| Summary Note |
The revised second edition of this established dictionary contains over 4,300 up-to-date entries covering all aspects of astronomy. Compiled with the help of over 20 expert contributors under the editorship of renowned author and broadcaster Ian Ridpath, A Dictionary of Astronomy covers everything from space exploration and the equipment involved, to astrophysics, cosmology, and the concept of time. The dictionary also includes biographical entries on eminent astronomers, as well as worldwide coverage of observatories and telescopes. Supplementary material is included in the appendices, such as tables of Apollo lunar landing missions and the constellations, a table of planetary data, and numerous other tables and diagrams complement the entries. The entries have been fully revised and updated for this edition, and new entries have been added to reflect the recent developments within the field of astronomy, including magnetic reconnection, Fornax cluster, luminosity density, and Akatsuki. The content is enhanced by entry-level web links, which are listed and regularly updated on a companion website. A Dictionary of Astronomy is an invaluable reference source for students, professionals, amateur astronomers, and space enthusiasts.Review: this book is rich in peculiarities for the interested observer. * The Independent * An enormous amount of obscure data is satisfactorily explained here, which is just what you turn to a dictionary for. * Times Literary Supplement * a handy guide for amateur astronomers, students of astronomy, and interested general readers. Both its format and text are clear and straightforward...recommended for its value as an exhaustive quick reference guide on astronomy. Public and academic libraries will want to add this work to their collections. * Electronic Reviews of Science and Technology References * I shall be glad to have this edition on my shelf. * Robert Connon Smith. The Observatory. * Review from previous edition This is an excellent dictionary. It has all the qualities one should reasonably expect from such a reference book: accuracy, clarity, consistency and good coverage of its subject. ...The book is neatly laid out in a way that is easy to use, with a reasonable but not excessive number of cross-references...Ian Ridpath has done a remarkable job to achieve such consistency in the style, technical level and length of entries. And try as I might, I have failed to find any bloomers! This is a classic that the publisher, editor and contributors can be proud of - worthy of the Oxford name, world-famous for its dictionaries and reference books. * Dr Jacqueline Mitton, writer and Public Relations Officer of the Royal Astronomical Society, The Journal of the British Astronomical Association *: |
