Library - Books
Astronomy books and CDs available for loan
Titles
1
The Complete Idiots guide to Astronomy (Third addition 2004)
By Christopher De Pree & Alan Axelrod
Covers everything in a very readable form to a reasonable degree for
beginners and intermediates
2.
Skywatching The ultimate guide to the universe (1996)
By David Levy
Nicely illustrated. Again beginners level with star maps for each month information about
each constellation and some history
3.
Philips Guide to the night sky
By Patrick Moore
Short handy book (45 pages) giving star hopping information and maps of
the constellations
4.
Norton’s Star Atlas Epoch 1950
Older issue but all the stars and interesting objects to 6th magnitude
6.
Bad Astronomy
By David Plait
Correcting commonly held misconceptions about astronomy including the moon landing
7.
Moon in Focus
By Thomas Rackham
8.
Turn Left at Qrion (library copy donated by Brian Horn)
9.
Astrophotographer of the year 2014
Collection of the entries of the Astrophotographer of the year in 2014.
10.
Big Bang
By Simon Singh
Very understandable description of the Big Bang Theory, its history and development.
11.
Wonders of the Solar System
By Brian Cox
12.
Carl Sagan – A Life.
Biography by Keay Davidson (published 1999)
Carl Sagan was one of the most celebrated scientists of his time – the leading visionary of the Space Age.
He was also a highly controversial figure who inspired wildly opposed opinions. His enthusiasm and
eloquence about the wonders of space, the marvels of the human brain, and the mysteries of life captured
the imagination of millions. Carl Sagan was a fascinating, charismatic and complex man full of
contradictions.
In this insightful and even-handed biography, acclaimed science journalist Keay Davidson reveals for the
first time the man behind the famous image….the result is one of the most thought-provoking scientific
biographies of our time.
10 Billions And Billions
Thoughts on Life and Death at the Brink of the Millennium
Carl Sagan (published 1997)
Ranging in subject matter from the invention of the game of chess to the question of life on Mars, from
global warming to the abortion debate. Billions and Billions is Carl Sagan at his enlightening,
entertaining and eclectic best. Applying what we know about science, mathematics and space to
everyday life, he also addresses some of today’s most controversial issues, helping us to make sense of
the world around us as it prepares for the challenges of the coming millennium. In addition, we are given
a rare glimpse of Sagan himself in the final essay, written as he approached his own death.
11 The Dragons Of Eden
Speculations on the Evolution of Human Intelligence
Carl Sagan (published 1978)
With his celebrated gift for graceful, inspired explication of complex scientific matters, Carl Sagan
provides a breathtaking overview of the nature and development of human intelligence from prehistory to
the present. The Dragons of Eden was written more than a quarter-century ago, and though some of the
theorising has been overtaken by new research and discovery, the vivid sweep of the book’s passionate
perception still opens unforgettable vistas of knowledge and imagination.
12 Broca’s Brain
Reflections on the Romance of Science
Carl Sagan (published 1974)
This is a lucid account of recent (pre 1974!) astronomical discoveries, linked to discoveries about the
human mind. Carl Sagan explains, “Science is not a body of knowledge but a way of looking at the world
– a creative questioning, probing, testing of all things”. Dr Sagan examines the reasons that human
beings cling so tenaciously to pseudoscience (ESP, ancient astronauts, UFO’s etc) and suggests a
relationship to religious beliefs. The three giant figures in this book are Paul Broca, mid nineteenthcentury neurologist and anthropologist; Robert Goddard, the father of modern space exploration; and
Albert Einstein.
13 Cosmos
Carl Sagan (published 1980)
Based on the TV series of the same name. Told with Sagan’s remarkable ability to make science ideas
both comprehensible and exciting, Cosmos is about science in its broadest human context, how science
and civilisation grew up together.
14 Pale Blue Dot
A Vision of the Human Future in Space
Carl Sagan (published 1995)
“Look again at that pale blue dot – Earth photographed by Voyager 1 from beyond the orbit of Neptune.
That’s us. On it everyone you love, everyone you know, everyone you ever heard of, every human being
who ever was, lived out their lives. The aggregate of our joy and suffering, thousands of confident
religions, ideologies, and economic doctrines, every hunter and forager, every hero and coward, every
creator and destroyer of civilisation, every king and peasant, every young couple in love, every mother
and father, hopeful child, inventor and explorer, every teacher of morals, every corrupt politician, every
‘superstar’, every ‘supreme leader’, every saint and sinner in the history of our species lived there – on a
mote of dust suspended in a sunbeam.”
15 The Demon-Haunted World
Science as a Candle in the Dark
Carl Sagan (published 1995)
In this stirring, brilliantly argued book, internationally respected scientist, Dr Carl Sagan, shows how
scientific thinking is necessary to safeguard our democratic institutions and our technical civilisation.
Sagan shows how the method of scientific thought can cut through prejudice and hysteria to uncover the
often-surprising truth. Along the way, he refutes the arguments that science destroys spirituality, asks
why scientific study is often stigmatised, discusses the dangers of the misuse of science and provides a
‘baloney-detection kit’ for thinking through political, social, religious and other issues.
16 Comet
Carl Sagan & Ann Druyan (published 1985)
The sightings of Hale-Bopp have caused many of us to look up in the sky in wonder. This book is a
fascinating exploration of these graceful visitors to our skies. The authors explore the exotic myths and
portents attached to comets and show how they have spurred some of the greatest discoveries in the
history of science.
17 Murmurs Of Earth
The Voyager Interstellar Record
Carl Sagan et al. (published 1978)
In 1977, two remarkable spacecraft named Voyager were launched. After exploring Jupiter and Saturn,
they will slowly leave our solar system and cruise for eons to come through the realms of other stars.
Affixed to each is a gold-coated phonographic record, a message from Earth to possible extraterrestrial
civilisations. This book explains the thoughts behind and the making of these messages.
18 Global Warming And Other Bollocks
The Truth Behind All Those Science Scare Stories
Profs Stanley Feldman & Vincent Marks (published 2009)
The idea that we are one step away from calamity is as old as history itself. Every step on the road of
progress has always been countered by those who think we should keep to a primitive lifestyle that they
claim is compatible with nature. But despite the fact they’ve been proved wrong, the pessimists are
undeterred by their abysmal record. Today, industrialisation, genetically modified crops, scientific
medicine, nuclear power and the car are held up as harbingers of doom. Politicians and persuasive
pressure groups play on this basic fear. This books looks at the evidence and puts the correct perspective
on our modern lifestyle.
19 Why Does E = MC²?
Brian Cox & Jeff Forshaw (published 2009)
Brian Cox and Jeff Forshaw, two physicists, have managed to produce an account of relativity physics
accessible to a wide range of various publics. If you're not a physicist (or not yet a physicist) and you
want to understand what Einstein and relativity theory are all about, you would do well to read this book.
The writing is clear, sparkling in places, and totally without vanity. Relativity theory, Einstein's supreme
gift to us, is at the heart of the way science currently looks at physical reality, and anyone with an
adventurous mind should be intrigued by what two smart physicists say about it in plain language... Read
this book. It's your world, isn't it?
DVDs and CDs
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CDs & Tapes. Guided Tour of the Constellations
By Jonas Harrington
This contains an audio tour of the constellations for each season, with accompanying maps.
CD of Fr Manny’s talk on the solar system for playing on Computer only
CD ‘The secrets of the Universe’ everything you need to know about the Big Bang, Astrophysics
and Space.
DVD ‘To the Planets’ Highlights of America’s interplanetary explorations.
BBC DVD set ‘Planet Earth’ 5 disc set