greencat Posted December 19, 2005 Share Posted December 19, 2005 I always look for old astronomy books in secondhand bookshops.The oldest I've found so far is called "Flowers of the sky" & I've dated it to around 1883 or thereabouts.I was reading the Mars section the other night as it had clouded over.Its great to read how the auther could say that there "definately" existed oceans on Mars & then his ponderings on possible life on the planet.Anybody else as sad as me? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OXO Posted December 19, 2005 Share Posted December 19, 2005 Elementary Lessons in Astronomy by J.Norman Lockyer who was a Fellow of the Royal Astronomical Society.1868. It's full of wonder sketch's from the 18th/17th centrynot had chance to read it yet but i will be doing soon.Its a wonderfull feeling holding this book in my hands and a great piece of astro history.James Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ant Posted December 19, 2005 Share Posted December 19, 2005 I used to collect astro books. I had about 500 books which were mostly old. I ran out of room and donated them to a local Astro Club (what a [removed word] head?).But I kept a couple.So the oldest that I have now are actually the same book - can't remeber the name (I'm at work) but it was by a guy called Boyle I think. The good thing is that I have two copies one by Mr Boyle and the other by Sir Boyle. The bloke was knighted between editions...I think it dates back to around 1864 - but I'll check tonight.Ant Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OXO Posted December 19, 2005 Share Posted December 19, 2005 Could that be Sir Robert Boyle? i have something around my house by him although it may date back to the 17th centry?if so thats my oldest book :shock: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ant Posted December 19, 2005 Share Posted December 19, 2005 There is no way that would date back to the 17th century James! That would be 200 years before the book that I have. I think that he was knighted in the 1860's - so a book dated in the 1600's couldn't be from the same guy.But I love to hear about your book from the 1600's...BTW yes it is Sir Robert Boyle Ant Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OXO Posted December 19, 2005 Share Posted December 19, 2005 Hi Ant,There is no way that would date back to the 17th century James! That would be 200 years before the book that I have. I think that he was knighted in the 1860's - so a book dated in the 1600's couldn't be from the same guy.Maybe he lived a long time :clouds2: , mmmmmm there was a chap called Richard Boyle of who did some Astro Books maybe it's him i am getting mixed up with been so long since i have seen the book but i will dig it out tonight and let you know about it. Could have some interesting facts in it.One of the things that blows my mind looking at these books is the thought if you could travel back in time and let them know about all the advances in astronomy now and see there reaction Also when you look at Old photos from the 40's etc etc and you now how the Equipment to do better with a 4 and half inch scope than they did with a 200" scope . The facts are the best thing though like the amount of planets in the solar system and so forth.James Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ant Posted December 19, 2005 Share Posted December 19, 2005 it certainly could be - but I have no idea....I'll dig it out tonight.Ant Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OXO Posted December 19, 2005 Share Posted December 19, 2005 Surely not Robert Boyle of Boyles Law...i.e. Gas reaction?Thats what i thought Damien it must be though the records dont show anyone else it could be..James Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
greencat Posted December 19, 2005 Author Share Posted December 19, 2005 One of the things that blows my mind looking at these books is the thought if you could travel back in time and let them know about all the advances in astronomy now and see there reaction Also when you look at Old photos from the 40's etc etc and you now how the Equipment to do better with a 4 and half inch scope than they did with a 200" scope . The facts are the best thing though like the amount of planets in the solar system and so forth.James I had a very similar thought whilst walking my dog the other night.Wouldn't it be great if you could show Galileo what can now be seen through telescopes of today. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ant Posted December 19, 2005 Share Posted December 19, 2005 I suppose the natural move from this thread would be the question.If you could go back in time and speak to one (astronomical) person and tell them one thing, who would it be and what would you tell them.Ant Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
greencat Posted December 19, 2005 Author Share Posted December 19, 2005 I would go back & tell Mr Galileo that he was right all along & the church would eventualy pardon him in 359 years. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GazOC Posted December 19, 2005 Share Posted December 19, 2005 I've still got my Observers book by PM from when I was a nipper. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Warthog Posted December 19, 2005 Share Posted December 19, 2005 I bought a copy of Sir Patrick's Survey of the Moon (1965) last summer, in a used bookstore. As I read it, I realized that I had read it when I was a teenager, shortly after it was published, and most of the things I know about the moon are in that book. I am making it my personal mission to see crater Moore. I have seen older astronomy books, but I see little point in collecting them, as they are mostly textbooks, not anything earth-shattering. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Astroman Posted December 26, 2005 Share Posted December 26, 2005 Sidereus Nuncius by Galileo Galilei first published in 1610. My copy was printed in 1989, but I had you for a second, no? I'd have to check for sure, but I think the oldest one I have is The Sun, by Karl Kiepenheuer, published in 1959. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GazOC Posted December 26, 2005 Share Posted December 26, 2005 Galileo Galilei? Never heard of him!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Astroman Posted December 27, 2005 Share Posted December 27, 2005 Ok, I found Introduction to Astronomy by J.B. Sidgwick, 1944. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GazOC Posted December 27, 2005 Share Posted December 27, 2005 It interesting to see how the ideas and theories would hold up today in some of those old books, even ones from the 70's have dated very badly. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Warthog Posted December 27, 2005 Share Posted December 27, 2005 It interesting to see how the ideas and theories would hold up today in some of those old books, even ones from the 70's have dated very badly.Yep. Patrick Moore was a proponent of the volcanic theories of crater formation on the moon, but now cheerfully admits that he was wrong about that. That's over 40 years. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AstroTiger Posted December 27, 2005 Share Posted December 27, 2005 my oldest astro book is a copy of the Amateurs Astronomers Hanbook by JB Sidgewick. 1955 edIt was given to me by a fellow named bob Marriott, who is also on the council of the BAA and secretary of the local astro soc i also attend.I do find with astronomy books after a while that they all tend to say the same thing. This is perhaps why i do not buy anymore now. I find these days that wen u have a book on the stars and planets then thaT Is prob all u will ever need. Or am i being just too cynical there?Al Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
col Posted December 30, 2005 Share Posted December 30, 2005 hi all, im new to the forum, but im finding it addictive, any way the oldest book i have is the popular star atlas(epoch 1950) with 16 maps,by rmg inglis, published in 1961, one year older than me, so its a youngish spritely book methinks, : Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
daz Posted December 30, 2005 Share Posted December 30, 2005 Hi ColAddictive isn't the word!!! Getting a bit of cabin fever here - need to get my eyeball to eyepiece!!!Welcome to the forum BTW - glad to have you here Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
col Posted December 31, 2005 Share Posted December 31, 2005 thanks daz, i thought i was going to get a look up tonight, but its a white out again,id better get that book out Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
daz Posted December 31, 2005 Share Posted December 31, 2005 thanks daz, i thought i was going to get a look up tonight, but its a white out again,id better get that book out Yep, same here. Again!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mark RD Posted December 31, 2005 Share Posted December 31, 2005 All mine are old out of date LOL but not really old, the oldest is Life science library Plants 1971 also 1 year older then me LOLMark Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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