Category: Book Reviews

Story Musgrave flew into space six times. His training began in the Apollo era. He was capcom for many flights, including the Skylab missions, and he completed EVA’s, including repairs to Hubble. In total, he has logged over 1281 hours off of Earth’s surface. He certainly has had ample opportunity to reflect upon his circumstances and develop a sense of being space bound. Further, amongst his many accolades he has a master of arts in literature. This combination should remedy the typical astronauts angst at expressing feelings. And it does, as Musgrave, in his disc, portrays a warm, special dimension to space travel.

There are 13 separate tracks on the disc. They alternate between a poem with musical accompaniment and purely musical tracks. Musgrave wrote the poems and does his own recitations. His voice doesn’t have the polish of professional actors, yet enthusiasm and honest feelings are palpably present. And, of course, each of the spoken passages have a direct relation to space.

The first poem presents the ‘rush’ of the rockets launch. An underlying direct feed from an Atlantis launch amplifies the sensation. Another gives a timely and provocative recital of the changing views of Earth seen out the orbiting shuttle’s window. Still another tackles the justification for putting so much natural resources into space exploration. The title piece, Cosmic Fireflies, captures the bedazzlement, like fireworks, that astronauts envision while passing through the Earth’s magnetosphere. Each poem has its own rhythm and sense and each evokes an image or feeling well aligned with space. As a collection, they combine into a journey from the launch, through controlled flight and into the free floating realm that pushes to transcend the pull of gravity and even diminish the continual roar of competition.

The musical style is effectively new age with a touch of techno. Whether in accompaniment or standing alone, each softly encourages reflection and meditation. Perhaps not remarkable on their own, they are nevertheless perfect companions for the poems and add to the emotional journey the listener can travel upon.

This disc would be a perfect addition to an evening spent sitting by a fire and watching the stars. The slow dance of flames would balance with the music and words of the poems. Being outside, under the stars would give credence to the message of humankind’s place on or off planet Earth. However, though the words to the poems are available at the associated web site, it seems a shame that they weren’t included with the disc itself.

As much as people have the power of speech, sometimes we are still left speechless. The wonders of space, perhaps due to their novelty, seem to be well ahead of our descriptive ability. However, Story Musgrave in his compact disc Cosmic FireFlies seeks to redress this situation and the result is a pleasant musical journey and a simple moment for reflecting and pondering.

Visit Story Musgrave’s website at: www.spacestory.com

Listen to samples or purchase a copy of Cosmic Fireflies from Countdown Creations.

Review by Mark Mortimer.

Physics, the study of what we observe, and mathematics, the study of relationships, are intimately intertwined. Often where one goes, the other quickly follows. One may lay the frame work, while the other fleshes out the tone and texture. Roger Penrose, the Emeritus Rouse Ball Professor of Mathematics at Oxford University, has been lecturing since at least the early 1960’s. His passion is twistor theory, an alternative to the contemporary continuous spacetime associated with Einstein’s theory and standard quantum mechanics. Twistor theory and others look to define a grand unifying theory (the math) to combine spacetime, gravity and the probabilistic properties of quanta (the observed).

Penrose in his book, however, doesn’t shove the reader into the deep end of theories without any floatation. Twistor theory, string theory and others reside at the very end. The beginning covers the elemental mathematics. Using qualitative language and expressions such as ‘beautiful’ and ‘elegant’, he relates back to the Greeks and number theory, then on through geometry (similar triangles) and complex numbers (i) to end up with functions. Of course, functions aren’t themselves a destination, they are just a jumping off point for calculus, surfaces, manifolds and spaces. Using all the tricks of the lecturer’s trade, Penrose does an admirable job in delivering knowledge solely from the pages. Diagrams and graphs bring vision to abstract notions of infinite spaces, bundles, n-surfaces and manifolds. Layouts for thought experiments (e.g. photon travel to Titan) convey a simple view to many arguments. Problems sprinkled throughout the book, much like homework assignments, force the reader to delve deeper into certain points of view. And of course, copious references, whether to seminal articles by Newton or recent accounts by today’s researchers, litter the paragraphs and these each trace to expansive notes at the chapter’s end. Given this aid, there certainly is no cause to drown while wading through the complexity of the ideas within.

