Patrick Moore's Data Book of Astronomy
"This latest Data Book of Astronomy conveys the fascination and vibrancy of our subject - and the wonder of the skies. All astronomers should be grateful to Patrick Moore, to his co-author Robin Rees, and to their team of consultants, for the immense labour that went into this book: it is surely unique in gathering such a wide and eclectic range of information into a single volume.It will be an invaluable reference work for serious observers--but it is equally suitable for armchair browsers, and indeed for anyone who is curious about what lies beyond the Earth." - Martin Rees,  Professor of Cosmology and Astrophysics, University of Cambridge"Patrick Moore's Data Book of Astronomy holds ... [an] allure for the armchair traveller, a compendium of the far-away and strange destinations in the heavens. The diverse offerings of the night sky - nebulae, galaxies, constellations, clusters, comets, asteroids, double stars, variable stars, meteor storms, supernovae, planets and moons - are all here, neatly organised, catalogued and enumerated. Readers with no prior interest in amateur astronomy will find a lot to captivate here. It also contains clearly written, up-to-date sections explaining what all these various celestial objects are, and how we've come to know them.This work offers so much more than a handbook for backyard telescopes; it is an atlas for the Universe around us that will surprise every time you dip in." Lewis Dartnell, THE"If one were to count the people who have most influenced popular astronomy, Patrick Moore will come in at or near the top....This latest endeavor compiles in one place factual astronomical information....Written in a voice respectful of the reader, this book is both informative and instructive. It is more than just a recitation of dry facts, and the author shows restraint on the sensational. It is bursting with tables, charts, and illustrations. A glossary and substantial index finish the book. Although the principal purpose of this work would be to efficiently retrieve numbers and factual information, it is also quite a delight just to browse and peruse. Both professional and arm-chair astronomers will benefit from the up-to-date, well-organized, and thoroughly presented data offered in this work. This resource is appropriate for academic and public library collections." -Margaret F. Dominy, American Reference Books Annual"[This book] is a very readable summary of much of the current knowledge of the universe....The book is filled with Moore's uniquely personal insights and anecdotes, and this makes it a real joy to read, whether for looking up some specific material or just some pleasurable "surfing." Readers at all levels are likely to find this a useful reference." -R. R. Erickson, CHOICE