Astronomy for Every-day Readers

Abstract

THIS is a little book which aims at explaining in “as accurate and interesting a manner as possible such of the phenomena of the heavens as should be known to every intelligent person.” It consists of six chapters dealing respectively with day and night, the phases of the moon, the tides, the seasons, eclipses, meteors, shooting stars, and comets. Descriptive astronomy is not touched upon, but there is an introductory chapter giving a general survey of the solar system and its dimensions. The book has been very carefully written, and the scientific explanations are much relieved by interesting references to the history of the subject. The author has succeeded in giving very clear and concise accounts of the every-day phenomena with which the book specially deals, and it seems well adapted to awaken a desire for more in the class of readers to whom he more particularly appeals. A biography of the author-who is described as “the working-man scientist”—is also included.