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The Skywatcher's Handbook
This illustrated reference book provides all one needs to interpret the skies of the Northern Hemisphere by day and by night. 24 full-color and 176 two-color photographs.
- GenresAstronomy
100 pages, Paperback
Published July 29, 1989
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About the author
Colin A. Ronan
75 books3 followersColin A. Ronan was a British author and specialist in the history and philosophy of science.
He was educated at Abingdon School in Oxfordshire and served in the British Army from 1940–1946, achieving the rank of major. After the war he obtained a BSc in Astronomy, and then took an administrative post at the secretariat of The Royal Society. While there he did an MSc in the History and Philosophy of Science under Herbert Dingle at University College London. After leaving the Royal Society he took up writing, and during a long career as an author produced over forty books, mainly on astronomy, and the history and philosophy of science. Later in life he collaborated with Joseph Needham on an abridgement of Needham's great work on China, producing The Shorter Science and Civilization in China in several volumes. He played key roles in the administration of the British Astronomical Association, where he was president from 1989 to 1991, and for many years he was the editor of its journal, and director of the historical section.
For a considerable period in the 1980s and early 1990s he collaborated with Sir Patrick Moore in lecture tours. These lecture tours took the form of weekend residential symposia on single topics such as the return of Halley’s Comet. Notable and hilarious, the interplay between Ronan’s sober and intellectual analysis along with Moore’s more extravagant character, led frequent disagreements that were usually solved over several bottles of red wine. These weekends were an enormous success and made a valuable and irreplaceable contribution to the amateur astronomical scene
With his second wife Ann, he founded the Ronan Picture Library, which specialises in scientific and historical pictures. Among his many books on the history of science were studies of scientists such as Galileo, William Herschel and Edmond Halley. He also wrote scientific books for children, along with books such as The Practical Astronomer (1981) written for beginner amateur astronomers.
Ronan had an asteroid named in honour of his achievements: 4024 Ronan belongs to the Floras family, discovered by E. Bowell on November 24, 1981, at Anderson Mesa.
He was educated at Abingdon School in Oxfordshire and served in the British Army from 1940–1946, achieving the rank of major. After the war he obtained a BSc in Astronomy, and then took an administrative post at the secretariat of The Royal Society. While there he did an MSc in the History and Philosophy of Science under Herbert Dingle at University College London. After leaving the Royal Society he took up writing, and during a long career as an author produced over forty books, mainly on astronomy, and the history and philosophy of science. Later in life he collaborated with Joseph Needham on an abridgement of Needham's great work on China, producing The Shorter Science and Civilization in China in several volumes. He played key roles in the administration of the British Astronomical Association, where he was president from 1989 to 1991, and for many years he was the editor of its journal, and director of the historical section.
For a considerable period in the 1980s and early 1990s he collaborated with Sir Patrick Moore in lecture tours. These lecture tours took the form of weekend residential symposia on single topics such as the return of Halley’s Comet. Notable and hilarious, the interplay between Ronan’s sober and intellectual analysis along with Moore’s more extravagant character, led frequent disagreements that were usually solved over several bottles of red wine. These weekends were an enormous success and made a valuable and irreplaceable contribution to the amateur astronomical scene
With his second wife Ann, he founded the Ronan Picture Library, which specialises in scientific and historical pictures. Among his many books on the history of science were studies of scientists such as Galileo, William Herschel and Edmond Halley. He also wrote scientific books for children, along with books such as The Practical Astronomer (1981) written for beginner amateur astronomers.
Ronan had an asteroid named in honour of his achievements: 4024 Ronan belongs to the Floras family, discovered by E. Bowell on November 24, 1981, at Anderson Mesa.
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
August 1, 2017
Ricordo ancora l'emozione di quando (più o meno all'età di 7/8 anni) mio papà mi regalò questo libro. Spigazioni chiare ed avvicenti di astronomia (e meteorologia) adatte a tutti. Il libro era pensato per un pubblico adulto ma eracomprensibile anche a quell'età. Forse è qui che ho visto la prima foto di Saturno che mi ha fatto innamorare di questo pianeta. Non riesco a capire perchè oggi non lo ristampino più.
October 21, 2018
P. 12:
> The Earth is unique among the planets in that its atmosphere largely consists of the heavy gases, nitrogen (78 per cent) and oxygen (21 per cent), with mere traces of other gases.
This is where Ronan lost me.
A dated book. And ugly book. With ignorant or simply badly written text.
> The Earth is unique among the planets in that its atmosphere largely consists of the heavy gases, nitrogen (78 per cent) and oxygen (21 per cent), with mere traces of other gases.
This is where Ronan lost me.
A dated book. And ugly book. With ignorant or simply badly written text.
March 7, 2018
Much-much more than just about "watching' the skies!
If anything about the weather or atmospheric phenomena interests you ..... It's well worth your time!!
Immensely informative....
If anything about the weather or atmospheric phenomena interests you ..... It's well worth your time!!
Immensely informative....
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews