Review by Choice Review
At first glance this encyclopedia appears very similar to other encyclopedias of astronomy, of which a number have appeared recently, but it is unique in its emphasis on history. For instance, the article on black holes says only a little about their theory, instead concentrating on the historical development of that theory. The several hundred signed articles are written by a distinguished group of scholars, and each includes a bibliography. A preface explaining how to use the encyclopedia and excellent illustrations accompany the very readable text. Some of the black-and-white illustrations should have been in color to enhance the text. Most libraries will want to purchase this encyclopedia but should not assume it will eliminate the need for current encyclopedias of astronomy. All levels. J. O. Christensen Brigham Young University
Copyright American Library Association, used with permission.
Review by Booklist Review
This new history of astronomy, in the form of an encyclopedia, is a welcome addition to the literature of astronomy. Many of the histories that have been published are now long out of print. Although those early histories are still useful, this volume brings together, in a very readable and pleasant format, much information scattered among several publications. The unique quality of this work is its five-pronged approach to presenting information. The first approach, which takes up most of the book, is a historical overview of astronomy. Ancient and medieval periods are covered, but the focus is on the beginnings of the scientific revolution of the seventeenth century to the present. The second approach looks at astronomy as it fits into various national contexts. For example, the reader will find key entries for astronomy in France or Russia or Great Britain, describing milestones of astronomical accomplishments in each of those countries. Observatories are obviously very important in a history of astronomy. There are entries for all of the national observatories as well as many of the leading private research institutions and universities. As another access point, the fourth approach provides the social history of astronomy. There are entries covering topics such as women in astronomy, literature in astronomy, and the Catholic Church and astronomy. Finally, as a sixth approach, the encyclopedia includes numerous biographical entries. The biographies are brief , with several bibliographic references to more extensive biographies. This is an excellent encyclopedia that is easy to use. There are a limited number of illustrations, all in black and white, but they are crisp and clear. The text, with two columns per page, is very user-friendly from a visual standpoint. Within each entry, words, phrases, or names may be boldfaced, indicating there is an entry elsewhere in the book. Every entry has at least one cited reference, and many have more than 20. A general index is included. This encyclopedia is highly recommended for college libraries and for public libraries and high-school libraries that need information beyond that provided by general encyclopedia sets. It should become a standard reference volume, filling a niche in the reference collection as the initial, first-stop source on astronomical topics.
From Booklist, Copyright (c) American Library Association. Used with permission.
Review by Library Journal Review
While there are several astronomy encyclopedias on the market (e.g., The Encyclopedia of Astronomy and Astrophysics, Van Nostrand Reinhold, 1992), this encyclopedia, which launches a new series from Garland, is the first devoted to the subject's historical aspects. It sets a very high standard for the volumes to come. Focusing on developments since the Scientific Revolution, the signed articles by 74 contributors (who read like a Who's Who of astronomy and space scholars) fall into five broad categories: an historical overview of astronomy, astronomy in national contexts (e.g., Chinese astronomy), the history of observatories, the social history of astronomy (e.g., Women in Astronomy), and biographies, with a special effort to avoid duplicating existing biographical encyclopedias. Recommendations for further reading are well chosen and current. An excellent and much-needed work; highly recommended. [Astronomy Book Club main selection.]Donald Marion, Univ. of Minnesota Science & Engineering Lib., Minneapolis (c) Copyright 2010. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
(c) Copyright Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Review by Choice Review
Review by Booklist Review
Review by Library Journal Review
