author
William Tyler Olcott
1873–1936
A lawyer by training and a stargazer by passion, he helped open the night sky to ordinary readers. His books blended practical observing advice with the myths and stories behind the constellations, making astronomy feel welcoming and alive.
1 Audiobook
A Field Book of the Stars
by William Tyler Olcott
About the author
Born on January 11, 1873, William Tyler Olcott was an American lawyer and amateur astronomer who became one of the early great popularizers of backyard astronomy. He studied at Trinity College in Hartford and later attended law school in New York, but his best-known work grew out of a deep personal enthusiasm for the stars.
After hearing a lecture by Harvard astronomer Edward C. Pickering in 1909, Olcott became especially interested in variable stars. He went on to help found the American Association of Variable Star Observers in 1911, giving amateur skywatchers a way to make real contributions to astronomy.
Olcott also wrote accessible books for general readers, including A Field Book of the Stars and Star Lore of All Ages. Those works paired clear guidance for identifying constellations with legends, folklore, and historical background, which is a big part of why they have remained appealing long after his death on July 6, 1936.