Author: Mark Mortimer

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A simple lesson in school physics provides the fundamental theory behind rockets. Simply put, by quickly pushing lots of exhaust out, the great mass of a rocket will ascend. Yet, as is often the case, putting theory into practise is anything but simple. J.D. Hunley in his book ‘Preludes to U.S. Space-Launch Vehicle Technology – Goddard Rockets to Minuteman III‘ presents the many painful, exciting steps that made this technological marvel a practical mode of transport. The reader will find that rocket theory is fine, but it’s through the engineering that people have really shown the height to which they can arise.

As rocket aficionados know, Tsiolkovsky first put theory to paper. But, it was Goddard and Oberth who tried and tried again to push objects up further than any had gone before. Though neither of these two made much progress, they did make believers of many others. As more people jumped on the band wagon, comprehensive knowledge accumulated. Swapping propellant types, materials and designs made for an optimized product. And, through enough trial and error, rocket theory became rocket practice.

Hunley’s book recounts the trials and errors from the US. It moves the reader through the developing technology and, by maintaining a technical focus for the duration, it keeps a steady course. The book does introduce many names, companies and defense department branches. But, through it all, the technology reigns. The reader comes across the importance of rate gyros, accelerometers, dry grain extrusions, and fuel baffles. The reader sees how the V2 program was absorbed into existing rocket programs and how all programs competed against and shared with each other. With the book later splitting technology coverage to separately review liquid fuel and solid fuel propellants, the reader can understand the shifts and accomplishments of each. Through the book’s continuous listing of trials, errors, fixes and more trials, the reader will come to appreciate the incredible effort that people expanded to acquire the skill and particular knowledge with which to efficiently and reliably launch a great mass into space. Yet, as it shows and as we’ve all seen, rocket technology still can keep us guessing.

Nevertheless, rocket technology hasn’t progressed much from its early days. For many years, we’ve likely had or known of the best propellants, the best material and the best design. So, should a curious person wonder why thrust chambers are gimballed, this book has an answer. Should they wonder what the rocket program ever provided society, this book shows the main-streaming of materials, circuit based computers, and program management. Should a person wonder about the route taken to arrive at the reliable launchers of today, this book shows the path. Without being too specific or detailed, this book looks at each major launch vehicle from the 1930s up to the 1970s with respect to structure, engines, guidance and control, testing and development. If you’re wondering about the subsequent years, stay tuned. The follow-on book concludes the review with an assessment of Viking to Space Shuttle launch vehicles.

As Robert Goddard might have come to realize, one person’s lifetime is insufficient to develop and build reliable rockets. As J.D. Hunley shows in his book ‘Preludes to U.S. Space-Launch Vehicle Technology – Goddard Rockets to Minuteman III‘ whole teams amounting to thousands of people worked over multiple career lifetimes to make rocket technology a mature technology. Because of their perseverance and dedication, we’ve got a viable though tenuous route to the stars.

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Brilliant plumes of iridescent lava thrown skyward both awe and thrill us. Active volcanoes diminish our sense of importance as they shake the very ground and spread ash throughout the skies. But as Rosaly Lopes and Michael Carroll describe in their book “Alien Volcanoes“, these forceful displays dominate the shape of the Earth. As well, they are the prime candidates for being responsible for shaping many other nearby planets and moons.

Volcanoes act as release valves for Earth. Heat, whether from nuclear reactions or tidal pull, gets generated within Earth and needs to get out to the cold of space. In some locations, the heat slowly radiates in a predictable, almost controlled manner. At others, the heat builds up within Earth’s crust then bursts in a brief violent display of shear power. Bursts like these can release huge amounts of heat and greatly rearrange the landscape, as seen at Krakatoa. The resulting landscape reflects the type of heat flow. And, similar landscape occurs elsewhere in the solar system. Thus, the authors expect similar underlying processes for heat release, no matter where it takes place.

This book by Lops and Carroll brings together the scientific details and visual beauty of volcanoes throughout our solar system. Its beginning goes through the reasoning for the production of heat in Earth and other planets. It mentions that volcanoes have over 4 billions years of history, but the focus is on how they effect humans. From Iceland and the mid-Atlantic ridge to black smokers in the Pacific, the book both describes with words and illustrates with many pictures the way humans have been pummelled, cajoled and sustained by the heat and minerals forced out the Earth’s curst.

