Preface
Chapter One: Stars and storytellers
Chapter Two: Star maps
Chapter Three: The celestial eighty-eight
Chapter Four: Obsolete constellations
Sources and acknowledgements
References
Glossary of mythological characters
Index
Ian Ridpath is an English writer and editor on astronomy and space.
He is author of a standard series of observing guides for amateur
astronomers: the Collins Stars & Planets Guide (known in the US as
the Princeton Stars & Planets Field Guide); Collins Gem Stars; and
The Monthly Sky Guide, all illustrated by Wil Tirion, the world's
foremost celestial cartographer. He is editor of the authoritative
Oxford Dictionary of Astronomy and of the last three editions of
Norton's Star Atlas, the longest-established and best-known star
atlas in the world.
Ian is a recipient of the Astronomical Society of the Pacific's
Klumpke-Roberts Award for 'outstanding contributions to the public
understanding and appreciation of astronomy', the most prestigious
award of its kind. He is a Fellow of the Royal Astronomical Society
and a member of the International Astronomical Union, where he
serves on its Working Group on Star Names. His interests include
collecting antique astronomy books, particularly star atlases.
'In this highly readable Star Tales ... Mr Ridpath has splendidly
combined astronomy with the lore of classical mythology. '
Adrian Berry, Daily Telegraph
'There is another way to look at [stars and galaxies] - as the
creation of human imagination. ... To help steer us round these
wonders, Ridpath has produced Star Tales. ... a pleasant amalgam of
sheer fancy and historical and scientific fact. The book will help
us appreciate how we reached out present awareness.'
Robin McKie, Observer Sunday
'Many readers will welcome this book of tales of the constellations
. ... [Ian Ridpath's] list of sources is quite impressive, but the
greatest value of the book must lie in the illustrations . ... This
is a book to enjoy. It is easily read and does successfully what it
sets out to. Ridpath has already earned a reputation as a presenter
of the celestial constellations and the real curiosities they
contain. ... Now we must see him as an authority on their
entertainment value too.'
Rosemary Naylor, Federation of Astronomical Societies
'I thoroughly enjoyed reading this beautifully-illustrated book,
and it will be a lovely reference book as well. It is meticulously
researched and very well written, and I can recommend it to anyone
interested in the constellations from a historical or mythological
perspective'
Robert Connon Smith, The Observatory, vol. 139, no.1269, pp.74-5
 |
Ask a Question About this Product More... |
|