For yes, the ideas within are complex. Even though no prior knowledge is assumed, some formal training in mathematics or physics would certainly aid the reader. The relative significance and value of Riemann surfaces, conformal mappings and holomorphic functions aren’t readily apparent to the mathematic novice though each has importance. But don’t dismay, for as math is the basis, it isn’t presented for its own sake, rather for its value in contributing to our knowledge of the physics. For example, appropriate math and physics led to the relationship of energy to matter which led to the field of nuclear science. Quantum computing is progressing along the same lines. These are discussed as well as black holes, the dual wave and particle nature of photons, the esoteric nature of gravity and the entropic flow of our universe. For it is the qualities of these elements, such as their reflective or invariant attributes, that must be mirrored in the mathematical relations that model them. Though complex, for those who enjoy this subject, the presentation is invigorating, well paced and thorough.

There is, however, an admitted touch of bias in that Penrose is more contradictory than supportive when it comes to the direction taken by some of today’s researchers. He is certainly not supportive of string theory. He recites many short comings of this as well as his own favourite, twistor theory. Other theories get their comeuppance. In a philosophical section, he goes so far as to contemplate reviewing the current bases for modelling the physics or re-examining the meaning of reality. This is perhaps where the title of the book originates, but still the title seems a bit out of place. The theme of a road never appears in the book, nor is that of reality much included. This book does, however, provide a great mathematical basis for pursuing the investigation of physics. It doesn’t shirk from raising difficulties, dead ends or complete unknowns. With the citations and the progressively more current subject matter, a reader can easily dive in to learn more or maybe to select an area to make their own contribution.

A grand unifying theory is a bit of a holy grail for some mathematicians and physicists. Continual progress is trumpeted through the journals and maybe the theory is just around the next corner. To be prepared for this, or to perhaps consider making your own contribution, read The Road to Reality by Roger Penrose, a smoothly written, finely scoped book showing the contributions that math is making in this and other searches of the physics of nature.

Read more reviews or purchase a copy online from Amazon.com.

Review by Mark Mortimer.

Within this seven DVD collection are the 25 shows of the first season, starting with the pilot entitled ‘Broken Bow’ and ending with the season cliff hanger ‘Shockwave Part 1’. Following the final show, special features add insight to the cast and sets. Scott Bakula, the captain and apparent driving force of the show, provides a personal monologue on his views of the casting and thoughts of the early days. A perennial Star Trek guest actor, Vaughn Armstrong (here Admiral Forrest), also waxes a little bit on his times with the genre. Surprisingly, there is little time given for other actors to present their off-stage personalities and perceptions. The Shuttle Pod construction and engine room layout get a greater presence. However, a set of out takes, the now classic addition to any DVD, shows the lighter and more natural side of most of the main characters as they closely worked together in this first season.

Aside from this additional footage, there are optional overlays. Text commentaries by Michael Acadia (Scenic Art Supervisor/Technical Consultant) and Denise Acadia. (Video Supervisor) provide relevant on-screen notes for three episodes. The information regards actors, sets and props, as well as of the Star Trek storyline. The actor notes include previous roles (in and outside Star Trek). Sets and props show the continual transmogrification of equipment for this 18 year old series, particularly as stages and sets moved from Voyager’s realm to Enterprise’s. And, perhaps best of all, the storyline notes link a character or event to other shows of this season or elsewhere in the franchise. Whether interested in some minutia about the set’s background or discussing trivia about the flow of Star Trek history, these overlays make for a pleasant diversion.

Much more rewarding is the audio commentary by the show writers/producers Brannon Braga and Rick Berman which (optionally) plays overtop the dialogue of the season opener. This running commentary, for the duration of the show, explains the rational for the show’s premise, the choice of actors, the process for writing shows and best of all, the scene definition and selection (e.g. the use of computer generation and/or actors). Amongst many other tidbits, Braga and Berman describe how their main objective for this series was character development. Also, continual reference to interweaving today’s functioning technology with perceived novelties from the original series highlights some of their challenges. For example, today’s digital cell phones/cameras provide more functionality in a smaller package than Kirk’s communicators. However, because of the dialogue overlay, the show is unwatchable so, first, watch the season pilot without the audio commentary and then re-watch it with the audio commentary.

Deleted scenes follow eight of the shows. Presumably these (and likely much other footage) were cut as being inappropriate. Yet, by including them as separate segments they are still inappropriate, if not more so. If these were instead part of an optional extended version then they and the DVD collection itself would have had original and noteworthy elements to add interest for regular and new viewers.