With this background, the authors then swing their gaze from Earth to other planets. Though probes are just beginning to acquire three dimensional views of planet surfaces, the authors provide sound evidence of volcanic activity. For example, Olympus Mons is an obvious volcano, but are the Martian caves really lava tubes or odd constructs of other processes? The authors suggest the former and provide sound reasoning. We also read that Venus has nearly 90 percent of its surface showing volcanic features. Even tiny Enceladus gets mentioned because of striking evidence that cryovolcanism occurs on its surface.

Yet, by starting with Earth and then stepping to other planets and moons, the authors demonstrate and utilize the commonality of volcanism. Enhancing this are pictures throughout the text that show common features: shields, domes, and flows. From this, the reader can appreciate and identify elements in foreign landscapes. And, this seems to be the goal of the authors, to share knowledge and perhaps incite a little emotional interest in this subject. And, they succeed wonderfully.

This book’s mixture of history, science, photography and artwork encapsulates volcanism into a captivating advertisement. Having a frame of reference that extends through hundreds of millions of years and across the solar system propels the reader off their chair. Perplexing images of incomplete ridges and fractures on distant moons builds the reader’s desire to know more. With this, the reader gets caught up into the scientific process. And this is how science books deliver, they translate specific technical detail into excitement and interest for the general, interested reader.

Blasts from volcanoes are so rare that they draw attention worldwide. But our world isn’t the only one with these amazing heat outlets as shown by Rosaly Lopes and Michael Carroll in their book “Alien Volcanoes“. We can’t effect these heat outlets nor predict bursts. However, with this book, we can look upon this land shaping process with acceptance, understanding and, still, a fair amount of awe.

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The Canadian Broadcasting Corporation provides the eclectic radio show Quirks & Quarks. In it, the hosts serve up hot scientific topics using everyday language so that a general audience can appreciate the significance of recently unravelled marvels. Using the same approach, Jim Lebans presents his book, ‘ The Quirks and Quarks Guide to Space – 42 Questions (and Answers) About Life, the Universe, and Everything‘. And so, with some irreverence and tongue slightly in cheek, Lebans lays in print details of space for the mere mortals amongst us.

For those in the know, 42 is the answer that Douglas Adams provided for the ultimate question. Lebans knowingly uses this to limit his book to 42 chapters. Each chapter has a title in the form of a question such as “How do you loosen the asteroid belt?”. The chapter’s contents then address the question in quite accurate, scientific detail but with great use of analogies and similes. Such as, for star formation, he states that “Iron is to stars what kryptonite is to Superman and what garlic is to vampires. It can stop them dead and ultimately destroy them”. Or, “Going to the black hole in the centre of the galaxy will be like visiting New York after a lifetime in Wyoming”. Now these may sound facetious but they’re necessary and successful in meeting Lebans’ apparent objective of getting hard science into the average person’s mind. And, the use of a chapter per question keeps things simple and easily re-locatable.

So where’s the value you ask? This book is for those who have next to no scientific training but have an interest. School teachers can use the chapters to build their comprehension before teaching their class. Non-scientists can find out the value and urgency of space exploration (e.g. Chapter 23 – How long until we have to leave the Earth?). And, those people without a glint of technical comprehension but a slimmer of interest would be learning about space and smiling at the same time. What more would you want?

So before you think that science has left the ground without you onboard, check out Jim Lebans’ book, ‘ The Quirks and Quarks Guide to Space – 42 Questions (and Answers) About Life, the Universe, and Everything‘. You’ll be learning and chuckling at the same time.

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America’s OTHER space program is how John Powell bills his airship to orbit program. This endeavour, wonderfully encapsulated in his book Floating to Space, describes a less than typical application of a well-known technology. Using the concept of dynamic climbing, he believes and shows that airships are the better method to putting people and material into space.

