By: James Kevin Ty

This section is a short review and their ratings made by the author and are based on his own perception and analysis which is not a full guarantee that may reflect the real outcome of the book reviewed.

Ratings-

* = Not worth it

** = Fair

*** = Good

**** = Great

*****= Must Have / Good Buy

THE MESSIER OBJECTS by Stephen James O'Meara

This book is published in 1998. Stephen James O'Meara, a first man to recover or sighted Halley's Comet during its return in 1985 ; He was also the first to notice "spokes" in Saturn's B ring before Voyager spacecraft imaged them and also the first to determine the rotation period of the planet Uranus. With his "eagle sharp" eyes, he made the drawings of the Messier objects found in this book with a Televue Genesis 4" f/5 apo-refractor and eyepieces 22mm Panoptic, 7mm Nagler 2 and 1.8 barlow lens in his home near Mauna Kea where he estimated the limiting magnitude of that place to be around magnitude 8.5!!!!! Wished we here have an observing site like his. Anyway, he painstakenly utilizes many hours at the eyepiece and using different magnifications to view a particular object and later composited the final images that one can see in his sketches. He really amazes me with the kind of detail he can see with just a 4" refractor!!!

This book contains all the 110 objects including the duplicate and "missing"objects. On each object, an actual b/w photo and his drawing is shown plus a brief description which he made during his observations . This book is almost similar to the "The Messier Album" by Mallas and Kreimer (first published in 1978 and the latest 5th printing in 1994) but that the drawings found in that book is already almost 20 years old and with the latest high tech scopes in the market, one might be in a better hand to make a revisions on these objects. Also, the coordinates here are in epoch 2000.0 and O'Meara also made some magnitude estimates on some objects which can be found in magnitude , i.e. 8.0 (7.9 O'Meara).

Well, one thing an observer should note and "might think" is that all his sketches found in this book might look a little "exaggerated" when he is viewing them here in the urban and sub-urban . O'Meara has an excellent site in Hawaii with a super 8.5 limiting magnitude , so to really catch those details, we must reach out or go to a very, very dark skies to really match his observations and also with a very eagle-sharp eye like his. For those who will just be viewing in the urban or suburbs, just try to observe carefully and pick out the faint details with patience as he did and who knows? You might make a sketch which might be almost similar like his.

RATING - ****

STARWARE ( Second Edition) by Philip S. Harrington

The first edition of this book was made around 1994 and the current 1998 edition features more new scopes and other accessories which can really help an individual in his/her choice for the different astro items that can be found in the market.

The author put special emphasis on each binocular & scope designs in the first few chapters of this book before he explain his comments on the different brands that can be found in the market today.

Also in the last chapters of his book, he also touches on tips on how to observe different types of astronomical objects such as the Moon, stars, nebula, star clusters, galaxies, constellations, etc.

For me, this is a "must have" reference for all astronomy enthusiasts as this book really fit the sub-title "The Amateur Astronomer's Ultimate Guide To Choosing, Buying, and Using Telescopes and Accessories."

RATING - *****

ECLIPSE! by Philip S. Harrington

This book was published in 1997. It is a book for all eclipse chasers and fanatics to have. The first few chapters relates to help the readers understand how an eclipse can occur and also discusses the different types of solar and lunar eclipse. Further chapters include on what to expect and the phenomenon one can see during the different phase and type of eclipses. Also the author gives out some tips on what an eclipse chaser will encounter so that he or she can very well plan for it. At the end of the book, the author give a listings on all the solar and lunar eclipses that we can view from the year 1998-2017 . For those who are in need of a reference book on eclipses, this book is it.

RATING - ****

STARS AND PLANETS by Ian Ridpath

(Reviewed by Dr. Armando Lee)

This book is also available at all branches of PowerBooks. This book is one in a series of handbooks made by Dorling Kindersley Handbooks. Comparing this with its rival handbook NIGHT SKY by Discovery Channel, I would say Stars and Planets Handbook clearly comes out to be more comprehensive and easier to use.

The book is made in such a way that it is relatively jargon-free and suitable to both beginners and experienced astronomers. It is divided into 4 parts: the introduction ;a detailed guide to the Solar System; an alphabetical catalogue of constellations and a month-by-month companion to the night sky. The introduction part is so comprehensive and is so beautifully presented that one feels half of everything you know about astronomy and observation devices in astronomy is all presented in that part of the book including astrophotography.

