Newcomb-Engelmann's Populäre Astronomie, Zweite vermehrte Auflage

Abstract

THE well-known Popular Astronomy of Prof. Newcomb was translated into German by Rudolf Engelmann, and published in 1881 with considerable additions and alteration, most of which were improvements. It was very favourably received on its first appearance in German, probably because it is not only comprehensive, exact, and scientific, but has a fresh and vigorous style, in pleasing contrast to the ponderous German standard works. The original translator being dead, the publishers entrusted the work of preparing a new edition to Dr. H. C. Vogel, Director of the Astrophysical Observatory at Potsdam, a task for which he was specially fitted, because astronomical progress during the decade since the appearance of the first edition of the book has been mainly in his special department. Dr. Vogel's chief difficulty has been to keep the book within reasonable limits while bringing it up to date, but he has not been wholly successful in this. By a slight further enlargement of the book he might without difficulty have very much increased its value. A description of the diffraction spectroscope should have been given in the section on spectroscopes; Prof. Hale's work in photographing prominences and faculæ should have been introduced; the chapter on Mars is very much behind the times; and some details should certainly have been given of the international scheme for photographically charting the stars.

Newcomb-Engelmann's Populäre Astronomie, Zweite vermehrte Auflage.

Herausgegeben von Dr. H. C. Vogel. (Leipzig: Wilhelm Engelmann, 1892.)