Airships aren’t new. The Montgolfier brothers made the first modern edition and, since then, lighter-than-air transportation has been used to make determinations of weather in high latitudes, as well as to film sports events. Effectively, by trapping a less dense gas within an envelope, the envelope and a payload ascend. John Powell is fine tuning this concept for travelling into orbit and plans to soon elevate appreciable payloads to above 400 kilometres. And, as we all know, at that height, space travel becomes quite achievable.

Given this unconventional concept, Powell’s book follow the standard fare of all space dreamers. Like these, his book starts by admonishing the reader to accept physics and forgo tradition. Next, he justifies his beliefs by providing a review history. For example, did you know that the Nazca drawings might have been directed by a fellow in a hot air balloon? Continuing on, he provides a rational description of the current abilities of airships and their kin and ably convinces the reader that airships have got potential.

Now, if the reader perseveres through this brief background, they will get into the really exciting stuff. For it seems that John Powell is as much an engineer as he is a dreamer. Having amassed more than 80 missions over the previous 15 years, he can draw upon real experience and he does so in presenting the reader with steps he’s made of real progress. For example, during the early times he describes shooting rockets from balloons, nicknamed rockoons. Toward the end, he describes how he’s now floating platforms to above 100 000 feet. This story would warm any engineer’s heart. The technical progress described would set their hearts on fire.

Complementing the book is an enclosed DVD that is part documentary and part fanfare. In it, Powell’s placed some choice video taken from payloads as they climb to way-up-high and other videos that show a quite rapid descent from the same height. Equally exciting segments include footage of the next generation craft, Ascender 90, with ‘wings’ over 90 feet in length. It gently rises massively above a hanger floor as if coming to life for the first time. Given that this is a taste of things to come, this book is a wonderful place marker of what’s happened to date in Powell’s program and where things will hopefully be going.

In sum, this book’s got the touch of a visionary and the feel of a practitioner. It showcases a small cadre of people working against the grain of the norm. Yet, similarly, their goal is to achieve a great benefit for everyone. Optimism exudes from the pages as do technical triumphs. And, success just seems around the corner so that the reader may feel themselves getting drawn into the excitement and look to contribute.

Though not as flashy as rockets, airships provide similar capabilities. Both loft massive payloads up above the atmosphere. John Powell’s book Floating to Space – The Airship to Orbit Program shows the feasibility of this endeavour as well as results of his own efforts. With time, it seems, this program is destined for a lofty future.

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Technical ability signals a country’s advent into first world status. Amongst abilities, space travel sets the bar as paramount. Some nations with ready access to many people and large quantities of resources ascended and proclaimed their might. Other nations technical prowess came otherwise. Gordon Shepherd and Agnes Kruchio describe one such in their book “Canada’s Fifty Years in Space – The COSPAR Anniversary“. In it, they show that a nation’s limitations in people and resources doesn’t necessarily equate to a lack of technical ability or capability.

Canadians built the Alouette I satellite over a 4 year duration and saw it successfully launched in September 1962. Other than the US and the USSR, no other country had achieved such a feat. Yet, this wasn’t a one-of event. This satellite was a continuance of a Canadian specialty, the study of electron densities above the Earth. Following the launch, further studies added to the scientific knowledge of the aurora and the magnetic fields of the north. Expanding beyond this, Canadians have since studied life sciences and pushed the envelope in the field of robotics. Hence, even without an indigenous launch capability, Canada has made a positive impact in space science by carefully picking and choosing.

Shepherd and Kruchio’s book shows that Canadians have had a busy and productive 50 years in the field of space science. Their book starts with events a little bit earlier than in the title, with funding for studies being available in the early 1930s. Then, adventurers traveled into the cold Arctic winters to take timed exposures of Northern Lights. These stalwart types braved polar bears and isolation to gather the first organized review of one of nature’s most pleasant spectacles. But, their interest wasn’t all for pretty pictures. This book also shows their contributions were a true beginning into the study of the protective ionosphere about Earth. It also shows that as the years advanced, funding expanded. And, consequently, so did research. Rockets and balloons replaced ground-based photography. More people joined in. Yet, as becomes evident, the shear cost of doing research placed more and more restrictions on the scientists. With a fairly recent shift to remote sensing and astronauts, Canada now looks to fund applications of space science rather than delve in pure research. Thus, though barely two generations have passed, this book shows a busy past and a fundamental shift in one nation’s space research.

