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This is an excellently produced introductory textbook on stellar winds for the advanced student of astrophysics with sets of questions and answers (unworked!). Each chapter contains useful and brief conclusions. The authors are pioneers and experienced teachers in the field. The necessary basic concepts of isothermal and non-isothermal winds are given, and sound wave-driven, and dust-, line- and Alven wave-driven winds are introduced. The stellar mass-loss rate and the effects on stellar evolution, of course, are discussed, followed by an in-depth account of wind models by Lamers and Pauldrach (1991) and Bjorkman and Cassinelli (1993, 1996) which attempt to explain the density enhancement in the equatorial region. Stellar disks and the deposition of mass and energy into the interstellar medium are discussed. Those readers interested in the historical development of the subject will find an excellent summary in the appendix, and suggestions for further essential reading for students are given.
Adaptive optics allow ground-based telescopes to sharpen images to rival space-borne instruments such as the HST. An international team of experts who developed the field, Beckers (NOAO, Tucson), Lena and Lai (DESPA, Meudon), Madec, Rousset & Sechard (ONERA, Paris), Northcott & Roddier (IfA, Hawaii), Beuzit & Rigaut (CFHTC, Hawaii) and Sandler (Thermotrex, San Diego), have now written an account of current and future adaptive optic systems. This excellent text covers AO design, AO with natural stars and laser beacons, and the impact of AO in astronomy. Both the current state of the art and the limitations are discussed which makes this book essential in optical studies and research and for astronomers wishing to understand their AO instrumentation.
The Age of Very Large Telescopes heralded by the dramatic success of the two Keck 10-metre telescopes (1992, 1996), followed recently by the European Southern Observatory VLT UT1, and shortly to be followed by the use of more linked optical giants at other superlative observing sites such as Paranal in Chile, is both developmentally exciting and technically challenging. This makes the present time an essential period for summarising the developments that led to this new era in optical astronomy. The task of laying out the full story of how this magnificent astronomical revolution came about, and of how the almost impossible technical feat was achieved, has now been successfully completed by Dr Ray N. Wilson. This second volume on Reflecting Telescopes takes the reader through all technical aspects of modern, very large mirror and telescope design. The book is beautifully illustrated and contains invaluable historical comparisons and cross-references to the first volume.
The transcripts of conversations during the Apollo 15, 16 and 17 moonwalks have been used by the author in his construction of a travelog of lunar exploration. Together with the pictures that the astronauts took on the lunar surface these make for an authentic record and a guaranteed good story. Exploring the Moon was written to mark the 30th Anniversary of the Apollo 11 mission, and commemorates the magnificent landing of the Eagle by Neil Armstrong which was watched with bated breath by all the world. The book is readable both as an adventure story and as a definitive historical text on lunar geology (with 393 glorious pictures). With appendices of spaceflight logs, landing sites, Apollo 7 to 17 mission data, lists of lunar rock samples taken, and a glossary and chronological bibliography, this very reasonably-priced tome is worth its weight in gold.
In eight fast-moving chapters, from rung-to-rung of his distance ladder, Stephen Webb has achieved almost the impossible. Measuring the Universe gives the reader the essential facts of a difficult subject and makes it look easy. When viewed historically, the measuring of astronomical distances has always been a long and arduous business with accuracies usually being rather poor, at least until Hipparchos came along. Furthermore, there were/are many disagreements between results when using different methods. Results at the edge of the Universe depend on the definition of distance itself. Webb traces this path, both historically and according to increasing distance and difficulty. The level of science and mathematics required of his readers is sixth-form school, and the book would be suitable for a wide-based, introductory course in first-year astronomy at university, especially if one dropped a few unnecessary (underived but usefully provocative) equations. General science readership of Measuring the Universe is also likely to be high since the text is well-written, the illustrations are clear and interesting. Furthermore, there is a short, adequate summary at the end of chapters.
