Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #591728 in Books
• Published on: 2005-01-02
• Format: Illustrated
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 64 pages

Customer Reviews

An interesting curiosity
For three hundred years the Astronomers Royal were important figures in the world of astronomy, in charge of the Royal Observatory in Greenwich, London and contributing to scientific knowledge. This book tells the story of the Astronomers, from the early days of Flamsteed, to the end of active observing at Greenwich and a shift to the post becoming honorary in nature. Readable and well-illustrated throughout, we learn a great deal about how the nature of astronomy has changed over the centuries and how the personalities of scientists can affect scientific endeavour.

Overall, this book was very a good read, both cogent and coherent. One criticism which does arise is a lack of a glossary; though well-written, the writer does have a tendency to use technical language without explaining what the terms mean. A glossary would have been very useful. There are also a number of anecdotes left in to tease the reader; throwaway lines about incest and murder make the observatory sound a really exciting place.