I personally like the strip diagrams provided in the Solar System part of the handbook for the planets: Mercury, Venus, Mars, Jupiter and Saturn. The constellation in which these planets can be found at a particular time is shown from year 2001 to 20012. A very help for beginners and seasoned experienced astronomers. The catalogue of constellations shows charts detailed enough to show stars above the approximate threshold of naked-eye visibility. The text part covers the origin of constellations and a selection of stars and deep-sky objects that they contain. The monthly sky guide contains introductory charts showing a simplified and less detailed view of the night sky while the whole-sky charts show the night sky as it appears from latitudes 60-20degrees North (for Northern Hemispheres) and 0-40degress South (for Southern Hemisphere). Then there is that bonus 2-page Glossary for the beginners.

If a beginner buys no other books, he has to buy this one. For this is one will serve him well and is hard to out-grow for it is so comprehensive that he will surely be carrying this one even in out in fields when he is already an experienced observer of the sky. Experienced astronomers will be delighted with the in-depth visual approach and easy identification provided by the charts in this books that can be used almost anywhere in the world.

RATING - ****

FINDING DARWIN'S GOD by Dr. Kenneth Miller

(As Reviewed by Dr. Jesus Rodrigo Torres)

This book is being sold at all branches of PowerBooks. The book is about evolution, another excellent defense of that theory, though I would surely prefer Carl Sagan's opus on this subject perhaps due to the bias of favoritism. Sagan has been one of my long time favorite authors.

Evolution has been one of the most controversial topics in the history of knowledge. The controversy refuses to die out, despite the discovery of greater and more convincing evidence in support of theory of evolution. Persistent are these evidences, but equally persistent is the thinking that somehow, evolution contradicts, and will always contradict the religious beliefs of many people; hence the attacks on evolution from those who hold the position that evolution is irreconcilable with their beliefs continue unabated.

Kenneth Miller discusses many various arguments against evolution, and demolishes them all in his capacity as a scientist and as a person who believes in his God, albeit an unorthodox one who creates through evolution, who , as Darwin himself argues, breathed life into our planet as it goes through its cycles according to the laws of gravity ; such a breath of life began with simple forms which evolved and continue to evolve into the most wonderful and most beautiful creatures. Miller effectively counters all arguments and creates a firm case for evolution. But the beauty of the book lies not so much in Miller's reasoned and knowledgeable arguments but in his presentation of them so that even a non-believer in evolution will be able to gather a considerable arsenal against it in case the opportunity of a debate comes, provided the pro-evolution adversary has not read Miller's book. Otherwise, they would fence with arguments which Miller's book provides.

The book will be useful to scientists and non-scientists alike, to religious and non-religious, to educators and non-educators, to those who hunger and thirst for knowledge. It is not like your ordinary paperback which you will read curled up in bed. This book deserves serious reading and the patient reader will be amply awarded.

RATING - ***

BILLIONS AND BILLIONS by Dr. Carl Sagan

(as reviewed by Dr. Armando Lee)

This book is available in all branches of PowerBooks. I got mine from the Pasay Road Branch. This book is the last one from the acclaimed astronomer and scientist Dr. Carl Sagan. A collection of essays on various topics from the power of exponential growth, the origin and fate of the Universe, life on Mars, the present day pollution problem, to the challenges facing the present civilization including the American foreign policies and the story of his fight against the disease myelodysplasia. Told in the familiar "Sagan style" of using metaphors and precise and vivid images to bring in his point, this book is easy to read even for the layman.

Compared to his earlier works like the books Broca's Brain and the book COSMOS, this one is not as concise and scholarly but more of his personal views on various topics. The book has (3) three parts. First part is entitled: Power and Beauty of Quantification. Here, he demonstrated through stories and metaphors the awesome power of exponential growths and the grandeur of the Universe. Second part is entitled: What are Conservatives conserving?. Here, he "attacks" the priorities set by the Conservatives in the US House of Reprentatives for the National Budget. Demonstrating how tax payers' money is being wasted for the military in expense of agricultural and scientific research for the 3rd World countries to bring about World Peace. Third part is entitled: Where Heart and Minds Collide. Here, he touched on the sensitive topics of Abortion, the US foreign policies, and the story of his fight for life.

Definitely not to be considered in the same category as his earlier books, this one is somewhat more personal. A must have for those who follow and read his earlier books. The perfect conclusion to a collection of Sagan books. Recommended not only for astronomers but more for teachers and science enthusiasts who already know and read some of the author's books.

