Guidebook for the Scientific Traveler: Visiting Astronomy and Space Exploration Sites Across America (Scientific Traveler) (Paperback)

by Duane S. Nickell (Author)
Key Phrases: optical telescopes, visitor center, space rocks, United States, Space Shuttle, New Mexico (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Review
Duane Nickell has created a superbly original and intriguing book with Astronomy and Space Exploration. The Scientific Traveler concept is unique, yet so simple, it leaves you wondering why it hasn't been thought up before. --Neil deGrasse Tyson, astrophysicist, American Museum of Natural History, and author of Death By Black Hole and Other Cosmic Quandaries

Review
"Nickell's relaxed and intimate writing style brings the reader along on fascinating personal journeys to a wide variety of ancient and modern science-related sites. You don't have to be a science enthusiast to enjoy visiting this intriguing cross-section of diverse destinations."

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Product Details

• Paperback: 256 pages
• Publisher: Rutgers University Press; illustrated edition edition (September 15, 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0813543746
• ISBN-13: 978-0813543741
• Product Dimensions: 8.9 x 5.7 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12.8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #536,856 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Lots of good sites to visit, but some omissions, June 16, 2009

By	Bruce L. Prickett (Fremont, CA USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

I like this book over-all, it has a lot of great information about visiting observatories and science locations. For example, I've been to Mauna Kea and Palomar Mountain, and I learned some new information about visiting them from this book.

Each site is introduced with a good description of the historical and scientific character of the facility, and there are pointers to special features or easily missed displays that are worth hunting down.

As a Bay Area resident, I have a major gripe: While the book lists Ames Research Center in Mountain View and Lick Observatory near San Jose, it ignores Chabot Space and Science Center in Oakland. This is puzzling, since both Ames and Lick have very limited options for tours by the public - Lick is open during the day, but only has night time viewing on a few nights each year. Ames has a nice visitor center, but the only time you can get inside the gates is for the Air Show (or to film a MythBusters episode).

To contrast, Chabot is open to the public most days of the year, and has public telescope viewing every clear Friday or Saturday night. The planetarium and Mega-Dome theater are world class. For telescopes, Chabot's 20" refractor and 36" reflector dwarf the telescopes available at most public observatories, including some that are praised in this book.

The author asks for suggestions for future editions, I know he'll be receiving some from Chabot fans...

The book includes a section on visiting Roswell and Area 51, this is good for amusement value. There are also pointers for visiting some of the great space related museums and NASA facilities. The last chapter is a helpful list of ways have fun with space science - I can vouch for the joys of star parties and solar eclipse travel, but I will have to delay the sub-orbital flight until the prices come down.

Overall I think this is a useful and interesting book, but make a point to check out the Chabot center if you are looking for astronomy in the San Francisco Bay area!

0 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent book, June 14, 2009

By	Chad - See all my reviews

This is a terrific book. I really enjoyed reading about the history and meaning behind each of the sites listed in the book. I look forward to other books in this series.