What do you get for your stargazer? Chances are they have enough hardware and star charts. How about some reading for those nights when the cloud cover keeps them in the house. Here are just a few titles that came out in the past year.
Death By Black Hole: And Other Cosmic Quandaries {Paperback} Neil deGrasse Tyson November 5, 2007
deGrasse, Astrophysicist with the American Museum of Natural History and best selling author comes at us with his engaging account of the evolution of the universe. The forty two chapters first appeared as informative articles in the pages of Natural History Magazine. The usual Galaxy of stars appear here. From Copernicus to Einstein with a little string theory to tie it all together. The material is presented with a stunning clarity to help the laymen understand even the most complicated ideas. This is science concepts with humor. Your high school teacher should have been this funny.
The Road To Reality: A Complete Guide To The Laws Of the Universe {Paperback} Roger Penrose January 9, 2007
In this book, Roger Penrose, a mathematical physicist at the University of Oxford, takes the reader on a tour of physics from it’s beginnings to today’s attempts at postulating a grand unified theory. The author uses this book to show the reader the interrelationship between math and physics. He starts with a basic familiarity of arithmetic and takes the reader up to new research in mathematical physics using plenty of mathematical equations and technical diagrams. Penrose does an excellent job at clarifying his points despite the technical nature of the material.
Endless Universe: Beyond The Big Bang {Hardcover} Paul J. Steinhardt, Neil Turok May 29, 2007
Big Bang versus the Big Crunch. Not this years BCS match-up but a look at a new theory of universal birth and rebirth on a cosmic scale. Steinhardt of Princeton and Turok of Cambridge use these pages to put forth their theory of a cyclic universe model. Not a big bang they say but an endless cycle of crunches followed by smaller bangs. A well reasoned explanation of there theory.
Binocular Highlights: 99 Celestial Sights For Binocular Users {Spiral-bound} Gary Seronik May 1, 2007
Your sky enthusiast will love this. Whether they are a beginner or an advanced stargazer, they will enjoy this handy book. The sky charts are easy to use and easy to read. They are complimented with highlights of articles from Sky and Telescope Magazine. The illustrations are sharp and uncluttered. The chapter on binocular selection discusses everything from field of view to tests for sharpness. Armed with a good pair and a red flashlight your enthusiast will enjoy this one for years to come.
You might not see any of these titles on most peoples summer reading list, your astronomer will sure light up when they see any of these books under the Christmas tree, hopefully topped by a star.