The Star Trek Enterprise series went boldly onto a path that many series had gone before. Writers and actors knew that they had to provide something new and entertaining to continue the Star Trek genre. As a prequel, this series does offer a new, refreshing view point. Emphasizing character (and racial) development over exploration and discovery expands on this novelty. On top of the story itself, this DVD collection of Enterprise’s Season 1 contains background information about the plot, filming and actors that helps the initiated and neophyte learn about the path being taken and the difficulties in staying aligned.

A little faith of the heart and you can be dancing amongst the stars. Waiting for that warp drive engine though might be long and depressing so keep your spirits up by enjoying the works of some of Hollywood’s stars. Star Trek Enterprise Season 1 is the 7 DVD set with the 25 shows of the latest and perhaps final installment of the Star Trek, another in the warm tradition of guessing how we might visit other sols and who we might be dancing with when we arrive.

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Review by Mark Mortimer.

As much he was an astronaut, Alan Shepard was first a military man. Graduating from Annapolis in the closing stages of World War II, he strove to satisfy his addiction to the new fangled flying machines of his youth. Emerging as a carrier pilot then test pilot, he never flew any military missions. Nevertheless, he contributed significantly by evaluating new planes, establishing new flying techniques and extolling the life of the macho flier. Getting to be the ‘best of the best of the best’ wasn’t natural though. Thompson shows us a very troubled beginning. Shepard almost failed out of the Naval Academy, finally graduating, but, closer to the middle than the top of the class. Equally, he nearly got expelled from the navy’s flyer training program at Corpus Christi because of inadequate progress. On review, it is certainly apparent that Alan Shepard was much more a self-driven person than a natural. With a goal in target, he’d exert all his physical, emotional and sometimes devious energy to succeed, but he didn’t seem to always have a goal.

Yet, time and again Thompson shows Shepard’s determination. Descriptions of his youth show a person pushed to achieve his goals rather than receive them on a platter. Needing a bicycle to make regular visits to an airport, his parents gave him chickens to produce eggs and sell. Needing to satisfy his ambition to fly after getting medically grounded, he found a novel surgical technique to remedy his symptoms of M?ni?res’s disease. Don’t get the idea that Shepard was superhuman. Continual references show a hard drinking, womanizing, Type A personality confronting peers and superiors. Frequent instances of flat hatting demonstrate a consideration of rules as more guidelines than limits. Thompson ably shows these and the many superlatives of Shepard’s life in the event filled times in which he lived.

And as the title suggests, Thompson has an equally admirable ability to depict those times. World War II, Pearl Harbour and Okinawa stress the trials of Shepard’s pre-flight days in the navy. Background descriptions of Corsairs, landing signal officers (LSO) and night time carrier landings surround Shepard in his initiation to naval flight. Vilifications of NASA’s early days arise when engineering knowledge was slightly trailing the science and often barely a half step ahead of training. Shepard’s endeavours to sell scrub and swamp land to unknowing home buyers bring to mind catch phrases about salesmen of yor. Keep in mind that Shepard’s Redstone flight was about 15 minutes and his Apollo14 flight about 7 days, so this book, as with Shepard’s life, includes much, much more than the usual public portrayal of one of the early astronauts in the United States’ space program.

Also peppered throughout the book are references to many luminaries and dignitaries. Descriptions and undertakings of the Mercury Seven abound. Kings and queens, presidents and politicians enter and travel along with Shepard in his lifetime. Golf stories with fellow duffers and pros abound, while social evenings with dignitaries and Hollywood socialites allude to the intermingling amongst the famous. Though with fame of course comes the down side as Thompson shows how Shepard was as often a puppet for the government as a strongman propped up for the public. This unveiled view exemplifies the humanness of even this exemplary person.

A good biography places the reader like a shadow beside the subject to fabricate an image of the life and personality. Thompson does an eloquent and effective job in this with a well researched and well referenced perspective of Allan Shepard’s life and times. Though the writer’s largess might perhaps provide a bit too descriptive a narrative at times, there is no doubt as to the his take on how Shepard lived and effected the life and times of people throughout the world.