Every aspect of interstellar turbulence is discussed in forty-two papers by many leaders in this vast field of research. Topics include accretion disks, molecular clouds, atomic and ionised media, the galactic halo, elliptical and spiral galaxies. Considerable advances have been made in recent years using not only powerful optical and radio observational techniques but faster and more efficient computer codes. The causes of turbulence, its evolution and its intermittency, and the complicated way turbulence must affect and be affected by star formation are still remarkably poorly understood. This book gives an advanced and up-to-date overview of the subject for graduate students and researchers.
Accustomed to crystal-sharp close-up images of the Moon taken by orbiters, modern readers of The Hatfield Photographic Lunar Atlas will at first find the photographic illustrations unattractive and somewhat amateurish. As a handy atlas to be used at a telescope, possibly in a drafty and damp garden or backyard, the arrangement of the hand-drawn charts and lunar photographs at various illuminations and librations is not very practicable. It is clearly stated by the author, however, that the pictures depict what might be photographed by an amateur at a 30-cm reflecting telescope. The prime use of the Atlas, then, is likely to be to compare these photographs with those taken by oneself, particularly in Hatfield's sixteen close-up regions, and to identify a few lunar features and see the libration effect at the limb. This applies also, of course, to CCD camera images which are more likely to be attempted by new amateurs today. As a record of Hatfield's fine work the Atlas succeeds admirably, and the job of modernising the nomenclature in Hatfield's original is good.
This slim book contains eight short stories which should be read by all. They are accounts of excitement and short personal records of successful U.S. planetary scientists, men and women, collected by Alan Stern. Motivation for planetary science often starts early in one's life, frequently stemming from childhood. We are, thus, given insights into Mars, Venus, the Moon, asteroids, Comet Halley, Io, Titan and Triton. At the same time we hear about the fears of scientists living at the edge where funds are running out. Stern invites the reader to come and visit a few worlds across the larger world that humankind is coming to know. Come and see a little bit of the heart within our science, and the hearts of planetary scientists. Good reading for a train journey; enjoyable reading last thing at night!
This authoritative text on meteorites gives the reader of general science a chance to catch up on modern discovery and thoughts on the matter. McSween, a NASA scientist, pairs his first three chapters together, chondrites, achondrites, iron and stony-iron meteorites, followed by their parent bodies. He then goes on with a brief space odyssey and a concluding chapter on the importance of meteorites or, at least, some examples thereof. With the exception of the primeval hydrogen produced in the Big Bang, much biogenic-type matter must have originated from complex and highly evolved extraterrestrial sources. Whilst the illustrations in the book appear very technical, the textual description is lucid and immediately understandable. In fact, the figures have lengthy captions which helps the less-informed general reader. Also, some technical jargon is bold-faced with an entry in a glossary. As Earth impactors, possible carriers of life, and even portents and divine omens, meteors and meteorites have always had an important effect on humanity. McSween's book should sit on every library shelf and coffee table alike.
How life evolved to its present state and how it maintains itself is the theme of Stepping Stones. In writing this book Drury actually commits an act which helps to sustain mankind. He thinks aloud and his fellow beings listen and learn; this simple procedure might even contribute to preserve the human race, just as animal adaptive actions and rituals, and grunts, squeals or cries protect our primitive neighbours. Drury's substantial text is fun; peering into time, star stuff, `a warm little pond', climate, mantle and life, life's up and downs, the people's planet. As a lecturer in Earth Sciences at the Open University (UK), the author has all the experience in ease of communication required to convey his enthusiastic and scientifically-based earthy message. Cosmology, comets, the Sun, supernova explosions, all take their place in this knowledgeable and intuitive tome. Drury also has a charming way of describing biological oddities, for example, the shuffling of genes, reproduction, speciation and extinction in multi-cellular eukaryotes, i.e. ourselves. We emphasise that the reader need not be a specialist in anything. Readers must, nevertheless, be prepared to learn some science and to enjoy themselves.
