Burnham's Celestial Handbook: An Observer's Guide to the Universe Beyond the Solar System, Volume 3: Pavo Through Vulpecula

Burnham's Celestial Handbook #3

by Robert Burnham Jr.

The three volume "Burnham's Celestial Handbook" series provides a constellation based, detailed and comprehensive guide to tens of thousands of celestial objects outside our solar system. The information presented includes: definitions, names, historical background, coordinates, classifications, physical descriptions, maps, charts, sketches, and observing guides. All told in an engaging manner.

The series became an instant success with amateur astronomers, and remained so for decades. While it is now dated, it is still a popular source of information.

Volume Three lists the constellations from Pavo to Vulpecula.

Genres: Astronomy, Science, Space, Reference, Textbooks, Nonfiction

787 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1978

About the author

Robert 'Bob' Burnham, Jr, was a United States astronomer. He is best known in astronomical circles for his classic work "Burnham's Celestial Handbook".

Burnham developed an interest in astronomy at a young age, and in 1957 discovered a comet. This led to an appointment at Lowell Observatory in Flagstaff, Arizona. A position he retained until 1979 when funding was no longer available.

While at the observatory, in addition to his duties, he discovered five additional comets, and, using the extensive Lowell library, composed this handbook. This was a work clearly superior to any else available, and proved immediately popular with the amateur astronomy community. The work was in three volumes, and it discussed in great detail the objects visible to amateur telescopes in each constellation.

After Burnham left Lowell his life took a turn to the worse. He had some difficulty coping, and spent his last years selling sketches of cats in Balboa Park, San Diego, California. He died unknown and alone, however, he is well remembered in the astronomical community.

An element of confusion existed between this Burnham, and a science writer and astronomer also named Robert Burnham. As this latter Burnham had a successful career, the confusion in identity caused many who knew of Burnham Jr to assume that he was alive and well.

Reviews

[Tom Wildoner · Rating 5 out of 5]

Still my go-to reference book for historical information about deep sky objects. Mr. Burnham spent significant time in his historical research into star and constellation names, and research into the finer deep sky objects. A welcome addition to my astronomy reference book collection.

[James · Rating 4 out of 5]

This 3 volume set is a must for amatuer and professional astronomers. It provides detailed information on stars(single, variable & binary), galaxies and nebulea by constellation including coordinates, magnitudes and finding charts. This series is a bit dated but the information is still current.

[Doug Page · Rating 4 out of 5]

Pavo thru Vulpecula. The atom was first seen in 1978, at a magnification of 30 million - a magnification equal to enlarging a grapefruit to the size of the earth.

[Gilbert Wesley Purdy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Seriously dated but still a lot of great information.