What makes a perfect astronaut? Selecting who has the right stuff to fly in space would challenge any selection process. Yet, every person is unique; imperfections and flaws blend with natural ability and desire. Alan Shepard, the second person in space and great contributor to the United States space program, had the fortune and aptitude to walk on the moon and live a very gifted and at times harrowing life. Neal Thompson presents a smooth, richly endowed biography of Shepard’s life in his book Light This Candle and through a great story, show’s that an imperfect person can become a perfect astronaut.

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Review by Mark Mortimer.

Of course the stars have been with people since people have been on Earth. Wandering along the ecliptic in an annual cycle allowed those with good memories to see the stars arc across the night sky, disappear and then reappear perhaps months later. Those with a good imagination then came along and, perhaps after reviewing the shapes of clouds, went on to name groups of stars; Leo the lion, the Big Dipper and Orion the hunter. These names represent the basic coordinates in star maps and also the basic orientation for astronomers when discussing their latest night time observations. A star map is essential for quickly learning this built up information and, with its knowledge, provides a common basis for discussing night time delights.

Robin Scagell in his book provides maps of the night skies. First he outlines the coordinate system; orbits, declination, right ascension, and ecliptics. Maps in semi-circular segments then illustrate the stars. A group of six illustrate the northern hemisphere. One pair gives a north and south view for a January evening at about midnight and with a false horizon drawn for a number of latitudes. Another shows May and a third pair shows September. Three other pairs show the segments if viewed from the southern hemisphere. These maps are quite small about 10 cm in diameter and show the constellations, names of significant stars and a washed area that represents the contribution from the Milky Way.

The main value of this book is the use of these guide maps with following detailed maps. Much like a road map that has blow ups with greater details, each of the semi-circular segments has four or five links to higher fidelity maps. And these higher fidelity maps are the purpose for the book’s larger format as these are each also a semicircle of diameter about 30 cm. Now it’s a bit curious as to how semi-circles divided to semi-circles, perhaps there’s a fair amount of overlap. Anyway these higher fidelity maps each appear twice. The first shows stars in black on a white background as well as constellation boundaries. The second is a photo-realistic image (stars as white dots on a black background) which show the night sky as a viewer would see it. In total there are eight pairs of these higher fidelity maps.

Following the maps are sections on what to see, sort of like a tourist’s map for a city. The moon gets large attention with lots of clear, fine scale photographs. Four, full page quarter circle maps provide place names on a shaded relief. The sun and each planet also have write-ups and pictures though, not surprisingly, the amount of information is inversely proportional to the distance from Earth. Of course these have no maps as no amateur astronomer has equipment able to discern geographic features except perhaps a little of Mars (the ice caps).

The final chapter of the book does get back into maps. Fifty of the most important constellations (presumably according to the author) have a small map (about 10cm by 10cm) alongside a write-up of the interesting features; galaxies, nebulae and other deep sky objects. This is a particularly good chapter with in-depth information much as a large city map presents details on tourist sections and popular sites. Once centring a constellation in the eyepiece of your favourite telescope, using this map quickly allows a viewer to identify features as well as their relative positions. Hence the constellation Pegasus becomes the stars Sadalbari, Matar and Enif. And thus the learning of the night sky via the maps in this book, quickens.

As an atlas this book is good but not great. I put it to the test, went out, got my bearings using the Big Dipper and then looked in the book. Note I’m no expert. However, this being April made the large scale maps very difficult. The nearest map (May at Midnight) did not do my view justice. Going to the higher fidelity maps was no help as I couldn’t get an appreciation of the scale. However, starting with the constellation Big Dipper (or Ursa Major), I was able to learn more about the local sky group. More large scale maps would have helped. Also, in looking at the higher fidelity maps, I only referred to the high contrast, black on white views; never the photo-realistic ones. Nevertheless this book is an effective night sky atlas for those looking without aid or those using binoculars or small telescopes.

Travelling to visit the grandparents, planning for a vacation or going out to view stars at night all have much better results when undertaken with an appropriate map. Robin Scagell in his book, Night Sky Atlas provides the guidance for viewing the moon, planets, stars and other deep sky objects. So don’t get lost in the big, diamond endowed, velvet cloth that descends over us every evening, get this book and travel away.

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Review by Mark Mortimer.