From pre-telescopic lunar observations to the space age, the Moon has posed a challenge to cartographers and observers. The naming of craters, plains, mountain ranges and other interesting features has occupied individuals and committees for centuries. Ewen Whitaker, himself, has become an international legend in lunar work at Tucson, Arizona. This widely illustrated book makes easy and fascinating reading for those interested in lunar observations. Whitaker's style is infectious and exhilarating. He describes Bianchini's 30 to 50 foot aerial telescopes as recalcitrant monsters suspended from masts and jiggling in the breeze. The book's early drawings of the Moon from Montanari (1662), Cherubin (1671), Cassini (1692), de la Hire (c.1702) and Eimmart (1694), for example, would alone make the book invaluable to the historian of science, but there is also an indispensable set of appendices relating to historical lunar
With a total solar eclipse in Europe this year there was obviously a need for a simple book with guidelines as to how to safely and efficiently observe it with the amateur telescope. Illustrations in Maunder and Moore's slim book are adequate although sadly that demonstrating polarisation is poor. Most of the important safety measures and technical pitfalls are briefly described, and considerable useful information is given on photographic exposure time etc. Serious amateur astronomers will certainly, however, be looking for a little more technical guidance for such an important event.
The second edition of this fine Photographic Atlas of the Stars is most welcome, especially the paperback version which puts it within reach of all amateur astronomers. When we reviewed the first edition (IAJ, 1998, 25(1), 101) we predicted this Atlas would be around for a long time with its charts of naked-eye stars, charts to 8th magnitude `binocular' stars, and its useful information.
Several decades ago you would have been hard pressed to find a worthwhile comprehensive textbook on astronomy aimed at college or higher secondary education students. Many existed but failed in one key aspect; they were uninspiring. With a new millennium approaching it is perhaps worthwhile to reconsider the need for diverse and appropriate education in all sciences. In most developed countries a new awareness of the critical need for technological and scientific education seems to be upon us. And astronomy, being a topic generating unparalleled levels of interest in key curricula, can only benefit from this excellent book by John D. Fix. McGraw-Hill have been successful education publishers and are continuing in their efforts to produce useful and comprehensive materials.
This book has been produced in a format that is perhaps the future for educational publications. It is printed on lightweight paper, is hardbound, is copiously illustrated and includes several interactive CD-ROMs. One CD-ROM contains the Cosmic Frontier Planetarium, software written to introduce the student to the basic workings of the night sky. The other contains an astronomy interactive study demonstration. The book itself is well-written and covers all areas of astronomy from the celestial motions, the solar system, stars, galaxies and cosmology. Fix has usefully combined much of his discussion with a historical narrative explaining how our understanding has developed and how key discoveries were made. This reviewer feels that the important historical development is all too often missing from modern astronomy textbooks and it is refreshing to see it inserted in its rightful place. Each chapter takes the student slowly but confidently through key concepts and each provides a helpful chapter summary, key terms, conceptual questions and suggestions for further reading. Colour photographic images and well-designed graphics aid the student in grasping the basic and more difficult concepts. A convenient set of appendices and a glossary are provided and answers to questions are given. As Fix mentions in his preface the text is intended for those with little science or mathematics backgrounds. It will therefore be of limited use to undergraduates of the physical sciences but is more suited as a sixth-form level introductory text. With that in mind, this reviewer has no hesitation in recommending this book.
McGraw-Hill have produced another excellent educational book with the publication of the 2nd edition of Thomas Arny's Explorations. As with John Fix's Frontiers book the level is really the sixth-form student or undergraduate not doing a physical science as their main subject. Arny's contribution benefits from the same conceptual format as Fix's book. It is produced on lightweight paper, is very-well illustrated and contains useful chapter summaries, questions and further resource lists. A helpful feature of some chapters is the list of related web sites. For those students with access to the Internet, and there are many, this will be a valuable and fascinating resource. Arny's style is very accessible and understandable. Although some basic mathematics are included nothing is beyond the average advanced student.
