Solar Book

[Moonshane]

I am after a book that provides :

• Some background on the evolution and workings of our nearest star
• Definitions of features
• Observing hints and tips

Can anyone recommend something suitable?

Cheers

Shane

[Solar_observer]

this one Shane, which I'm currently reading. Got it from Amazon, it's superb

Tony

[Merlin66]

For a bit more depth in the subject I'd recommend

"Guide to the Sun" by Kenneth JH Phillips.

[Solar_observer]

I have that one too and too be honest for a beginner it's well too scientific.

Tony

[Qualia]

Hiya Shane,

John Wilkinson's New Eyes on the Sun is very nice introduction to general solar phenomena. Wilkinson covers the most prominent solar topics such as photosphere, chromosphere and corona activity, eclipses and transits, space weather, and there's even a chapter on basic observing in white light, H-alpha and CAK. Each chapter is explained in an easy manner and should answer many of the typical questions that arise from the solar observer without going into any mathematical or technical detail.

Wilkinson's book is aimed at the general observer who would like to know a little more about the Sun, but an intriguing and evocative book on suns in general would have to be Gribbin's Stardust. This is a fascinating and extremely thoughtful read on what a star is made of; how the forming of stars create atoms; how the dying of stars create new, heavier atoms, and how these atoms eventually become essential components of life. Stardust is a wonderful narrative and excellent introduction and comes highly recommended.

Of equal brilliance would have to be Kaler's Cosmic Clouds. Although Kaler goes into a bit more technical detail this does not detract from the good read. Following a similar thesis as Stardust, Cosmic Clouds offers the general process of star birth and stellar recycling; how stars beget more stars, with our own planet and terrestial life being a by-product of this cosmic process. Again, this comes highly recommended.

Kaler has also written a gorgeous and colourful 'small-coffee-table-book' called The Hundred Greatest Stars. This is also one of my all favourite books on suns and is repeatedly dipped in to. In a very real way, it is an essential reference guide. The book's introduction is a concise account of star birth, main sequence and the senior events of a stars existence and then we're treated to a 101 stars each dedicated with two pages. On the left page is an image and essential statistics, on the right a quick read which shouldn't take more than 5 or 10 minutes to read. Again, this is an excellent and most enjoyable book.

The web also has some worth while reads worth looking into. The Complete Idiot's Guide to the Sun is a suberb online read to the newcomer of solar astronomy. It offers an excellent foundation for the never-ending quest for knowledge and it's free to boot. What more could be wanted?

Other interesting reads about solar features from the web could include:

Solar Observer

Solar Features

White Light Features

S&T Solar Observing

A couple of nice sketch sites to hone one's skills could also include:

Kelleghan's Solar Sketches

Perez's Solar Sketches

Gema's Solar Sketches

General interesting solar sites could also include:

Solar Resources

Soho NASA

Space Weather

Solar Explorer

BBSO Observatory

Hope that helps a little

[michael.h.f.wilkinson]

Interesting list. I might put one of these on my Xmas list.

[David Smith]

Tony's suggestion is on my xmas list

[Solar_observer]

Tony's suggestion is on my xmas list

you will enjoy it I'm sure. It's not over the top but yet it's not simple either, it's just the right mix. It's my favourite and I have many mentioned above.

Tony

[Solar_observer]

Tony

[Solar_observer]

Tony

[Solar_observer]

Tony

[Solar_observer]

Table of content above

Tony

[David Smith]

Looking forward to it so if Santa doesn't produce I will be visiting Amazon very shortly after

[Pete Presland]

looks like it would be a very good addition to the "astro library"

[Qualia]

Quick update. There's an interesting review and of Wilkinson's book at Solar Chat. It's also worth reading through the thread which includes a post by the said author and a mention or two about Jenkin's own solar book.

[Moonshane]

Cheers all. Tony's book hits the spot I reckon!

[Solar_observer]

here is my solar collection, minus the one I posted earlier.

Tony

[Uplooker]

+1 for Jamey Jenkins "Observing the Sun"

[Gazabone]

Thoroughly endorse 'The Sun and How to Observe it' and 'Nearest Star' mentioned above. Another good read is 'Observing the Sun with Coronado Telescopes'.

[Solar_observer]

Here is my collection so far......ive posted the front covers and then you can google them for more information, think it will be faster for you that way. I recommend all of them. I intend too get a few on helioseismology also, as its a new solar science and a pretty important one too.

[Solar_observer]

Opps