Astronomical Algorithms [Illustrated] [Hardcover]

Jean Meeus (Author)

Product Details

• Hardcover: 477 pages
• Publisher: Willmann-Bell; 2 edition (December 1998)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0943396611
• ISBN-13: 978-0943396613
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 6.1 x 1.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.7 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (20 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #126,570 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #25 in Books > Professional & Technical > Professional Science > Astronomy & Space Science > Star-Gazing

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

27 of 27 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Very good reference for programmers of ephemerides, December 29, 2000

By 

Henk Reints (Helmond, Noord-Brabant Netherlands) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Astronomical Algorithms (Hardcover)

This is a very good and very complete reference, although it lacks the fundamentals behind the algorithms (which indeed is not the intention of this book). Many algorithms are however just curve-fitting: very accurate in the proximity of the year 2000 but they will produce nonsense if you calculate "very far away" from 2000, so it is not of eternal value... One has to take care of the various units and reference frames being used (but that's an essential part of astronomy). I'm glad I bought it.

22 of 22 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Create your own ephemerides with Astronomical Algorithms!, August 21, 1998

By A Customer

This review is from: Astronomical Algorithms (Hardcover)

Once again author Jean Meeus demonstrates his expertise in astronomical positioning and applied mathematics with Astronomical Algorithms. He brings us into the 21st century with the new J2000.0 epoch and FK5 system. His chapters on the primary corrections of precession, nutation, parallax, and aberration are thorough and presented in both the equatorial and ecliptic coordinate systems. Planetary positioning, including the Sun, is provided by the principal elements of Bretagnon and Francou's VSP087 theory. Chapront's ELP-2000/82 theory provides Lunar positioning. The Galilean satellites of Jupiter are located with Lieske's E2x3 theory. The author systematically steps us through each method with real examples.

There are practical chapters on Julian Dates, Sidereal Time, Dynamical Time, Rising and Setting, Coordinate Transformations, Equinoxes and Solstices, and Refraction. Mathematically useful chapters include Interpolation, Curve Fitting, Iteration and Sorting. For comet and minor planet watchers, there are chapters on Elliptic, Parabolic and Near Parabolic Motion. Times of conjunctions, elongations, and oppositions can be calculated accurately using the chapter on Planetary Phenomena. There are chapters for the physical ephemerides of Mars, Jupiter, Saturn and the Moon, including how to find position angle, illuminated fraction, and visual magnitude. In addition, there are Phase, Apogee and Perigee, Node and Libration chapters for the Moon. Solar observers can use the chapter on heliographic coordinates, based on Carrington's rotation number, to plot and track sunspots. For eclipses, Meeus gives us a chapter that, with relatively modest calculations, predicts the time, magnitude and duration for lunar and solar eclipses with remarkable accuracy. There is even a chapter on how to construct a planar sundial. Even Pluto, which is calculated in astrometric place, has a chapter.

You will not see the usual vector / matrix notation, the actual equations are provided for us instead. Throughout the book, definitions are given for the astronomical terms, each of which is summarized in the glossary. Beginning with the chapter on Accuracy, he consistently reminds us what constitutes significant digits and why rigorous expressions are often not necessary. For example, there are alternative, low precision algorithms which are quite accurate and provide a good starting point for learning the concepts.

This reviewer has coded most of the algorithms in the book and generated very accurate geocentric and topocentric apparent place ephemerides for the Sun, Moon, planets and the Galilean satellites.

A knowledge of plane and spherical trigonometry along with basic algebra and calculus is recommended, but the programming inclined should find rewarding challenges in translating these algorithms into computer programs and begin creating their own ephemerides.

24 of 25 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Extended version of Astronomical Formulae for Calculators, June 30, 2000

By 

Marc van der Sluys (Utrecht, The Netherlands) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Astronomical Algorithms (Hardcover)

This excellent book is the renewed and extended version of Astronomical Formulae for Calculators by Jean Meeus. If you intend to buy a book about Astronomical Algorithms, don't buy them both, choose between the cheaper and less extended Astr.Form. or the more expensive but more valuable Astr.Algor. The 'Morsels' are an addition to the 'Algorithms', and I suggest you buy it only if you already know the Algorithms and want to go further.