author
Harold Jacoby
1865–1932
A gifted popularizer of astronomy, this Columbia professor wrote lively books that helped general readers look up at the night sky with fresh curiosity. His work blended careful science with an easy, welcoming style.
1 Audiobook
Practical Talks by an Astronomer
by Harold Jacoby
About the author
Born in New York City in 1865, Harold Jacoby became an American astronomer and longtime member of the Columbia faculty. He earned his B.A. from Columbia College in 1885 and later completed a Ph.D. there, building a career that joined research, teaching, and public explanation.
Jacoby worked in astronomy, geodesy, and navigation, and he took part in the United States eclipse expedition to West Africa in 1889–90. He later became a professor at Columbia University and chaired the department until shortly before his death in 1932.
He is especially remembered today through books that made astronomy approachable for non-specialists, including Practical Talks by an Astronomer and Astronomy: A Popular Handbook. That combination of professional expertise and reader-friendly writing makes him a memorable figure for listeners interested in classic science writing.