The Practical Astronomer

by Colin A. Ronan

Today men walk on the Moon while probes journey into deep space to discover more than the origins and composition of the universe. None of this would have been possible without the discoveries made by the great astronomers over the centuries. Accompanied by over 600 spectacular illustrations, this book shows how these discoveres were made, so that you, too, can follow the same steps. Using a simple telescope or binoculars, make the same observations that Galileo did when he first saw Jupiter and four of its moons, a discovery which challenged the orthodox views of his day. Learn how to catalog the stars according to their brightness, as did the Greek astronomer Hipparchus. Understand how Einstein's Theory of Relativity provides possible answers to the mystery of the beginning and end of the universe. Beginning with the sun, the book describes the nature of the stars and planets forming our Solar System and the other stellar systems beyond. The terms and techniques of astronomers are carefully explained and numerous illustrated experiments, using simple equipment combined with practical advice, show you how to make your own observations with the basic tools of the astronomer.

Genres: Science, Reference, Astronomy

206 pages, Hardcover

First published October 1, 1981

About the author

Colin 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.

Reviews

[Roberto Pesce · Rating 5 out of 5]

Un altro libro straodinario di astronomia, di quelli che riescono a spiegarti tutto in maniera semplice e avvincente. Contiene un sacco di spunti pratici, specialmente adatti ai ragazzi. I divulgatori di oggi purtroppo non sono ancora riusciti ad eguagliarlo nonostante i progressi fatti in 20 anni a livello di multimedialità.

[Xesc · Rating 4 out of 5]

Pretty useful, but take into account the book is obviously outdated. Pluto appears as a planet instead of dwarf planet, for example.