Welcome to a brief overview of Guy Ottewell's catalog of publications of astronomical interest. This is intended only as a sample, but the full catalog is available from:
Astronomical Workshop
Furman University
Greenville, SC 29613
803-294-2208
This famous atlas-sized annual book is the most widely used and most attractive guide to what will happen in the sky throughout the year.
An introducation explains how to use the various components and, if you are a beginner, what to select at first (since there are so many levels of information). For each month there is a large map of the evening sky; facing it, a diary of 40 or so events, many with paragraph-long descriptions.
A general guide to astronomy; some say it should be called the Astronomical Treasury. Begins with an "Overview of Astonomy" and pictures that almost force you to understand coordinate systems and orientation in space. ($16.00)
Among many other features: a map and catalogue of star names with their derivations; the seasons (including their linking with traditional dates such as Beltane, Hallowe'en, St. Lucy's Day); the world's calendars; precession and its many consequences... (73 p., $14.00).
An introduction to the night sky, for children and other beginners;
written in
In 1995 a great eclipse goes over India. This book begins by explaining the ground-work of eclipses, in order to lead up to the sublimity of the experience. There is a double-page spread for each of these representative eclipses, with large dynamic drawings of the turning globe and the shadow sweeping across:
A lunar eclipse: August 16/17, 1989 over North America(96 p., $12.95)
A partial solar eclipse: March 7, 1989, over Alaska
A Globe-skimming eclipse: October 3, 1986, over Iceland...
Instructions for using common objects such as nuts to make a solar-system model, over a distance of 1000 yards. Since it leads to a vivid grasp of light-years, star sizes, etc., it is an ideal opener to any astronomy course. (16 p., $5.00).
Probably the most comprehensive work ever published on Halley's Comet. Includes a long sequence ("Strobe Light") of full descriptions of the comet's 48 visits from 1404 B.C. onward, with their sharply distinct characters and their reflection in legend, art and science, up through the 1985-86 visit...
Also "The Unfolding," a history of mankind's awareness of the sky and of comets, leading up to the life of Halley himself and his interaction with Newton, the boom caused by the first known returning comet, and the searching ever deeper into the past for its ancient visits... (193 p., $11.00).
Poster showing
The trouble with the "one person one vote" rule is that two candidates
on one "side" divide it; some voters must agonize whether to vote for the
one they really prefer or the one who has more chance--and both have less
chance. After analyzing three "
This surprisingly simple "costless reform" turns out to have no real flaw and several other great advantages. It is applicable to all kinds of elections, and might hold out hope for resolving the mess of some American electoral systems. (8 p., $1.00).