Stargazing can be as easy as lying flat on the back in a field and using the ‘Mark 1 eyeball’. Curving paths make planets out of dots, patterned specks transform into constellations and smears might just be a new comet portending an event of some occasion. Some people, satisfied at this level, happily return indoors into the warm embrace of artificial light. Yet others drive onwards. Bringing the moon’s mountains and valleys into stark relief on the terminator make this satellite seem somehow closer and more obtainable. With a bit more effort, the cloud bands of Jupiter transfigure a dot to a swirling artwork while the rings of Saturn unmistakenly add a dimension to the velvet darkness of night. And once heading down this path, it’s easy to become hooked. A little bit more power, a little bit more focus and the Mark 1 eyeball, aided by lens and mirrors, sees more and more.

Yet starting from square one without knowledge of lenses or manufacturers makes choosing an optical aid seem perhaps too mystical. This is where Scagell’s book excels, as within it he removes the mystery and aids those wanting to satiate their first cravings for power. The text contains about equal parts concerning the acquisition and usage of telescopes. He makes no assumptions about prior knowledge or geographical location and takes the reader on the typical learning curve of how viewing aids work and what types are available. He covers challenges of light pollution in cities, effects of mass marketing and actions for shoddy workmanship. A comparative description of 12 telescopes allows the reader to quickly determine the best type for their desires and resources. Case studies exemplify the pro’s and con’s of various types, making this a particularly good section for those thinking of purchasing a telescope as a gift. A large quantity of pictures leaves little to the imagination. Many telescopes are shown, as well as mounts and attachments. Skimming through this book or reading cover to cover removes a lot of mystery when contemplating a telescope purchase.

But Scagell doesn’t leave the reader hanging by just describing the telescopes and ancillary gear. He ably describes and depicts their usage and provides some honest appraisals of their results. In truth, he admits that most of these telescopes make little dots appear bigger or makes dots appear where none had been before. Glowing multi-coloured clouds as generated by the Hubble space telescope shouldn’t be an expectation to the backyard enthusiast. With this acknowledgement in mind, Scagell leads the reader on a possible progression of viewing targets which, though no more than dots, still result from photons that started on their journey millions to billions of years ago. From planispheres providing orientation and familiarization with seasonal variations to advanced GO TO telescopes that align far away stars in the centre of view finder at the simple push of a button, he presents the description of dials, buttons and techniques. On reading through this, there will be little doubt as to which telescope to purchase and what to expect to see through the new viewfinder.

There may seem to be a lot covered in this book and this appearance is valid. From attending Star Parties, to building your own Dobsonian mount, through to using hair dryers to keep dew off of lenses, it’s here. This volume of material is well covered as there is little superfluous material and the text is very tightly written in a well organized, well laid out reference. However, much of the enjoyment of a hobby is in sharing the pleasure and there are few hints or directions on identifying local or fellow enthusiasts. Also, there is little written on steps a typical hobbyist would make (e.g. smaller to larger aperture, multiple scopes or ancillary equipment). But these are small issues for an otherwise great text.

No one can help but pause for a moments reflection on seeing the plethora of stars seen in a clear night sky. Those who want to stick around and learn more about the universe in which we live immediately think of acquiring a telescope. Yet without clear information and advice, purchasing and using a telescope may lead to needless frustration. So, read Stargazing with a Telescope by Robin Scagell to avoid the frustration and start on a fantastic journey of discovery.

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Review by Mark Mortimer.

The focal points in this book are the three largest communication antennas built by NASA, the backbone of the deep space network. Built roughly 120 degrees apart around the globe; Goldstone in California, Canberra in Australia, and Madrid in Spain, they spanned 64 metres in diameter originally though were later upgraded to 70 metres. Perhaps barely acknowledged by most space enthusiasts, they perform the critical service of linking us to our robot progeny in our reach off of Earth. Probes get sent commands to fire thrusters and in return send bits and bytes of video images of planets and moons. Robots get instructions to travel foreign terrains and provide visual treats of foreign lands. And perhaps most exciting, people on the moon interacted in (near) real time with Earth based operators. And lunar travel is the point in time when this book’s story begins.

Mudgway lays the groundwork to his story by outlining some of the significant political and space related issues. In the heydays of the 1960’s, a ready fiscal budget for space helped ensure the winning of the race and the build out of infrastructure like the antennae. Though the technology was still in its infancy a quick ramp up had to occur to meet the expectations of the space progam. On top of this groundwork he then builds a description of the existing state of technology and the requirements for the location and operation of the new antennae. What then follows in the book is an easy reading, chronologically arranged narrative of how the chosen people made it happen.