This book by Shepherd and Kruchio effectively brings together many aspects of Canada’s space science history. Vivid recollections recall the times of luminaries such as Dan Rose, Balfour Currie and Frank Davies. We read of programs that sprout from deep in the rooms of University of Saskatchewan, the launch pads at the Churchill Rocket Range and the laboratories at the DRTE. Devices such as ionosondes, interferometers and Lidar have brief technical descriptions and then a bit longer passage describing their use. Amongst all this data and information, the occasional reprints of some personal diary entries markedly and pleasantly contrast the otherwise dry prose.

As well as being dry, this book’s scope is another weakness. Typically a review of an expanding research field has more entries at the end than the beginning. This book, however, has most of its focus on the early and mid-term, when Canadians were studying the ionosphere. In comparison, the most recent science appears, briefly, toward the end and is like a collection of press releases. This, coupled with an out-of-place first chapter on COSPAR’s formation, detract from an otherwise intriguing review of science and scientists.

Yet, Canadian’s who are interested in knowing more of their country’s space accomplishments would enjoy this book. As well, industry watchers who wonder where some national organizations come from and go to might just get some answers within. And, anyone who thinks they’re too small to contribute could read this and get a great boost to their ego.

From so many perspectives, fifty years is an amazingly short time. But, in the field of science and technology, it’s a vast duration. Gordon Shepherd and Agnes Kruchio’s book “Canada’s Fifty Years in Space – The COSPAR Anniversary” describe some of the scientific progress made by Canadians. With Canada and many more countries contributing to space science, the future years should see equal or greater accomplishments.

Good mystery novels keep you in suspense to the very end. Luckily, our universe does the same to us. While we learn more, we learn that we have so much more to go. Helen Quinn and Yossi Nir in their book The Mystery of the Missing Antimatter look at one outstanding puzzle of particle physics. Suspense may lack somewhat but there’s no doubting that some high powered intellects are exercising lots of gray matter.

So, why would anyone think that antimatter is missing. Well, most people wouldn’t even acknowledge the existence of antimatter. Nevertheless through a simple process of deductive reasoning, principally via the rules of symmetry, Quinn and Nir let the reader know that matter needs antimatter. We do see lots of matter in our universe whether planets, stars or galaxies. Yet, there are no apparent globs of antimatter. So, either they lie hidden or they must have disappeared. This is the mystery that Quinn and Nir tackle.

With the theme of a murder mystery installed in the reader by a silhouette on the cover, this book takes the reader on a tour de force of the case at hand. That is, since about the last hundred years, we read of researchers who’ve developed models and experiments that have dived ever deeper into what is matter. Atoms gave way to protons, neutrons and electrons. These gave way to mesons, fermions, bosons, hadrons and leptons. Finally we read of the latest on the scene; the neutrinos with mass. How do these relate to matter? Well, via symmetry. That is, whatever we begin with, we will end with. This is the supposition that’s carried throughout the book. So, when small particles in accelerators crash together, the remnants must, in sum, equal the beginning, accounting for charge, mass and spin. This, the reader learns, is the simple basis for advancements in particle physics and its perception of the tiniest of the tiny. And this basis explains why antimatter must be accounted for somewhere or somehow.

Now this book is in a series entitled Science Essentials. Its objective is to convey to the reader, in clear prose, the fundamental knowledge underlying a rapidly evolving field. The book meets this need as it proudly trumpets the lack of any equations or math. Yet, it also lacks charts and explanatory figures. In particular, there’s a lack of an easy reference that links all the particles and variables together. For instance, reading of “each charged lepton converting to a single type of neutrino when it emits or absorbs a W-boson” can quickly lose a reader who is not familiar with particles, charms and colours as they relate to particle physics. Sure, the authors take the reader by the hand for introductions to each, but there’s a lot of which to keep track as one proceeds to “neutral particles of definite mass [that] are admixtures of two states of different strangeness”. Yes, this verbiage is essential and does build on itself. But, unless already indoctrinated, the reader will quickly feel overwhelmed. Essentially, all the words are familiar but they’re used in a very different way than as normally spoken on the street. Reading this book will help the average reader in understanding the relevant press clippings. It certainly won’t dish out all the tricks of the particle physicist