The packaged CD-ROM includes a basic planetarium program derived from Nova Astronomics' The Earth Centred Universe software. This is in fact the same program that goes under a different name included in Fix's Astronomy: Journal to the Cosmic Frontier (also reviewed in this issue). The program allows the user to view the sky from any location on Earth and on any date/time. It allows access to basic catalogue data and although doesn't approach the sophistication of other commercial astronomy packages, provides the beginning student with a useful educational tool. Other educational tools are included on the CD-ROM and the user is also directed to the excellent McGraw-Hill web site that gives supplementary information and questions etc. This concept represents what this reviewer believes is the future of education; interactivity and accessibility. It is refreshing to see McGraw-Hill taking some tentative steps in providing a comprehensive program using modern technology. The book itself serves as a timely and useful introduction to the basic concepts of astronomy.
Comparing this volume to the original publication of 1981, the reader will find very little that has not been changed, re-written or expanded. Now over four hundred pages in length, The New Solar System has almost doubled in size from the first edition. It is a radically different book. This is not surprising given the rapid advances in observational and theoretical techniques and the wealth of new data from space-borne missions throughout the Solar System. The editors and contributors are thus to be congratulated on producing an excellent re-worked classic that takes these advances into account.
This paperback edition takes the reader on a stunning tour-de-force of our solar neighbourhood. After a helpful summary of the tools and developments in solar system exploration, we are given a very able account of current theories of the formation of the Sun and planetary bodies. We then consider in detail such topics as the Sun, planetary magnetospheres, surfaces, interiors and atmospheres, planetary rings and satellites and, of course, asteroids, comets and meteoroids. Several of the planetary satellites are given their own chapters, such is the wealth of data obtained by space-probes over the last decade. These include Io, Europa, Ganymede and Callisto, Titan and Triton. We finally review the subjects of life within the solar system and the prospects for finding planetary systems around other stars. Each of these accessible chapters has been written by a recognised expert in the field (e.g. Kenneth Lang on the Sun, the Shoemaker's on collisions, William Hubbard on the interiors of the giant planets). One of the most impressive aspects of this publication is the vast number of excellently reproduced illustrations. Almost no single page is unadorned with a beautiful image or diagram which heightens the sense of wonder at our cosmic neighbourhood. The reader will not only find a pleasant, entertaining and educational read, by no means beyond the absolute beginner, but will delight at the splendour of the colour images presented. This book is to be recommended as a highly-readable, inexpensive treasure trove of information and beauty.
The phenomenon of the accretion disc is one of those features of modern astrophysics which impinges on all kinds of objects and processes. They fuel the formation of stars and planetary systems, provided the source or directivity of energy in many objects from X-ray binaries to active galactic nuclei. A modern astrophysical perspective would be severely lacking without an insight into the processes and mechanisms involved in astrophysical discs. With this in mind, the Isaac Newton Institute in England convened an EC Summer School with the purpose of presenting a clear and concise summary of our present understanding of the disc phenomenon. The 26 papers given in this summary of the school from ASP are intended to educate the graduate student and perhaps serve as a convenient advocation for serious researchers in the area. The papers, one should almost call them chapters, are extremely well written and pitched at just the right level for the uninitiated researcher. Each is generously supplied with appropriate references and are well illustrated. No one topic is given precedence and the reader will find useful discussions of disc phenomena in cataclysmic variables, protostellar systems, planetary rings, active galactic nuclei, super-massive black holes and galactic discs. As an introduction to this important topic the student will find no other more useful reference.
Volume 159 in the Astronomical Society of the Pacific's conference series presents papers given at a meeting held in Turku, Finland, in June 1998 concerning the observation and theory of BL Lac objects. The conference covered a wide range of topics including radio, optical, X-ray, UV, IR, gamma-ray and TeV observations, emission models, unified schemes, host galaxies and theoretical models. A large amount of the content concerns the observational data and it is uncommon to see such a large amount of data discussed in a single volume. Those papers presenting multi-wavelength observations are undoubtedly more able to answer many of the extant questions about BL Lacs but, as expected, also present some interesting dilemmas for the theorists. The beamed jet model of BL Lacs still seems to be holding up to continued scrutiny but, as is evident in many of these papers, orientation effects alone cannot explain all the observed properties. The old distinction between ``blue'' and ``red'' blazars seems to have finally been superceded by the realisation that the spectral features form a continuous distribution of properties. Those astronomers working in the area of BL Lacs or blazars, or those in related areas of active galactic nuclei, unified schemes and so on, will find these conference proceedings an valuable and timely addition to their library.