The narrative itself reads more like a fire side chat than like a specific technical treatise. The historical background and political circumstances embellish the reasoning for site selection. People’s names crop up, predominantly Bill Merrick the design and construction manager. Some of their more colourful actions and sayings enliven the text and remind the reader that people, not structures, were the central concern. Company names and their involvement get a slice of attention as well. So, as much as this book’s subject concerns the history of the antenna stations of the deep space network, the inclusion of people and extraneous events keeps the reading light and easy.

Nevertheless, the antenna stations are the main focus and there is a lot to learn within the book. Site selection had to meet limits on radio interference, ground stability and proximity of a workforce, even if Bogong moths were the initial main residents. Component fabrication and site build out gets a thorough description, from the laying of the continuous concrete ring 100 feet in diameter, 11 feet wide and 3 feet deep to using the quadripod support to install the feed system. In a pleasant manner, Mudgway effectively includes a sense of urgency by continually noting the need for the antenna to either support the manned space program or to be ready for a space probe doing a “once only” fly by of a distant planet.

Construction of the antenna encompasses a major portion of the book, though Mudgway also includes goodly portions on the operations and maintenance. We read how, just like a private residence, the antennae’s demands continually expanded to quickly exceed 100% availability. Then upgrades and procedure modifications allowed for better (faster and greater) abilities whose benefits were again quickly consumed by voracious researchers. Routine issues must have arisen, though none are included. Two major problems arose and are noted. One involves azimuthal motion. Oil allows a pad to travel across a steel runner. But if the runner gets uneven, contact occurs, and the antenna couldn’t turn until after signficiant repair work. In elevation, gears and bearings allowed the 4,000 ton dish to rotate in elevation, that is, until the bearings cracked. Again, things got very stressful and Mudgway does a wonderful job of describing the event, the people and the fix.

In a conversational, light tone, using generalist language, Mudgway gives an easy reading history of the antenna stations and the people involved. A reader can pick up some on the design and construction of the antenna and the people involved, however, don’t expect to learn much on the intricacies of microwave design or operation. Also, though chronological, the flow is uneven, at times like an old river that wanders and meanders without a clear focus, even though a destination does get reached.

The deep space network is the phone network that allows people to communicate with their mechanical offspring throughout our solar system. Douglas Mudgway in his book Big Dish, Building America’s Deep Space Connection to the Planets, gives a very smooth historical narrative of the people and events around the design, construction and upgrade of the three largest of the antennae.

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Review by Mark Mortimer

Apollo13 launched in 1970. Because of an onboard malfunction no astronauts landed on the targeted moon and very nearly no astronauts returned safely to Earth. 1995 saw the original release of this film that so grippingly captured the tumultuous event. This year, Universal Pictures is offering an anniversary edition. The two DVD discs contain the drama, twice. One is in a 2.35:1 aspect ratio and the other, briefer version, is in IMAX.

The film centres on the astronauts. Three flew in the capsule while one, quarantined from a possible exposure to measles, remained behind. Suspense builds steadily even for viewers with prior knowledge of the crisis. Flight crew selection, training, and embarkation proceed apace with suitable backdrops of loving families and concerned mission controllers. The rather incredulous disinterest from the media during the launch and for the first tranquil day of flight particularly raises ire and expectation. Then comes the famous phrase, ‘Houston, we have a problem’, and the film soars. Continually shifting from the space craft to the control room to the families’ homes combines these people into one scene and one event. Problems arise, get dealt and solutions to the next ones sought. Knowing the final outcome in no way diminishes the gripping nature of the delivery. A sense of relief is quite palpable on seeing the astronauts being welcomed on the recovery ship after their return to Earth. The film superbly portrays the drama that unfolded during this crisis in space

In a surprising conundrum, this film is incredibly authentic even though no stock footage was used. Many of the participants who were involved with the event provided first hand recollections. The control room was rebuilt, to spec. The astronauts flew for several hundreds of cycles in the KC-135 (Vomit Comet) astronaut trainer getting footage of real weightlessness. Flight manuscripts got memorized and where appropriate were repeated word for word. Little seems to have been missed in the successful quest for accuracy, to the point where a landing capsule was built and dropped just for this movie. As a further note, astronauts viewing this film asked about the launch footage given some very unexpected and rewarding perspectives. Their answer gets discussed in the special features elsewhere within the DVD. As a reference both of the era and the event, this film greatly fills the need. Nevertheless, first and foremost this film is an entertaining drama of humans nearly failing in their out reach to space.

