X + 919 pp., Hard cover DM 189,-/ Subscription price DM 151,20.The AAA summarizes, classifies and indexes publications in astronomy, astrophysics and space sciences throughout the world. Two volumes appear per year.As a richt source of fresh information on progress in the scienc, es, the AAA has become an indispensable ingredient of astronomical and space sciences libraries all over the world.
On~ejov ObservaWry CzechoslovakiaJ. KLECZEK
J. Ashbrook, The Astronomical Scrapbook -Skywatchers, Pioneers and Seekers inAstronomy, 1984, Cambridge Univ. Press, Sky Publ. Corp., Cambridge, xii + 468 pp., illust., hard cover s / $19.95.In this anthology, 91 of the 159 popular historical Scrapbook-articles which Joseph Ashbrook wrote for Sky & Telescope from 1954 to 1980 have been reissued (and slightly re-edited) in 83 chapters. The articles cover almost every conceivable aspect of observational astronomy during the past few centuries. Famous (and less famous) astronomers, amateurs, cranks, frauds etc., are figured; as well as the early pioneers in astronomical instrumentation and techniques.Many chapters are devoted to early observations in the solar system and beyond, and to the riddles they often posed. The notes and references of the articles (and also the references to the original Scrapbook articles) are collected and updated at the end of the book. Illustrations are added to many of the earlier Scrapbook articles.One will search in vain the standard histories of astronomy for many of the intriguing details such as: did Tycho Brahe really have a copper nose? What is the thinnest observed lunar crescent? How was helium descovered? Why was Goodricke's explanation of Algol's brightness variations adopted only a century later?The anthology is therefore a must to all fans of Ashbrook, and a second chance to convert the remainder of those interested in the history of astronomy.
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