The Astronomical Society of the Pacific continues to produce its successful conference series and this volume, number 158, presents papers given at a conference held at Armagh Observatory in September 1998.
The astronomical world, particularly the community in Ireland and those working in the field of active star research, were saddened to learn of the untimely death of Patrick Brendan Byrne in September 1997. Brendan had worked many years at Armagh and Dunsink Observatories and been one of the leading experts in stellar activity. Always an enthusiastic conference attendee, Brendan's renown followed him wherever he went. In honour of this man's significant contribution to stellar (and solar) activity, a meeting was convened to discuss the present status of our understanding of the stellar activity machine and its relation to the more tenable manifestations of activity in the Sun.
In a total of 56 papers the conference spans the areas of magnetic field observations, evolutionary effects, spots, plages and prominences, flares, and chromospheric and coronal dynamics. As the editors point out in their preface, Brendan Byrne, during his later years, was beginning to propound the idea that stellar activity displayed features which could not be explained in terms of a solar paradigm, i.e. stellar activity can be a uniquely non-solar-like process. Reading the many excellent papers in this volume cannot fail to impress upon the reader the likelihood of this belief. Jeff Linsky's summary of the meeting, as well as providing some light relief, neatly brings together the advances in the field over recent years and points out the similarities and differences between active star and Sun. This final paper could very well read as a ``mission plan'' for ourselves and the generation of astrophysicists that are to follow Brendan's shining example.
REALSKY SOUTH
The Southern Sky Survey
Astronomical Society of the Pacific & AURA/STScI 1997
CD-ROM
Windows 3.1/95/NT & Mac US$ 250.00
The first modern photographic survey of the sky was the Palomar Observatory Sky Survey (POSS) carried out with the 48-inch Oschin Schmidt Telescope on Palomar Mountain. After a period of nine years, during which thousands of 14-inch glass plates were exposed in red and blue bands, the completed survey was published in 1958. Each plate encompassed 6.4 degree square areas and reached objects as faint as about 20th magnitude. The POSS plates have ever since been a basic and extremely useful resource for research astronomers. As part of the Space Telescope Science Institute's preparations for the operations of the Hubble Space Telescope (HST), the POSS plates were digitised and compressed by a factor of 10 and made available in 1994. The UK 1.2-metre Schmidt Telescope at Siding Spring Observatory in Australia has provided the most comprehensive photographic surveys of the southern celestial hemisphere. The telescope was originally operated by the Royal Observatory Edinburgh and since 1988 by the Anglo-Australian Observatory. Most of the UK Schmidt plates were taken in the period 1975-1982 and provide 6.4 degree fields with significant overlap. These plates were digitised along with the POSS plates by the STScI. The 1994 release of these combined surveys, known as the Digitised Sky Survey (DSS) were contained on a set of 102 CD-ROMs. Although an extremely useful tool, and undoubtedly more convenient than the enormous printed versions of the surveys, the original DSS produced by STScI was very costly. However, with the ever-increasing efficiency of data compression techniques it is now possible to compress such data by an amazing factor of 100. This means data can now be accessed by non-professionals as well as research astronomers in a convenient and affordable manner.
RealSky and RealSky South reproduce the POSS data on 9 CD-ROMs and the UK Schmidt Southern survey on 10 CD-ROMs. Together these packages represent the STScI's complete Digitised Sky Survey (DSS) on CD-ROM. They have been produced by a collaboration between AURA (Association of Universities for Research in Astronomy) Inc., the organisation that operates STScI, and the Astronomical Society of the Pacific. The RealSky View software, which accesses the DSS data, was developed by Software Bisque.