Joining the film are special features. Commentaries by the director and actors give insight into the push for authenticity. Perhaps most rewarding are the many appearances by James and Marilyn Lovell who have obviously put so much of their own memories into this production. A brief vignette recapping the last 45 years in space is a handy perspective for the uninitiated. These embellish the video package in a nice way but don’t necessarily add much to the film itself.

Apollo 13 was a memorable mission and “Apollo13” does great justice to it as a film. As there may not be many people who could appreciate the included IMAX version, there may not be much value in getting this version in addition to the original release. Some people even preferred the original. However, for those looking to add a copy of this film into their libraries and those who missed the original release, this is a great package. Solid directing, an experienced and involved cast and a resounding musical score keep this film entertaining. Faithful reproduction of surroundings and events of the era make this an accurate historical drama.

James Lovell’s view as an astronaut were that, “you’re there because you expect crisis”. Apollo 13 was a crisis and the film version, “Apollo 13” directed by Ron Howard allows us to relive this moment using both a detached analytical view and a very attached drama tical view. Some corollary can be shared between the event and the film, ‘though each participant was an exceptional individual it was team work that won the day’.

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Review by Mark Mortimer

For those unaware, Patrick Moore or officially, Sir Patrick Moore, is the host of British Broadcasting Corporation’s “The Sky at Night”. He has been hosting this live television show regularly for in excess of 45 years, consisting to date of more than 600 programmes. He brought eclipses, lunar landings, and sinking eggs to a couple of generations of avid space buffs. He started on this trail well before rocketry came into vogue, and, by being in the right place at the right time (or putting himself there), he has managed to get acquainted with many of the luminaries of the field. But like any true person, he has a less than stellar side that he’s not afraid to show. He remains very opinionated about Germans and Italians because of his experiences in World War II. He worships cricket despite his noted lack of distinction. And he has a particular loathsome appreciation for things bureaucratic. The resulting open and honest self-appraisal, coupled with an energetic and vivid writing style, makes this book a real treat.

For the most part, the text follows a chronological sequence. An apparently difficult childhood is glossed over though the source of his love for astronomy appears to have started from reading a related book when he was six year old. Apparently he was about 30 when astronomy became part of his career. Thereafter follows a steady progression of book writings, speeches, occasional forays into directing a planetarium and, of course, presentations on the television show. Remember that while rocketry was in its infancy, television was not significantly further along. This, coupled with a live performance, made for many hilarious sounding spectacles. Studio sessions were perhaps a bit more sedate, but challenges arose. Imagine having a last minute guest star that, as it turns out, cannot speak English or any other language known by the host. Field sessions were, understandably enough, much more open to the elements. Clouds covered eclipses moments before totality, or camera operators focussed on their own subject instead of the sun’s dancing chromosphere. But it isn’t the events that take the spotlight in the book, it is Sir Patrick’s reflections of them which if not always humourous are, nevertheless, vibrant.

For those who know a bit about Sir Patrick because of his very public presence, the book can provide a deeper insight. A fair amount of his involvement with cricket gets in, though I must admit that with my lack of understanding of the game, I was usually at a loss. Still when he describes his throwing style as likened to that of a wallaby doing a barn dance, I get the picture. Also, there are many references to British leaders, activities of the European Union and changes to British society that I, as a North American, probably don’t appropriately appreciate. However, I can certainly feel the sorrow and loss Sir Patrick describes upon the enforced cessation of the Royal Greenwich Observatory. His other pastimes include playing musical instruments, especially the xylophone, and performing in amateur theatre productions. With all this, a reader can readily appreciate that Sir Patrick had a much fuller and rounder life than purely reporting on astronomical topics.

There is a slight sense of choppiness in the writing style. Perhaps because it is due to Sir Patrick typing the full manuscript on a typewriter that is older than he was. Nevertheless, the many years experience of writing books, papers and presentations serves him well because the result is a pleasant, easy reading prose that can often leave the reader laughing out loud. Seldom seen words like ‘bowdlerized’ appear, but quite rarely. Also, though ostensibly chronological, there is some jumping to and fro as well as the occasional repetition. In spite of this, there is no difficulty in reading, rather much enjoyment.