Yet, this lack of affinity is perhaps the failing of the average reader rather than the writer. This book takes the reader on a breathtaking foray into the depths of the particles that make-up our body and our worlds. A flavourful timeline at the end of the book shows just how quickly our knowledge is transporting us into an existence of knowing. As the authors note, our understanding increases but we still don’t know why antimatter is missing. But we know it exists and we’re not giving up the search. It is good to be more aware of our existence and this book does provide the necessary background even though the reader may need to re-read or passage or two.

Assuming the universe came from nothing, then the sum of its parts must still be nothing. Hence matter that we readily see must have an equivalent antimatter. But where? Helen Quinn and Yossi Nir consider this in their book The Mystery of the Missing Antimatter. And, like an affable Dr. Watson, the reader can journey with them as they explore this still unsolved case.

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Perhaps it is time for a female president. If nothing else, this would continue the laborious road to equality. Mabel Armstrong shows some of the steps already taken along this road in her book Woman Astronomers: Reaching for the Stars. In it, we see that, from a long time ago until as recently as the previous generation, many ladies have been unable to achieve the desires of their hearts and minds. However, some have persevered and become pioneers for many others to follow.

Whether being refused access to telescopes or being denied entry to university programs, Armstrong shows that woman have had many barriers in their path. Perhaps this is old news, but Armstrong writes that as recently as 1975, universities like Princeton would not accept women into graduate programs. Nevertheless, her book is all about accomplishments in spite of roadblocks. Following a chronological trend, she begins with a Babylonian priestess, Enheduanna, who used the night sky to portend the future. Then, age by age, she presents one great achiever after another who advanced humanity’s knowledge in spite of the restrictions of the day. There’s Caroline Herschel who had to overcome many travails at home before joining her brother in England. And Cecilia Payne Gaposchkin who rebelled against tradition to study science and receive Harvard’s first ever astronomy PhD. Jill Cornell Tarter’s work on discerning extraterrestrial intelligence concludes the main sections on individuals, though Armstrong adds a few pages of rising stars. All these serve to symbolize the capability and vitality of some very impressive women.

Armstrong’s book may just be the necessary incentive for a young lady to choose a challenging career. From its writing style and content, it’s obviously aimed at the young adult audience. The well laid out chapters contain short sections where each section provides a concise biography of a woman astronomer. Across the bottom of every page, a timeline provides dates and significant events, such as ‘1786 Caroline Herschel discovers her first comet’. Pictures of each of the astronomers and many other relevant photographs and sketches brighten up the pages. And, a few in-depth features captured in side bars such as ‘Cepheid Variables and Stellar Distances’ ensure the reader has the technical background to understand the significant of the astronomer’s discoveries. Altogether, the book’s informative and succinct. Its obvious summary is that women are as capable an astronomer as any man.

Certainly, this warm tribute to women astronomers would encourage young ladies to take up tasks far beyond the traditional role of child nurturer. However, the book does have a tendency to make the mentioned women appear to have been the solely responsible for most accomplishments. Perhaps this is only fair, as so often only one person, usually a man, would get the accolades. But, now, astronomers and researchers work in teams and rely upon many others. Hence, though this book provides great encouragement, the reader may need to temper their enthusiasm while still maintaining a fierce, single-minded determination.

Baseless discriminations keep falling to the wayside. Whether entering research fields once only the domain of men or forcing clubs and institutes to accept women and men equally, much progress has been made. Mabel Armstrong’s book Woman Astronomers: Reaching for the Stars shows that women astronomers can and have added to humanity’s knowledge and that their contributions have been as worthwhile as men’s.