RATING - **

(As Reviewed by Ronald Tanco)

This book is actually a reprint of Gem: Night Sky by the same authors back in 1985. If you're looking for a small book to carry around that contains maps and information of every constellation, Stars is perhaps the one for you. At 5 inch high, 3 inch wide and .75 inch thick, it is one of the smallest reference that you may want to have at your side every time you stargaze.

With only a handful of astro-photographs, this 256 page book compensates its use with a well organized presentation of bright stars, variable stars, multiple stars, star clusters, galaxies, and nebulae of each of the 88 constellations. Each constellation star map are well labeled and scaled for easy location. Inclusive with this book is a short introduction to stars and deep sky objects, and a 24 page star map which can be used for both northern and southern hemisphere countries. Nothing very technical and fancy, its all about "what you can see out there" and "what they are" in layman's term.

A recommended buy for a beginning starhunter/astronomer and for those needing a portable book whenever they bring out their telescopes or binoculars.

RATINGS - ***

PLANETS by Dr. Mark Chartrand

(As Reviewed by Allen Yu)

The book "Planets" from St. Martin’s Press, 1990, may come out a bit too outdated for this time being, but still a worthy reference guide for ordinary students who will be needing a good research material for their curriculum, and rough but adequate observing aids for aspiring amateurs. Typically, a simple book like this would give adequate descriptive notes about the planets, its composition and history, along with its mythological connection, and the author has delivered the goods well. It even goes to the extent of detailing the known satellites in our solar system, and ends with a very limited but useful bibliography. I especially liked the illustrations on how the Earth dance with the zodiacs, and also a definitive picture of why the Moon exhibits different phases. Other than that, perhaps a few important things note worthy of mentioning were missed: it may give the student an edge in the classroom by introducing the Oort Cloud of comets, and the Kuiper belt objects, which I still personally regard as general information.

Just like any astronomy book, Dr. Mark Chartrand would encourage his readers to step outdoors and observe the planets, thereby introducing practical astronomy as well. But the book took great efforts in presenting the planetary distance table. I’m not sure how it will help in observing, but the author may expect the reader to derive that the shorter the distance of a planet to the Earth, the brighter and bigger the planet should appear to us earthlings, and this is not always the case. (Jupiter is bigger and brighter than Mars, but it is farther.) It would be helpful to include an explanation of magnitudes (brightness that is) and apparent disk size. Distance alone is visually insignificant to an observer, but brightness and apparent disk size makes the difference (though they are related theoretically).

Last but not the least, a method on how to observe the Sun and sunspots is included. It would be worthwhile to mention another potential pitfall to the uninformed amateur: DISCARD any eyepiece screw-in solar filter that comes with any telescope. The concentrated beam focused by the main objective of a telescope will soon break the eyepiece lens and the filter as well, and will burn your eye if your lucky enough to take a peek at that moment. The book did mentioned an aperture filter (filter put in front of the objective lens) as the proper way of cutting down intense light from the sun, though it puzzled me why it did not include this precautionary warning.

RATINGS - **

THE SCIENTIFIC AMERICAN BOOK OF ASTRONOMY by Timothy Ferris

(As Reviewed by Dr. Jesus Rodrigo Torres)

The book is an anthology of writings on various topics on astronomy. The essays are contributed by highly respected scientists who wrote on what they know best. The essays are products of long years of research written in surprisingly accessible prose despite the high level of treatment of the individual subject matter. A scientifically literate and intelligent reader will enjoy reading this book immensely, though someone who lacks the fundamental knowledge on astronomy may not survive the first few pages. This book is certainly not for everybody , although I advise that even if the prospective buyer cannot read it at present, it can be kept in the bookshelves as a treasure to be opened when the proper time comes.

All the topics will be useful to the astronomer or science buff seeking knowledge. The only problem you may encounter is the age of some articles which were written up to more than a decade ago. Considering the speed with which discoveries are made and new theories are formulated, these articles seem to be already superseded , as in the case of articles on gamma ray bursts where one was written in 1985 and the other in 1998. Development in this field is fast and even 1998 could be a long time ago. Their value, however, as pieces in the development of astronomical thought is still priceless.

For this, I would suggest that the reader should be up to date in the developments in the field of astronomy by constantly reading articles in astronomical publications. The book is a fine reading material. It should form part of the library of any astronomer, be professional or amateur at whatever level.

RATINGS - ***