Sky Catalogue 2000.0: Volume 1 (Sky Catalogue 20000 2nd ed) [Paperback]

Alan Hirshfeld (Author), Roger W. Sinnott (Author), Frangois Ochsenbein (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0521427363 | ISBN-13: 978-0521427364 | Publication Date: November 29, 1991 | Edition: 2

This compendium summarizes the astronomical data for all stars brighter than 8.0. For every object listed, it includes designations from the HD (Henry Draper) and SAO (Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory) star catalogs; the star name and constellation; the common name; the position for the equinox and epoch 2000.0; the star's proper motion; its visual magnitude and color index; the absolute magnitude; the spectral type; the radial velocity; the inferred distance; and, where appropriate, additional information on multiplicity, variablity and cluster membership. There is an index of Flamsteed and Bayer designations as well. The information given in this catalog is derived from the SIMBAD (Set of Identifications, Measurements, and Bibliographical References of Astronomical Data) database held at the Strasbourg Observatory. Together with the first edition of Volume 2 (which covers double stars, variable stars, galaxies, etc.) this is the definitive reference set used in professional astronomy. Serious observers of stars and star systems will appreciate the material found in this established reference work.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"...useful for amateur astronomers as well as for professionals....represents additions and corrections to the data and an increase of about 11% in the number of stars included....should be a part of most astronomy reference collections...." J.O. Christensen, Choice

Product Details

• Paperback: 702 pages
• Publisher: Cambridge University Press; 2 edition (November 29, 1991)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0521427363
• ISBN-13: 978-0521427364
• Product Dimensions: 11.9 x 9.1 x 1.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 3.8 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 3.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,527,798 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Alan Hirshfeld is Professor of Physics at the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth and an Associate of the Harvard College Observatory. He received his undergraduate degree in astrophysics from Princeton University in 1973 and his Ph.D. in astronomy from Yale in 1978. His widely praised book, "Parallax: The Race to Measure the Cosmos," published in 2002 by Henry Holt & Co., chronicles the human stories involved in the centuries-long quest to measure the first distance to a star. His second book, "The Electric Life of Michael Faraday," published in 2006 by Walker & Co., describes the life and work of the 19th century scientist who developed the electric motor, electric generator, and many fundamental ideas about electricity, magnetism, and light. "Eureka Man: The Life and Legacy of Archimedes," published by Walker & Co. in 2009, was released in paperback in September 2010. Prof. Hirshfeld's "Astronomy Activity and Laboratory Manual," a collection of mathematical exercises for college astronomy courses, was published by Jones & Bartlett Learning in 2009. Recipient of second prize in the Templeton Foundation's international Power of Purpose essay competition and also a Griffith Observatory/Hughes Aircraft Co. national science writing award, Prof. Hirshfeld has lectured around the country about scientific history and discovery.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A useful reference but not an observing guide, February 13, 2009

By 

Arizona Sky - See all my reviews

This review is from: Sky Catalogue 2000.0: Volume 1 (Sky Catalogue 20000 2nd ed) (Paperback)

This book is a compilation of data on stars and their properties. As such it is quite useful for anyone who needs that type of information. To use it as an observing guide, though, would be like opening a dictionary in hopes of reading a good story. For someone to give the book one star because it was not the type of book that reader needed is misleading and unfair. Anyone thinking of buying this volume should look inside and the nature of the information will be apparent. There are numerous observing guides available for all levels of experience, some general and some specific to types of objects. The Night Sky Observer's Guide is an example of the former. Sky Catalogue 2000.0: Volume 1 was designed as a reference on 45,269 stars down to magnitude 8.05 - and only stars. It serves that purpose very well. Anyone needing astrometric data on fainter stars might consult the Hipparcos catalog available on-line. A final note - for most amateurs volume 2 of this work will likely be more useful since it covers a variety of deep-sky objects. But it too is primarily a reference.

5 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Best Star Catalogue Ever made!!!!, October 5, 1999

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[e-mail] (United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Sky Catalogue 2000.0: Volume 1 (Sky Catalogue 20000 2nd ed) (Paperback)

This book contains hundreds of stars, down and including the magnitude 8.0. It is 99.999% accurate and no smudges! I recomend this book to anyone who is searching the stellar realm of the universe.

4.0 out of 5 stars Six hundred pages--large format--of nothing but numbers, July 16, 2011

By 

mytg8 (FL) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Sky Catalogue 2000.0: Volume 1 (Sky Catalogue 20000 2nd ed) (Paperback)

As the one reviewer said, this tome has limited appeal to the casual observer of the sky. However, it has its uses for the mathematically minded amateur astronomer. It has some detailed trig equations to calculate the movement (proper motion) of individual stars into the future and the past, for instance. You can find the distance of Sirius a million years in the future. There are interesting sections about such things as stellar spectra; their classification schemes, their true brightness as seen by the naked eye. You can find out a lot about your favorite umm, star. Among the 50,000 plus listed, to magnitude 8.