A Handbook of Descriptive and Practical Astronomy

A best-seller for decades, this classic 1861 work was an indispensable guide for the Victorian amateur astronomer.

George Frederick Chambers (Author)

9781108014755, Cambridge University Press

Paperback / softback, published 17 June 2010

644 pages, 52 b/w illus.
21.6 x 14 x 3.6 cm, 0.81 kg

This handbook by George Frederick Chambers (1841–1915), a young and enthusiastic amateur astronomer, became a best-seller soon after its publication in 1861 and made Chambers' reputation as a popular astronomy writer. The work is divided into ten parts covering the following topics: the planets of our solar system; eclipses; gravity and tides; phenomena including aberration and refraction; comets; chronological astronomy; stars; astronomical instruments; the history of astronomy; and meteoric astronomy. It is richly illustrated with photographs and woodcuts depicting a wide variety of astronomical phenomena. Chambers went on to become one of the leading amateur astronomers of the nineteenth century. The usefulness and accessibility of his practical advice ensured that his published works became indispensable for thousands of less famous amateurs. The Handbook, reissued in many editions, remains his most popular work and is a key text in the history of Victorian popular astronomical writing.

Book I. A Sketch of the Solar System: 1. The sun
2. The planets
3. Vulcan
4. Mercury
5. Venus
6. The earth
7. The moon
8. Mars
9. The minor planets
10. Jupiter
11. Saturn
12. Uranus
13. Neptune
Book II. Eclipses and their Associated Phenomena: 1. General outlines
2. Eclipses of the sun
3. The total eclipse of the sun of July 28, 1851
4. The annular eclipse of the sun of March 14–15, 1858
5. The total eclipse of the sun of July 18, 1860
6. Historical notices
7. Eclipses of the moon
8. Suggestions for observing annular eclipses of the sun
9. Transits of the inferior planets
10. Occultations
Book III. The Tides: 1. Introduction
2. Local disturbing influences
Book IV. Miscellaneous Astronomical Phenomena: 1. Variation in the obliquity of the ecliptic
2. Aberration
3. Refraction
Book V. Comets: 1. General remarks
2. Periodic comets
3. Remarkable comets
4. Cometary statistics
5. Historical notices
Book VI. Chronological Astronomy: 1. What time is
2. Hours
3. Means of measuring time
4. The Dominical or Sunday letter
5. Tables for the conversion of time
Book VII. The Starry Heavens: 1. The Pole-Star
2. Double stars
3. Variable stars
4. Clusters and nebulae
5. The Milky Way
6. The constellations
Book VIII. Astronomical Instruments: 1. Telescopes
2. Telescope stands
3. The equatorial
4. The transit instrument
5. Other astronomical instruments
6. History of the telescope
Book IX. A Sketch of the History of Astronomy
Book X. Meteoric Astronomy: 1. Classification of the subject
2. The origin of aërolites
3. Shooting stars
Appendices
Index.

Subject Areas: Solar system: the Sun & planets [PGS]