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Reflector Book Review:
Starlight Nights: The
Adventures of a Star-Gazer
Category: Observing
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Starlight Nights: The Adventures of a Star-Gazer
by Leslie C. Peltier
Sky Publishing Corporation
49 Bay State Road
Cambridge, MA 02138
Telephone: 800-253-0245
Softcover, 256 pages, $19.95
ISBN: 0-933346-94-8
I remember the first time I met David
Levy. He was guest speaker at my astronomy club’s Christmas
party in the mid-80’s. His topic, I think, was about
the beauties of astronomy, or something like that. I
don’t remember the details. But I do remember one thing
quite clearly: his recommendation of Leslie Peltier’s
book, Starlight Nights. David is both an artist
and an astronomer, and has several books of his own,
not to mention a comet or two. His glowing recommendation
of this book, and his explanation of the impact this
book had on his own life, made me want to read it at
once. And it was not available in print.
The first edition of this book was
issued in 1965. Around 1988, Sky Pub reissued it, it
was in print for a short time, and I finally got a copy.
And I was not disappointed. Because Leslie Peltier’s
book, Starlight Nights: The Adventures of a Star-Gazer,
is the best description of why we, as amateurs, pursue
the hobby of astronomy I have ever read. Not only is
it personal, insightful, and full of interesting stories
of one man’s love of the night sky, it is also beautifully
and sensitively written. No wonder David liked it.
Now it is available again, after many
years, back on the shelf of astronomy books from Sky
Pub. And a welcome returnee it is. And this time, David
H. Levy was able to write the foreword, in which he
will tell you what he told me at my Christmas party
15 years ago. As David puts it, many books will tell
you how to observe the night sky; this book explains
why.
This new edition of Starlight Nights
is one to own and cherish. The production values far
exceed the second edition I bought in 1989. First of
all, the contents are reprinted exactly as they were
in my second edition, including all the charming illustrations
by Peltier himself. But this edition is amplified by
a complete index, David’s Foreword, and previously unpublished
photos from the Peltier Family Album. The cover is also
very nice, containing additional photos of the author
and his various telescopes.
Leslie Peltier’s Starlight Nights
is a book all amateur astronomers will enjoy. Experienced
astronomers will be reminded once again of why they
got involved in the hobby. Beginners will be inspired
to continue their pursuit of the night sky. And because
it is so interesting, you can give it to your spouse
to read when you are finished. As REFLECTOR Editor,
I am pleased to be finally able to write a review of
one of my favorite astronomy books, Leslie C. Peltier’s
Starlight Nights.
Ed Flaspoehler
former Reflector Editor
Reviewed in the May 2000 issue.
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