Starlight Nights:The Adventures of a Star-Gazer

by Leslie C. Peltier

Occasionally a book is published whose influence far outlasts its life in print. Such a book is Leslie C. Peltier’s Starlight Nights: The Adventures of a Star-Gazer. First published in 1965, brought out in softcover shortly after the author’s death in 1980, and then put out of print for nearly a decade before being revived, this collection of reminiscences and observations by one of the 20th century’s most accomplished telescopic observers has become, for many amateur and professional astronomers, a touchstone for their own love of the night sky.
Peltier was five years old when he first glimpsed the Pleiades through the window of his family’s Ohio farmhouse in 1905. That first meeting with the stars grew into a consuming passion that yielded great rewards: 12 comet and 6 nova discoveries and more than 132,000 variable-star observations. In Starlight Nights Peltier tells the story of these achievements in the context of his experiences in rural Ohio, during a time when American farm life was undergoing vast and irrevocable changes.
Deeply connected to the land he grew up on and keenly interested in all aspects of nature, Peltier describes a world that was nurturing and profoundly engaging. He recounts his astronomical adventures with modesty and humor and displays in his writing the strength and clarity of vision he brought to the telescope. Illustrated with Peltier family photographs and introduced by renowned astronomer David H. Levy, this edition of Starlight Nights will draw in those already acquainted with the book as well as a new generation of readers.

224 pages, Kindle Edition

First published December 18, 2013

About the author

Leslie Peltier was a US amateur astronomer, who lived and pursued his hobby in the early and middle 20th century.

He is noted for his interest in variable stars. In eight decades of observing he submitted over 132,000 observations of variables to the American Association of Variable Star Observers (AAVSO). Peltier also discovered twelve comets and six novae. In addition to astronomy, he was also interested in biology and geology.

Peltier is principally known for his autobiography Starlight Nights, for which he was named Ohio Author of the Year in 1966. This work has been read by generations of astronomers.

The renowned astronomer Harlow Shapely once referred to Leslie C. Peltier as "the world's greatest living amateur astronomer."

After his death the Astronomical League created an annual "Leslie C. Peltier Award" for outstanding contributions to astronomy, in honour of his memory.

Reviews

[Brian Potter · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great insights into a bygone era

I have reread this book many times, grew up only 10 minutes from where Leslie lives his entire life. What a fantastic look into a world we will never know again.

[Donald Franck · Rating 5 out of 5]

Star light, star bright!

I first read this book in hard back when it first came out. And I have breathed that same scent of autumn leaves while at my own telescope on cool fall nights. Magic time, then and now.

[Steve Ryan · Rating 5 out of 5]

A wonderful story...

I enjoyed this book greatly. The development of an astronomer, in a time and land that seems so far away now. Bravo Mr. Peltier.

[Laurel A. Wadley · Rating 5 out of 5]

Even interesting to a non-star gazer

This book was brought to my attention by Larry Behers, PHD. I know him through my Arizona Eastern Chapter. He held a wonderful star watching session a few weeks ago and mentioned this book. I could not put it down.

[Kim Weiler · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great read

I loved this book! I not only was a story of a great astronomer it was a look back at a much simpler time
A great book for anyone interested in astronomy