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Astronomer's Computer Companion [Illustrated] [Paperback]

Jeff Foust (Author), Ron LaFon (Author)
3.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)


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Book Description

November 7, 1999

The Astronomer's Computer Companion, written by a professional and an avid amateur astronomer, is a complete introduction to contemporary astronomy and a guide to the best software, web sites, and other computer resources for astronomers. Whether you have only a passing interest in astronomy or you spend every evening on a mountain top, you'll find something exciting in The Astronomer's Computer Companion.

You'll learn:

  • What software to use to track the movement of planets, asteroids, satellites, and other celestial bodies-even how to keep a log of your sightings, generate star charts, calculate exposures for astronomical photographs, and more
  • How to use the Internet to access high-powered remote telescopes for personal research projects
  • Where on the Internet to find up-to-the-minute astronomy news or view the latest images
  • How to use the Internet to share discoveries with astronomers around the world through newsgroups and chat rooms
  • Where on the Internet to find answers to your astronomy questions quickly

About the CD-ROM:
The Astronomer's Computer Companion CD-ROM includes hundreds of megabytes of software (over 100 freeware, shareware, and demo programs)-saving you hours and hours of downloading time and bringing everything together in one place. In addition, the authors include dozens of fascinating astronomical images and animations, as well as a searchable electronic version of the book (in Adobe's PDF format) that you can read as you click the hyperlinks to browse the Web sites referenced throughout the book.


Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

Astronomers were among the first scientists to whole-heartedly embrace the computer and the Internet. Not surprisingly, the quantity of astronomy software and Web sites out there can now only be called "astronomical." Astronomer Jeff Foust and writer Ron Lafon have teamed up to sort through the chaff and give you the wheat. The Astronomer's Computer Companion isn't just a book, it's time: the time you could have wasted looking for software, images, animations, and data. With this book you can cut straight to the chase, and use your time to work--or play.

The CD-ROM includes a complete e-copy of the book with clickable links, so you can read and surf simultaneously. The collections on the CD are superb, with 132 shareware programs for the PC, 29 for the MAC, 148 images, and 38 animations. The authors' Web site will have updates for the links, so the book won't be outdated as quickly as most Web guides. The book's text is clear and basic enough for high-school students, but it is not simple-minded: even professional astronomers can benefit from the authors' thorough research to track down databases, references, and those all-important screen savers. --Mary Ellen Curtin

From Library Journal

Foust, who holds a Ph.D. in planetary sciences and is editor of SpaceViews (www. spaceviews.com), and amateur astronomer LaFon cover all the basics, reviewing many online resources, web sites, and software for amateur astronomers. The CD-ROM contains animations, astronomical images, and shareware applications. This will appeal to readers from junior high up to senior citizens.
Copyright 1999 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Product Details

  • Paperback: 350 pages
  • Publisher: No Starch Press; Pap/Cdr edition (November 7, 1999)
  • Language: English
  • ISBN-10: 1886411220
  • ISBN-13: 978-1886411227
  • Product Dimensions: 8.8 x 7 x 1.1 inches
  • Shipping Weight: 1.8 pounds
  • Average Customer Review: 3.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
  • Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,741,592 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

6 Reviews
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Average Customer Review
3.7 out of 5 stars (6 customer reviews)
 
 
 
 
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews

20 of 20 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars a must for any student of astronomy, December 4, 1999
By 
michael bronson (sonoma, california) - See all my reviews
This review is from: Astronomer's Computer Companion (Paperback)
For anybody with an interest in astronomy, and owns a pc or mac, this book is a must have. At first, I thought it would be rather "dry" reading. But, I soon found it to be written in very easly understood language that even a laymen like myself could understand and enjoy. It has a wealth of info. on web addresses on almost any aspect of astronomy; I was amazed at how many there are! And, it has lots of pictures of stars and galaxies, which I personally like.
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18 of 18 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars It's About Time!, November 22, 1999
By 
This review is from: Astronomer's Computer Companion (Paperback)
It's about time this book was published. There are so many really neat things an amateur astronomer can do with his computer. This book finally explains what and how a desktop computer is an astronomer's best friend. The included CD has some great programs and the book is a wealth of URLs and WEB addresses for all sorts of things astronomical. If you're into astronomy and have a destktop (Windows or Apple) get this book!
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5 of 6 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars The Computer Companion is Aging Well..., August 2, 2001
By 
This review is from: Astronomer's Computer Companion (Paperback)
To be honest, I really didn't WANT to write a good review of this book. In my experience a book that does anything to overview the WWW does itself and its readers a disservice since reality will make it quickly out of date.

Surprisingly, the "Astronomer's Computer Companion," written in late 1999, is actually aging well. A good majority of the web sites it references still do exist and are helpful. Jeff & Ron's writing style is easy to understand and also easy on the mind without crossing the line into outright fluff.

This book is most useful for the armchair astronomer who has good access to a computer and the internet and who doesn't want to waste a lot of time aimlessly going through search engines. Jeff & Ron have done the work for you and again, surprisingly, the work still stands up well even in the face of a very quickly changing field.

They did a very credible job with a rather difficult environment to work with.

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Inside This Book (learn more)
First Sentence:
ON FEBRUARY 20, 1962, JOHN GLENN became the first American to orbit Earth. Read the first page
Key Phrases - Capitalized Phrases (CAPs): (learn more)
Big Bang, Hubble Space Telescope, Milky Way, Galaxy Guide, United States, Distant Suns, Discover Astronomy, Software Bisque, Scientific American Library, Kuiper Belt, Space Telescope Science Institute, America Online, Comet Halley, Goddard Space Flight Center, Mars Pathfinder, Mars Rover, Oort Cloud, The Royal Greenwich Observatory, Ames Research Center, Bradford Robotic Telescope, Cambridge University, Northern Hemisphere, Star Probe, Tycho's Star, Astronomy Picture of the Day
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