Star Trails: 50 Favorite Columns from Sky & Telescope

by David H. Levy

David Levy's "Star Trails" column has appeared monthly in Sky & Telescope since January 1988. This book is not purely a best-of compilation, though it does include Levy's favorite columns. Instead the articles chosen reveal how amateur astronomy and the people who practice it have changed over the years. Star Trails is a look into the minds and hearts of the people who have made a difference in how we study and enjoy the sky, and an exploration of the personal experiences that have shaped the course of David Levy's nights under the stars.

Genres: Astronomy

160 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2007

About the author

David Levy is a prominent astronomer and author, most famous for his co-discovery in 1993 of Comet Shoemaker-Levy 9, which collided with the planet Jupiter in 1994.

Levy was born in Canada, but now lives in Arizona. He has been involved with astronomy, as an observer, promoter, and author, for his entire adult life. Levy has discovered twenty two comets, given innumerable lectures, television appearances, and published articles in the major science and astronomy magazines.

He gained a Phd in English literature in 2010. There is an asteroid named in his honour, Levy 3673. He is married to Wendee Levy.

Reviews

[Kee Onn · Rating 4 out of 5]

A great collection of short stories by David H. Levy, compiled from his column in Sky & Telescope magazine over the years. David is known for discovering many comets, including the famous Comet Shoemaker–Levy 9 which crashed into Jupiter in 1994. In the early days, amateur comet hunters stand a good chance of discovering new comets if they have a good memory of the star fields and the tenacity to scan the skies with their telescopes in dawn or dusk. Nowadays, with automated sky surveys the chances are slimmer. Amateur astronomers also stand a chance in discovering novae (new stars) and variable stars - the American Association of Variable Star Observers (AAVSO) provides a venue for these ventures.

With digital CCD cameras becoming more sophisticated everyday, the columns in this book also hark back to the times where the transition from film to CCDs were in its infancy. In particular, he writes a lot about his friend and Pluto discoverer Clyde Tombaugh, their trips and observing sessions together before he passed on in 1997. Overall, this book is a trip back in time where amateur astronomers, despite the lack of internet and digital technologies, managed to pursue their interests and contribute to professional astronomy and STEM outreach - and inspiring today's amateur astronomers.

[Christopher Obert · Rating 4 out of 5]

Any one that really knows me knows that I love astronomy! When I was young I wanted to study “Astro-physics.” As I grew I changed my mind and wanted to study “Planetary Science.” But it was always Astronomy…and this book is a great example of why I wanted to study the sky. The objects are wondrous, the methods ingenious, the people brilliant and the locations exotic. I wonder how anyone can not be amazed at God’s creative powers. This book although not religious it does touch on the divine in the heavenly subject of Astronomy. David Levy is an accomplished astronomer and tells many short stories on his life and the career that many of us (unfortunately, I never did find that career in astronomy) dreamed we had. He also includes stories of other people that shared that dream; people that go out, in the dark, to look up and search for the light.

[Guy McArthur · Rating 4 out of 5]

Excellent and enthusiastic essays on a wide variety of astronomical topics.