Comments on: A book ahead of its time!

By: J

Tue, 14 Jul 2009 03:13:58 +0000

Sorry, editing error in the previous post:
“In the last two years, for instance, scientific research mostly using existing data has doubled our estimates of the Milky Way’s size and the thickness of its core and has eliminated two of the four arms that were previously imagined.”

By: J

Tue, 14 Jul 2009 03:10:37 +0000

Hmm, without reading it myself, it’s hard to judge it. This could well be a useful historical document for understanding public perception of the 1986 apparition, or a quick reference for those writing about the comet’s history from a general-audience perspective. It may be a useful reference to comets, history of; comets, observing of; comets, composition and scientific knowledge of. It might also be a quick, cheap, shallow cash-in. I can’t really say.

But I will say that our certain knowledge of comets hasn’t advanced very far since 1985 (or 1950, for that matter). Several research programs have turned up interesting questions, but not definitive answers, yet. The past history of the comet hasn’t changed, though the fizzle of 1986 is a piece of the history this doesn’t cover. Observing techniques have not significantly changed, though there are cyanogen comet filters on the market these days.

I’m curious: with what modern, popular book would you replace this that covers the astrophysics, the history, and practical observing tips? And is it really worth the money to replace?

Also, with fundamental facts changing yearly, how often should libraries replace their science texts? In the last two years, for instance, scientific research mostly using existing data has doubled our estimates of its size and the thickness of its core and has eliminated two of the four arms that were previously imagined. I think those are more fundamental changes than the strata of comet bodies, yet I bet that very few books on the market, even the most recent, cover these.

I fervently hope that one day the internet will solve all these problems and the idea of weeding books will seem quaint and backwards. You can’t protect people from stupid ideas, only (in the best case) overpower the stupid ones with better ones more engagingly delivered.

By: Mary K.

Mary K. — Tue, 14 Jul 2009 00:54:17 +0000

I was gathering some books for an astronomy display today and discovered that we actually have this book in our collection! Mind you, we did have plenty of good, current books for the display but yes, this was nestled in the astronomy section.

By: Chris

Chris — Thu, 09 Jul 2009 07:41:49 +0000

On Planet Literate, books have forewords, not ‘forwards.’

By: Andrea

Andrea — Tue, 07 Jul 2009 07:11:56 +0000

Whoa! They sent it to the bindery?! With 75 years or so to go until it comes around again? Why didn’t you mention that? That puts it way over the top for me!

By: Michael A. Burstein

Michael A. Burstein — Mon, 06 Jul 2009 16:20:01 +0000

I had that book; I wish I remembered what had happened to it.

Isaac Asimov also wrote a guide to Halley’s Comet at the time. He tried to beg off, pointing out that in 1986 the comet wasn’t going to look very impressive, but some publisher insisted. So Asimov tried to make his book more universal, and he advised folks over and over that there would be more interesting comets to see within one’s lifetime.

By: Brenda Shaw

Brenda Shaw — Fri, 03 Jul 2009 00:31:26 +0000

I had this book! I read it to pieces. I went out a bunch of times to try and see the comet, but I remember looking through the binoculars and not being able to see a thing. (I ended up studying astronomy at university anyways, so the disappointment couldn’t have been too bitter.)

Our local astronomical society’s library has a copy, as well as a lot of other books that are kept around for their historical-curiosity value. I mean, I’d love to read articles about Halley’s Comet from 1910. But it definitely needs to be retired in favour of books with more, erm, current information on comets.

By: taotianone

taotianone — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 23:55:52 +0000

i waited for over 40 years to see it, more anxious some years than others, but always excited with the idea of what was coming. when it finally got here, it was a dud, and i’d already seen numerous better ones in the meanwhile. punt the book.

there is plenty of technical info about haley’s and other comets in a zillion astronomy books.

By: Jen

Jen — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 19:27:17 +0000

I remember waking up at 4am and getting my tired dad to drive me (I was only 14) to a pier in our town to see it. That was a real long time ago!

By: marykelly48

marykelly48 — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 18:51:57 +0000

Submitter said it really did look awful and was sent to the bindery in the mid 90’s.
Mary