PRINCIPLES OF ASTRONOMY.

By Stanley P. Wyatt '42. Boston: Allyn and Bacon, Inc. 1964. 561 pp. $8.95. Trade edition $11.95.

In this period of prolific textbook writing it is very difficult to find words to label properly one that is really outstanding. Wyatt writes with clarity, coherence, and organization in a- highly-literate and read-able style, but he writes for the student, the teacher, as well as for the layman. In addition, he presents the study of astronomy from the physical point of view.

He is a careful, diligent, and thorough workman. One finds almost no typographical errors. The material is authoritative, technically correct, and, although conventionally arranged, the introduction in Chapter Two of the gravitational theories makes it possible for the student to grasp easily and clearly the discussions in the chapters that follow. Likewise the introduction of spectroscopy before discussion of stars and the sun is a desired improvement in textbook presentation.

Most important is Wyatt's flowing style. Unquestionably, this is the result of his "liberal education" at Dartmouth which makes the book as readable for the average student as it is for the professional. The book is handsomely produced on paper of exceptionally good quality, with large margins, good diagrams, and marginal notations that are very useful for reference. It should be classified as one of the most excellent textbooks recently published.

Unfortunately, it came out too late for adoption in our elementary courses, but I have adopted it for our Winter and Spring Terms. It is a book which commends Wyatt very highly for his understanding of the student as well as the teacher's problem, and is certainly a very great credit to him. Dartmouth should be justly proud.

Professor of Astronomy