Parallax

FYI

I just finished reading "Parallax: The Race to Measure the Cosmos" by Alan W. Hirshfeld (2001). This is a really great read on the history of effort to measure distances to stars. Absolutely fascinating. The brilliance and ingenuity of the various players over a 2,000 year time span is mind boggling. These were astronomers with a vengeance. These guys were hard-core observers! Do yourself a favor and check it out. I found it hard to put down.

I agree. It's an eye opener to learn how meticulous and persistent our predecessors were. We owe a lot to them.

Bob Polcyn

I dropped the author of Parallax, Alan Hirshfeld, an e-mail on how much I enjoyed Parallax and he took the time to reply directly. He said he is working a new book on the life of Michael Faraday to be released in 2005.

Ed - I picked up a copy of Longitude, as soon as I fishish my current book I will give it a read.

Daryl