Preface

I still have my copy of the second edition of Practical Amateur Astronomy, the ‘how to’ book on astronomy that my parents bought me for the Christmas of 1971. The book was edited by Patrick Moore and contained chapters on practical astronomy written by British expert practitioners of the day covering their specialist fields. At the time I was thirteen years old and had already been interested in all the sciences, and particularly astronomy, for many years. However, my practical experience of astronomy at that time was limited to locating some of the more prominent astronomical objects and peering at them through the eyepieces of binoculars, a small terrestrial refractor, and a 3-inch (76 mm) Newtonian reflector. Back then that book seemed very advanced but I took what instruction I could from it and continued to pursue my interest in practical astronomy.

Practical Amateur Astronomy was a very useful book in 1971, giving the reader instruction in the then current activities of the more advanced amateur practitioners. In the main, the chapters were written by the directors of the various observing sections of the British Astronomical Association (BAA). Today that book looks very simple and quaintly old-fashioned, thanks to modern advances. A year earlier, I remember borrowing an early edition of Patrick Moore's The Amateur Astronomer from the local library. That book struck me as being extremely light on practical advice but it nonetheless provided a narrative of elementary general astronomy told from the perspective of the amateur. Despite my young age I had no trouble in understanding everything in that book, so it also helped me on my way. Other borrowed books, such as Nigel Calder's Violent Universe rounded out my knowledge and gave me some inkling as to professional astronomical researches carried out in the world-class observatories of the time.