Book recommendation

O Wise Ones,
I have been appointed to do public astronomy at two national parks in Utah for 7 weeks this summer. I know it's a tough job, but someone had to, and why not a recently retired (TODAY!!) public school teacher?
I will be carrying a vast amount of gear for my wife and I for 7 weeks away from home, including, of course, my 12.5" Portaball and ancillary gear. I will have several standard atlases for reference, but I may have to prepare some short talks, and I will field many questions. NOW, I would like to take one or two books along for basic reference and and as resources for preparing talks. I am not looking for something too heavily into string theory, cosmology, the advanced equations to describe black holes, etc, but just for some recent books for basic reference to supplement my star atlases. What would you recommend (remembering that space is at a premium)?
Thanks,

Gordon Gower
Tucson, AZ

O'Meara's Deep Sky Companions - all of them.

Dmitri

Gordon Gower said:I have been appointed to do public astronomy at two national parks in Utah for 7 weeks this summer. . . I will be carrying a vast amount of gear for my wife and I for 7 weeks away from home . . . I will have several standard atlases for reference, but I may have to prepare some short talks, and I will field many questions. NOW, I would like to take one or two books along for basic reference and and as resources for preparing talks. . . What would you recommend (remembering that space is at a premium)?

Gordon: I interpret your request as seeking some sort of encyclopedia on astronomical subjects, not any observing handbook or guide. If I've read you correctly, my suggestion would be this:
The quality encyclopedias are too bulky for your purposes (someone recently gave me a copy of "The Cambridge Atlas of Astronomy" which is really a good encyclopedia, but it weighs a ton; there is also a mammoth 4-volume "Encyclopedia of Astronomy and Astrophysics" which retailed for $650 in 2001 but was well-received.). And the ideal source for your presentations might be the magnificent essays on various astronomical subjects scattered through the 3 volumes of Burnham's Celestial Handbook, if a concise up-dated version of those essays existed. But I found reviews in Sky & Telescope of two recent books that may suit your purposes: "The Universal Book of Astronomy" by David Darling, published in 2004, got a pretty good review in the February 2006 edition of Sky & Telescope (page 89); and the 3rd edition of Patrick Moore's "Atlas of the Universe" published in 2005 got a fairly good review in the March 2006 edition of Sky & Telescope (page 85). If you don't have access to those issues of S&T, I could send you copies of the text of those reviews via the astromart private e-mail system if you like. Good luck. Herbert Kraus.

I go away for five days and look what happens!!!

Star Hopping for Backyard Astronomers--Alan MacRobert
and
Turn Left at Orion by Brother Consa.......(I can't dig it out right now)

are a must for planning star hops for this type of thing.

Alex

Gordon,

Congratulations on you retiring in such a *fun* way! 7 weeks in Utah under their dark sky sounds fabulous. I look forward to doing that someday too...

I 3rd the recommendation of Crossen & Tirions "Binocular Astronomy" book. It is one of my favorite astronomy reads of all time. Covers the science and history of astronomy from the perspective of someone who wants to know what it is that we're looking at in the night sky. Fun to read, too.

I find it well complemented by these:

An Intimate Look at the Night Sky by Chet Raymo (currently $5.99 at amazon.com) Paperback. Publisher: Walker & Company; Reprint edition (April 1, 2003) ISBN-10: 0802776701 ASIN: B000MTEWJE While not as comprehensive as some works, Raymo is a great writer who's work is a joy to read and this is a nice, small book to take on a trip or to the beach.

I'd suggest getting a recent Intro to Astronomy college textbook, or short of that, this book:

Unfolding our Universe (Hardcover)
by Iain Nicolson; Cambridge University Press

It's not exactly a textbook, but it does have the look of a college level intro to astronomy. Good illustrations that accompany decent explanations of the astrophysics involved with just about everything - planets to cosmology - that you're likely to talk about in outreach events. It and the Crossen book are what I reach for first when preparing my live planetarium shows.

Reviews (from Amazon's site):

Review
"...this new book, by Iain Nicolson, is in every way outstanding. It is written with immense skill, with excellent illustrations, and it is very well produced; the publishers have clearly taken the greatest care...Perhaps the strongest point about the book is that it will appeal to readers of all kinds. The beginner will have no difficulty in following it through, and the serious student will find it very useful indeed because it is so comprehensive and well-ordered...should be read by everyone who has an interest in astronomy." Journal of the British Astronomical Association

"...covers the entire field of current astronomical knowledge from our own Earth to the farthest galaxies. [The] book is an excellent guide for a student or anyone who has ever looked into the night sky with awe and wonder. There are plenty of photographs, diagrams, charts and tables to help illustrate Nicolson's clean, clear, no-nonsense prose." Ben Bova, Scripps-Howard News Service

"Unfolding the Universe is a richly illustrated introduction to astronomy that explores the cosmos without relying on complex mathematics." Dallas Morning News

"...presents an attractive and neatly organized look at the new astronomy...there is also an abundance of wonderful photos, sidebars and useful illustrations and charts to excite the imagination of a serious student of the skies." Camera

"...up-to-date, well illustrated and authoritative this book is an excellent introduction to modern astronomy and astrophysics. Its clear, informal style gives the reader a quantitative understanding of our Universe without resorting to unnecessary mathematics." Dr. Graham Woan, University of Glasgow

"...contians a vast amount of information, but is so beautifully written and illustrated that it will appeal at every level, from absolute beginners to serious students -- the best book of its kind that I have encountered for many years."/ s Patrick Moore, I^Mail on Sunday

"...excellent photographs and numerous color drawings...the large glossary is an added benefit. A lovely book with well-laid out pages and high printing quality. Highly recommended for general readers." CHOICE

"...a useful introduction to astronomy that I recommend for an advanced high school or introductory college astronomy class." Science Books & Films

By the way, Gordon, which two National Parks are you refering to.
I know that Bryce Canyon has a public astronomy program,
but what is the other one?
Linton

Robert: Thanks for the links. I look forward to some busy and exciting times! We leave for Canyonlands next weekend.

Gordon G
Tucson

Thanks for that link, Robert. I don't get over to CN often enough.
Do you know if they have an astronomy program at Capitol Reef N.P. yet?
Have a great time up in Bryce!
Linton