The Canopus Encyclopedia of Astronomy - Hardcover

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0953786889 ISBN 13: 9780953786886

Publisher: Canopus Publishing Limited, 2004

Synopsis

Astronomy is advancing at a staggering pace, and there has never before been such intense popular interest in the subject. The Canopus Encyclopedia of Astronomy answers the call for an entirely new reference work to explain the cutting-edge discoveries that make the news on a daily basis.

The Canopus Encyclopedia of Astronomy is arranged alphabetically and encapsulates the state of the subject as we journey through the 21st century. The scope extends in space from our home planet Earth out to the most remote quasars, a billion billion light years distant, and in time from the origins of the universe at the Big Bang through the present day and on to the end of the universe, if it has an end. It includes the fascinating history of the subject, biographies of the most famous astronomers of the past 3000 years, details of the key astronomy-related space missions since the launch of Sputnik nearly 50 years ago, and the work of observatories all over the world.

The Canopus Encyclopedia of Astronomy makes a special feature of practical astronomy. Top amateur astronomers advise on a wide range of subjects, from astronomy with binoculars to advanced imaging techniques. There is something for backyard stargazers at all levels of experience.

The Canopus Encyclopedia of Astronomy is not only the most comprehensive general astronomy reference available, but also the most authoritative. It is based on the research of 700 professional astronomers whose work has been meticulously edited to be understandable by non-specialists. As such it is the ideal reference for students, teachers, journalists and of course amateur astronomers.

About this title

Review:

An engaging trove of information. -- Publishers Weekly

Exceptionally comprehensive and up-to-date...pitched right at the limits of contemporary research... handsomely produced and reasonably priced. -- Times Literary Supplement

Quite an achievement ... neither patronizes nor overwhelms ... an exceptionally useful and attractive volume. -- Astronomy & Geophysics

Takes readers to the cutting edge of the latest research... details some of the most intriguing aspects of space. -- Science News

This authoritative and comprehensive volume will be of interest to armchair and backyard astronomers alike. It is an up-to-date work... -- Royal Astronomical Society

This encyclopedia is by far the best of its kind I have ever come across. -- Sir Patrick Moore

Until now there has been no single best reference... -- Rick Fienberg, Editor-in-Chief, Sky & Telescope Magazine

Well researched and attractively laid out... an excellent source of information and data for amateur and professional, beginner and experienced. -- Federation of Astronomical Societies

About the Author:

Professor Paul Murdin is a senior fellow at the Cambridge Institute of Astronomy. After a research career in the USA (University of Rochester), Australia (Anglo-Australian Observatory) and the UK (Royal Greenwich Observatory) he worked as an observatory director and administrator. He helped set up the UK's observatory in the Canary Islands and was the Director of the Royal Observatory in Edinburgh. He then worked for the UK government agencies on astronomy and space funding. Well known as a writer, editor and broadcaster on astronomy, with a flair for communicating astronomy from the front line of research, he edited the monumental 4-volume Encyclopedia of Astronomy and Astrophysics (Nature Publishing Group and Institute of Physics Publishing, 2001). In 1988 he was awarded an honor (OBE) from the Queen for making international arrangements in astronomy and for his work in public outreach.

Margaret Penston, MBE is a former Secretary and Vice President of the Royal Astronomical Society and chair of its Education Committee. As a research astronomer on the staff of the Royal Greenwich Observatory she traveled the astronomical world, spending time at observatories in California, South Africa, Australia and Spain with her astronomer husband, Michael and their family. She was a member of the European Space Agency’s Hipparcos project team for more than 15 years. In 1998 she became schools officer in astronomy and space science for the UK Particle Physics and Astronomy Research Council. She is a Governing Body Fellow of Lucy Cavendish College, Cambridge and is the current President of the UK's Society for Popular Astronomy.

About this edition

• Publisher: Canopus Publishing Limited
• Publication date: 2004
• ISBN 10: 0953786889
• ISBN 13: 9780953786886
• Binding: Hardcover
• Number of pages: 480
• Editor: Murdin Paul, Penston Margaret