
A TEXT-BOOK OF ASTRONOMY - BY - GEORGE C. COMSTOCK
PREFACE
LIST OF LITHOGRAPHIC PLATES
LIST OF FULL-PAGE ILLUSTRATIONS
CHAPTER I - DIFFERENT KINDS OF MEASUREMENT
CHAPTER II - THE STARS AND THEIR DIURNAL MOTION
CHAPTER III - FIXED AND WANDERING STARS
CHAPTER IV - CELESTIAL MECHANICS
CHAPTER V - THE EARTH AS A PLANET
CHAPTER VI - THE MEASUREMENT OF TIME
This guide invites students and teachers to explore astronomy through hands‑on observation rather than abstract theory. Emphasizing precise measurement, it walks readers through the basics of timing, angular calculations, and the use of modest instruments that can be crafted in a school workshop. By concentrating on the parts of the sky that lend themselves to simple experiments, the text makes the heavens accessible to anyone with a clear night and a curiosity for the stars.
The book is richly illustrated with clear star maps, planetary diagrams, and detailed lunar sketches, all designed to complement practical activities. It suggests seasonal observing schedules, outlines how to build tools such as protractors, and encourages the use of affordable equipment like a watch and a basic telescope. Supplementary reading lists and suggestions for integrating contemporary astronomy magazines help turn the classroom into a lively hub for ongoing discovery.
Language
en
Duration
~10 hours (617K characters)
Publisher of text edition
Project Gutenberg
Credits
Produced by Chris Curnow, Iris Schimandle, Lindy Walsh and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net
Release date
2011-01-03
Rights
Public domain in the USA.

1855–1934
An astronomer, teacher, and science writer, he helped bring the study of the stars to both university students and practical readers. His career linked careful observation with a gift for explaining astronomy clearly.
View all books
by Francis W. (Francis Wayland) Parker, Nellie Lathrop Helm

by Waheenee, Gilbert Livingstone Wilson

by Henry F. (Henry Flagg) French

by F. H. (Franklin Hiram) King

by Earl Stanley Harrison

by John Dewey

by François de Salignac de La Mothe- Fénelon