, but it looks fun.

The majestic Universe is indeed a nice, pretty book to page through. I have thumbed thru it whilst at the book stores.

---------------

Note: When you post your reading material, it would be easier to comment on the books by posting separate threads....in this way...we can select and discriminate selectively.

Thanks

[NatureDevil]

Maybe I will break up the books I posted as well as several others and start several different threads on them. That way I can write a little more and you can delete all the stuff I already got. I'll try to add some new book threads this upcoming weekend.

NatureDevil