re: Books

I'm just packing up to head to the Peak and logged on just in case of
astro brushfires. Here Richard started this irresistible thread.

The Kepler bio Jane mentioned is by Max Caspar, the definitive bio of
a really great man. Out in Dover.

Kitty Ferguson is an excellent science history writer, two of whose
books I loved:

Measuring the Universe, just what it looks like, the history of
measuring the Great Out There. She matches my prejudices about things
like dark energy and the 13.7 +_ 0.2 billion year timeline.

Tycho and Kepler, wonderful parallel bio of these two and their
quirky and invaluable collaboration.

James Kaler is a killer. Observer, pro astronomer, extremely lucid
writer. I've read Extreme Stars more than once, am asking for Stars
and their Spectra for Christmas.

The other book I'm hoping St Nick brings is the autobio of Cecilia
Payne-Gaposchkin (same title), major astronomer, and the first woman
full prof at Harvard (in the 50's for crying out loud).

The JVN is right, Consolmagno's book "Brother Astronomer" is a real
fun read. And since we're online, I once picked up The Victorian
Internet off the shelf at the Capitola Book Cafe (good bookstore).
Should have bought it, intriguing book.

You must have and read Brent Archinal's Star Clusters. Magnificent
work, up to date, long awaited, vital.

Alan Hirshfeld's Parallax is an astro thriller. Lots of stuff about
Friedrich Bessel, the guy who figured out how to get parallax for 61
Cygni. Cool person.

And here I stop with two must-reads. Galileo's Siderius Nuncius is a
wonderful read, the first OR's. Univ of Chicago press.
The Herschel Partnership by Michael Hoskin is the only booklength bio
of the great Caroline Herschel. Good book to get lost in.
Remember for anyone who's in AL, the AL book service, run by Marilyn
Unruh in Prescott, AZ, will get you any astro book for 10% over cost,
no shipping. Amazing deal.

I gotta get outa here. Can you tell the astro bookshelf is
cattycorner from the computer in here? Great question, Richard,
Jamie

-- 
Jamie Dillon <mavericks@No-Spam> <*>
TAC, astro anarchy at work  http://observers.org)
"We now know that nobody lives on Mars,
   at least not year round."  Dave Barry