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The departures screen illuminates the stark, disillusioning truth. My connecting flight’s 3 hours delayed. Ahh, what is life but for living in the confines of a great, enclosed artificial space where I can watch countless others scurry from one portal to another. Letting luck rule, I meander to the nearest news stand. Fingers slowly trace along the spines, trying to sense the faintest presence of interest. They stop, almost automatically wrapping themselves about the sole piece with promise, the science fiction novel Rollback by Robert Sawyer. This time, fortune did add a nice silver lining to what might have been a very dull wait.

Sawyer’s novel has most elements that intrigue philosophers and scientists alike. Mainly, it’s got a success to the SETI search and the aliens show themselves to be quite bright. But this is no first contact. Rather, Sawyer has the two worlds communicate across a very long time span. Certainly tricky but not impossible. A light bound message can complete a two way trip in about 40 years. Hence, it’s possible and providential that one person can discern the alien language, compose a reply and be around to read the alien’s response. Yet, Sawyer doesn’t stop there. He adds life-lengthening techniques to enable some of his characters to have the potential for much longer lives. With this, the messages become both personal and representative of all Earth. In all, by dropping aliens and the fountain of youth into the lap of an astronomy professor from the University of Toronto, he really connects the science to the fiction for this story.

And, I must admit, I quite enjoy reading a story where I can place most of the locations. Having spent a number of years in Toronto, I know of the university, the subways, many of the mentioned streets and the wonderful weather! With Sawyer placing his action in this locale, I felt right at home. But as comfortable as that made me feel, Sawyer’s story did just the opposite in raising the hairs on the back of my neck. From it, I was wondering how and even if we should communicate with aliens. Or, how would we accommodate rejuvenation where parents become physically younger than their grandchildren? These questions get woven into a busy but pleasant fictional story of the family whose one member is the communications wizard and the remainder hang on for all they’re worth.

Perhaps you too might have a few hours at hand. Or maybe you’re curious about how science can really make a normal life, extraordinary. In either case, I recommend Robert Sawyer’s book Rollback. From it, the reader will readily see that science can combine with fiction to make a compelling and interesting story.

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A good idea gone bad. How do you describe the nuclear industry? At one time it answered everyone’s dreams, from nuclear powered airplanes to shopping mall heaters. James Dewar describes one of its roles in his book To the End of the Solar System – The Story of the Nuclear Rocket. In it, he shows how scientists’ practicalities came up short when confronted against politicians’ questions and environmentalists’ mores. For some, the benefits were huge and obvious. Others held different views.

After the dust settled from Hiroshima and Nagasaki, a new technology entered into the lexicon of our lives. Born amidst fear and death, the ability to split an atom spread into more benign and fruitful affairs. For after all’s said and done, this process is just another source of energy. As well, its raw materials occur quite naturally and regularly throughout the Earth’s crust and interior so humans aren’t so much inventing as engineering. Thus, smart humans learned to dig the material from the ground, concentrate it and put it to work.

Dewar’s book presents one type of this work; the use of the released energy to drive a vehicle through space. But, its not a technical review. Rather, the book’s main focus deals with the fascinating challenge of maintaining an expensive research project in a politically charged environment. The book shows that ideas were aplenty in the 1950s and a receptive audience happily encouraged research. However, often, once an idea passed beyond theory and into some sort of development, then costs rose even further. And, as written, the nuclear rocket program followed this sequence. In response, Dewar identifies a cabal, a small group of powerful politicians, who kept this program alive and kicking for over 20 years and through a number of administrations. Over this time, significant technical hurdles arose, budget constraints exploded and vociferous objections screamed. But these were countered and the rocket program matured. On termination, this program was ready to flight test a high specific impulse, throttlable, and re-startable propulsion system fully capable of transporting large masses to the Moon, Mars or the outer reaches of the our solar system. But, as Dewar concludes, the visionary supporters died and no young torch bearers had the desire to constantly carry and nurture this nascent capability along with the dreams of many a hopeful space traveller.

Though most historical reviews of a technical or political nature get quite dry, Dewar’s is different. He nicely bounces from technical challenges and the people who solved them and on to boardrooms where strategists plotted passages of bills. He even includes interesting conjectures on the definition and evolution of political power and bureaucracy in the United States. But, as to be expected for this subject, his book’s passages are decidedly non-fiction. There’s no flurry of adjectives or similes to lighten an image. He faithfully remains true to his sub-title in that his book is an insightful, competent and opinionated review of the development of the nuclear rocket.

