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Library | Item Barcode | Call Number | Material Type | Item Category 1 | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Searching... | 30000010229192 | QB14 M57 2007 | Reference Book | Dictionary | Searching... |
On Order
Summary
Summary
This lavishly illustrated new dictionary written by an experienced writer and consultant on astronomy provides an essential guide to the universe for amateur astronomers of all ages. Around 1300 carefully selected and cross-referenced entries are complemented by hundreds of beautiful colour illustrations, taken from space missions, the Hubble Space Telescope, and other major observatories on Earth and in space. Distinguished stellar illustrator Wil Tirion has drawn 20 new star maps especially for inclusion here. A myriad of named astronomical objects, constellations, observatories and space missions are described in detail, as well as biographical sketches for 70 of the most luminous individuals in the history of astronomy and space science. Acronyms and specialist terms are clearly explained, making for the most thorough and carefully assembled reference resource that teachers and enthusiasts of astronomy will ever need.
Reviews 3
Booklist Review
Authored by a professional astronomer and writer, this volume readily fills the need for an astronomy dictionary. Coverage encompasses named astronomical objects, terms and abbreviations most frequently encountered in astronomy, constellations, principal observatories, space missions, and biographical sketches for 70 well-known individuals in the history of the field. Written at a level accessible to the general reader, the 1,300 alphabetically arranged entries range in length from one sentence (simple definitions) to several paragraphs (entries on planets). Specialist terms and acronyms are clearly explained. Sample entries include Air shower, 719 Albert, Astronomer Royal, Degenerate star, Egg Nebula, Hertzsprung-Russell diagram, Hooker telescope, Kepler's laws, Penumbra, and Yerkes Observatory. Many up-to-date finds are included; for example, we learn that legislation has been enacted in parts of the U.S. to protect important observatory sites from the damaging effects of unnecessary lighting in nearby cities; the highest quasar redshift measured by 2007 was 6.43; Pluto is no longer categorized as a major planet. About 300 excellent color photographs and illustrations, unusual for a moderately priced dictionary, supplement the text. Among them are 20 new star maps by distinguished illustrator Wil Tirion and photographs from various space missions and the Hubble Space Telescope. Ample see and see also references guide the reader from one topic to another; references to related dictionary entries are highlighted in color. Cambridge Illustrated Dictionary of Astronomy, notable for authoritative, up-to-date definitions supplemented by color illustrations and photographs, is highly recommended for high-school, academic, special, and public libraries.--Cannon, Nancy Copyright 2008 Booklist
Choice Review
With this dictionary Mitton (Royal Astronomical Society, UK) offers a welcome addition to the reference collection. This volume continues the excellent tradition of reference works in astronomy produced by Cambridge, including the previously published Cambridge Dictionary of Astronomy (2001), also by Mitton. What makes this newer title unique is the up-to-date selection of approximately 1,300 defined terms and the addition of 300 full-color images and illustrations that are absent from the former title. It includes 20 new star maps by illustrator Wil Tirion. The definitions retain the same clarity and substance as Mitton's other works (including A Concise Dictionary of Astronomy, CH, Sep'92, 30-0013), with the added feature that the words to be defined are in a colored font, as are the see also references. Included are biographical sketches and portraits of famous astronomers. Summing Up: Recommended. Lower-level undergraduates through professionals/practitioners; general readers. P. M. Storm Eastern Michigan University
Library Journal Review
With approximately 1300 entries, 300 color illustrations, and 20 maps, this one-volume A-to-Z guide to the universe is both attractive and informative. Originally compiled in 1988 by British astronomer and Royal Astronomical Society Press Officer Mitton (Oxford & Cambridge Univs.), it covers astronomical objects such as planets, moons, and comets; constellations; space missions; observatories around the world; exploratory vehicles (e.g., the Space Shuttle, the Mars Pathfinder); and myriad technical terms (eccentricity means something entirely different to astronomers!). It also features about 70 short biographical profiles of well-known luminaries in the field--from historical figures familiar to the general population (e.g., Ptolemy, Edmund Halley) to more recent scientists and astronomers (e.g., Carl Sagan, Edwin Hubble). The array of supplementary illustrations, most in color, includes maps of constellations, photographs of planets and nebulas in space, and assorted images taken through telescopes. Pictures are credited at the end, and entries are cross-referenced. BOTTOM LINE This specialized dictionary will appeal to amateur astronomers and practitioners alike. A reasonably priced update of the minimally illustrated 2001 edition, it would be an appropriate purchase for larger public libraries or academic reference collections. [Available for $28 as an ebook from eBooks.com.]--Jennifer L. Jack, American Univ. Lib., Washington, DC (c) Copyright 2010. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