Autobiographies can and should give a glimpse into a person’s soul. Patrick Moore in his book Patrick Moore, The Autobiography does this in style. In noting down opinions and conjectures rather than emphasizing facts and events, the reader can readily understand who Sir Patrick is. And given the lack of self import and the flavourful writing style, there is both fun and insight of a principal character who undertook and is still undertaking solid service in the outreach of space and astronomy.

To get your own copy, visit Amazon.co.uk.

Review by Mark Mortimer

Deep sky observing is the sport of picking out significant, night-time, light sources with the aid of an optical lens. More than just enlarging pinpricks, the lens or lenses evolve the light sources into patterns, shapes and even distinct colours. Of course, with people having stared up at the night sky for ages, with and without aids, some significant knowledge gets built up. There are the shapes that form the signs of the zodiac, precession that defines epochs and historians who record the rise and fall of stellar blazes. As a backdrop to all of these, there are literally billions of other lights sources. This is where the guide’s strength lies as it helps a viewer enter this realm via useful guideposts, notices and advertisements.

In particular, this guide details over 200 night time sparkles. Seven chapters divide these into well known stellar entities, such as galaxies and nebulae. Each individual description includes some basic information; the popular name, where its located (right ascension and declination) and its magnitude. Then, more useful for the amateur viewer, come tricks on seeing the correct sparkle through your binoculars or telescope; the best magnification, viewing style (direct or averted) and any locating stars. Often, bonus comments supply details on the history of its observations, perhaps a bit on the physics involved (e.g. the light is from emissions due to depleted oxygen atoms capturing an electron), and a bit on the stellar activity (e.g. part of a galaxy’s spiral arms ). Having over 400 years of observations to consider makes a guide book like this an extremely practical starting point before venturing into the night time skies.

To further help the amateur astronomer in their activities, Neil Bone fills out his guide with some useful background information. Each chapter begins with a snippet of information about the category. For instance, galaxies, we’re told, are collections that formed in the early stages of the universe and have a uniform field of motion. Where appropriate, morphological classifications further divide categories. Again for galaxies, Edwin Hubble’s “tuning fork” model sets the delineations. And in extending this background further, Bone provides a quick synopsis on the mechanics or evolutions of the subject and expectations for change. Planetary nebulae, for instance, result from a normal star aging into a red star, which subsequently swells further and expels vast amounts of itself in a very vivid explosion, the after effects being the observed nebula. With all this information, the night time sparkles do indeed look more and more take on the value of diamonds.

Aside from expanding on what’s viewed in the lens, Bone’s guide also provides some useful insight on periphery issues. The equipment; binoculars, refractors, mounts and eyepieces get their due. Hints abound throughout, such as the benefits of portable equipment to allow for the necessary commute away from obscuring city lights. The history of viewing identifies some of the important individuals as well as some of their unique instruments. For example, most subjects come with their Messier’s identification. We also learn about de Chesaux’s catalogue of 9776 objects. Bode identified 77 nebulous groups while Hershel had his own list of 400. Reworking through any of these lists could be a lifetime challenge but then there’s the Messier Marathon. Here, a person tries to observe each of the 110 Messier objects in one night. To aid in this or more leisurely pursuits, the guide comes well abridged with field sketches, pictures and diagrams. Wide-field star charts and deep sky listings by constellation, season and magnitude complete the tidbits of information.

Listing stellar objects vitals could very easily have resulted in an extremely dry text. Luckily Bone doesn’t fall completely into this trap. There are many charts and tables, and though each description reads like a recipe, there are also many personal anecdotes and opinions to remind the reader that this book is for the hobbyist who wants to enjoy their pastime. This, together with the provision of club names as well as national and international organizations, give great ideas on how to inflame an amateur viewer’s passion.

Having a handy back pocket reference is essential for star-parties or any late night venues where the stars come into focus. Neil Bone, in his book Deep Sky Observer’s Guide gives this excellent reference for this activity. With descriptions aplenty and star charts spanning all the heavens, this book will enable you to leap to the rescue when someone wonders, “What’s that dot up there?”.

To get your own copy, visit Amazon.com.

Review by Mark Mortimer