For those interested in the historical aspect, this book does provide a great review of both the people involved and the technological developments. Further, Dewar’s career with the Atomic Energy Commission and the book’s 60 pages of reference confirm its veracity. But, Dewar’s inclusion of a number of appendices embellish as a wonderful icing on an already fantastic cake. To avoid obscuring the main storyline, the book’s later sections contain more technical depth, including fuel element design, specific impulse allowances, the benefits of liquid hydrogen and the Russian nuclear rocket program. But, maybe most valuable of all, it includes a section entitled Lessons for Program Managers and the Public. In it, Dewar uses the experiences of the rocket program to describe fundamentals on pushing projects so as they survive budgets and administration changes. Its contents will greatly help those who want to try advancing their personal, large, pet projects.

Dewar’s book would easily address those curious about this particular program. But, it certainly is opinionated with its positive support of the nuclear rocket and all those who championed it. There’s little room for fence sitters; those who think well of the idea of nuclear rockets will like this book, others will likely see little of value.

Note, the review copy was Apogee Book’s second edition published in 2007. The University Press of Kentucky published the original in 2003. No comparison was made between the two.

Stories of unrequited love make for good romance tales, but not so good for historical reviews. Yet, John Dewar’s book To the End of the Solar System – The Story of the Nuclear Rocket goes against this. He writes of a technology that is capable, fair and worthy yet never accepted. But, as with other great romance books, through it, the technology stays alive, awaiting a suitor to raise it on high.

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Dictionaries, as guides, ensure everyone uses words in a like manner. Specialized dictionaries allow more complete coverage for particular fields. Ian Ridpath has updated A Dictionary of Astronomy that, as the title implies, gives definitions to much of the astronomer’s vernacular. It’s as unexciting as any reference text but as valuable as any fine resource.

Spoken words allow people to readily communicate. Being able to convey abstract ideas and images separates humans from other species and raises us to be the most technically accomplished. This, coupled with our unending curiosity and inventiveness, keeps our language growing and morphing.

One would think that, with all this change, a dictionary is counter-productive. Yet, we need a common basis when communicating, and Ridpath’s dictionary provides such. In this book, explanations describe over 4200 entries. These can be generally and almost evenly divided into: technical, proper names and personal names. Definitions for each can be as succinct as a few words or as voluminous as a couple of pages. However, most are at a moderate paragraph in length. And, as with most dictionaries, the explanations are adequate, being neither fluffy nor abbreviated. An omission is the lack of any help with pronunciation. A nice addition, though, is a clever method that clearly indicates when an explanation has words or expressions that are themselves defined elsewhere in the book. Hence, this dictionary does wonderfully as the ready reference it needs to be.

In regard to this dictionary’s scope, Ridpath has kept it closely aligned to astronomy. There’s no ingress from rocketry or space flight aside from a table of the Apollo flights in the appendix. And only the slightest allowance is made for special terms from physics. Yet, many common words arise, though with definitions appropriated purely for this field. Consider the moustache, a small, very bright point in solar active regions. Personal favourites include; almucantar, gnomon and regmaglypt. Finding these and others is simply a matter of using the leading and trailing entries shown at the top of each page. Thus, as the dictionary is to clarify and standardize, this dictionary meets this measure.

This dictionary is a good reference for a generalist who only occasionally dips their toes into astronomy. Also, for a specialist in one realm of astronomy, like telescopes, who’s perhaps weak in others, like comet compositions, this book will speed the process. Of course, for anyone who has a suspect memory and wants a quick verification of an astronomical term, this book will do just fine.

One thing, this is the second edition. Ridpath mentions he enlisted the assistance of many specialists to review entries. Presumably this has increased the quality. However, I’m unable to make any comparison to the first edition, as I’m without a copy.

Ready fingertips grab for references whenever questions arise. Astronomy has its own broad set of particular terms. Ian Ridpath’s book, A Dictionary of Astronomy is ready to be of service when those fingers want to go walking. It’s one more valuable tool to keep people talking in harmony.

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