Abstract
THIS book describes in a chatty, discursive way the elementary facts of astronomy. It is avowedly written for those who have absolutely no mathematical knowledge. Unfortunately, there is in many places an absence of the necessary precision of statement. Thus the description of precession suggests that it affects the earth's orbital motion, there being no mention of the equatorial plane. Moreover, the action is ascribed wholly to the sun, though the moon's contribution is twice as great. The description of sidereal time, and the explanation of the spectroscopic determination of radial velocity, are misleading. Also the erroneous statement is made that the Babylonian year contained 360 days, and had an intercalary month every sixth year; Its real length was 12 lunations, or 354 days, and there were 7 intercalary months in 19 years. Altogether the book needs careful revision; if this were carried out, it could be recommended as a simple handbook.
A Night Raid into Space: The Story of the Heavens told in Simple Words.
Col.
J. S. F.
Mackenzie
By. Pp. 143. (London: Henry Hardingham, n.d.) Price 2s. 6d. net.
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A Night Raid into Space: The Story of the Heavens told in Simple Words . Nature 105, 100 (1920). https://doi.org/10.1038/105100b0
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/105100b0