RealSky View is a simple and easy-to-use piece of software. It is really only designed as an interface to the data and should be considered as such. The user can select a desired area of sky (up to 1 degrees wide) and is prompted for the correct CD-ROM to be made available. Alternatively, the user can select a particular object from a target list. The package contains lists for the Messier and NGC catalogues as well as individual lists for Messier/NGC objects on each of the CD-ROMs. Conveniently, the user can define their own list of objects for selection. The displayed image can be zoomed or panned or the field-of-view changed. Some simple image processing tools are supplied in the package allowing some brightness/contrast control, image smoothing and sharpening. However, these are not the primary purpose of RealSky View and images should be exported before manipulated with a dedicated graphics package. The displayed images can be saved either as FITS or BMP format which should suit most user's purposes. Images may also be printed.
These two packages together represent the foremost photographic atlas of the sky available. The surveys have been invaluable scientific aids for many years and been found useful for many purposes. For the amateur astronomer they will be less useful, except for those diligent advanced observers who need a photographic comparison (for example, asteroid or comet discovery plates). Of course, anyone just wishing to browse a comprehensive atlas of the skies cannot fail to be impressed, but it is certain that these publications are intended as, and can only really be appreciated as, serious scientific research tools. At the very least, every modern astronomical research institute should invest in the DSS on CD-ROM.
Although RealSky and RealSky South represent quite a costly investment for the non-professional astronomer, it must be considered in view of the effort needed to make these surveys available to the public. For the POSS, it took nine years to photograph the northern celestial hemisphere, and a further five years to digitise the plates. That amount of human effort cannot come cheap and it is encouraging to learn that the publicly available atlas will supply profits to an organisation involved in an excellent program of education and promotion of astronomy for a broad spectrum of spectators (ASP). Those involved in bringing this fundamental set of modern astronomical data to a wider audience are to be congratulated on their vision and execution.
Starry Night Deluxe from Sienna Software of Toronto must be the best planetarium software available. It combines all the features required of a comprehensive package with a well-designed user interface. As with other planetarium programs, the user can select location from a predefined list or, alternatively, input specific coordinates. The sky is displayed at the computer's time or at any given time, and can be tracked in real time or advanced backwards or forwards with convenient buttons. A feature not often included in other programs is the ability to view the sky, or any object, from any location within the solar system. Another excellent feature is the use of beautiful colour images of celestial objects which become apparent when zooming in at high magnification. For example, select M42 and zoom from a full horizon view to the stunning image of new-born stars within the dusty coloured clouds. The program provides a database of 19 million stars and nebulae, including the Hubble Guide Star Catalogue and the NGC/IC catalogue. To view photographic images and to plot from the full stellar catalogue requires the CD-ROM to be inserted. An easy way of including user-defined catalogues would be a welcome addition to the software. The inclusion of an easy telescope-control interface would make this package complete.
Starry Night Deluxe is one of those new-generation multimedia products that makes the most of the resources of the Internet. An included feature called LiveSky allows the user to access a dedicated web site for information on any object in the software's databases. The returned list of relevant sites can be bookmarked under the object itself so that they can be called up when required. Perhaps even more useful for the observer is the ability to access (via a web browser) the Digitised Sky Survey data for any selected area of sky. This is truly an inspired idea, and although it can take several minutes to download the DSS image, provides the user with the most detailed photographic image available from within a single program.
Another outstanding feature of Starry Night Deluxe is its ability to produce animations. After selecting an area of the display the software captures a frame-by-frame animation on each update. Using this it is possible to produce high quality planetary fly-bys or zooms into celestial objects. Saving as .mov files is convenient and these can easily be built into other applications or presentations. The possibilities with this feature are endless.
Overall, the performance of the software is excellent; it is fast, easy-to-use and intuitive. What makes it stand apart from other planetarium programs is its aesthetic appeal and beautiful design. This reviewer cannot find any major faults with the product and would gladly recommend it to both the beginner and more seasoned amateur astronomer. On a cold and cloudy night one can think of nothing better to do than explore the stunning capabilities of this software.
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