Pleasures of the telescope An Illustrated Guide for Amateur Astronomers and a Popular Description of the Chief Wonders of the Heavens for General Readers

"Pleasures of the Telescope" by Garrett Putman Serviss is an illustrated guide for amateur astronomers written in the early 20th century. This work serves both as a practical resource for novice stargazers and as an engaging overview of the wonders of the heavens, including detailed descriptions of celestial bodies and phenomena. The book aims to inspire readers to explore the night sky and enjoy the beauty of astronomy through the use of telescopes. At the start of the book, the author emphasizes the joy and potential discoveries that can be made with a good telescope. He shares his personal experiences of exploring the night sky with a small pocket telescope and expresses a desire to encourage others to partake in this exciting hobby. The opening chapters lay a foundation for understanding telescope selection, testing, and practical advice for observing celestial objects, including detailed logical explanations of the optical principles behind refracting and reflecting telescopes. With a promise of extensive illustrations and star maps throughout, the book invites readers to deepen their understanding of the universe and enhance their observational skills. (This is an automatically generated summary.)

Garrett Putnam Serviss was an American astronomer, popularizer of astronomy, and early science fiction writer. Serviss was born in Sharon Springs, New York and majored in science at Cornell University. He took a law degree at Columbia University but never worked as an attorney. Instead, in 1876 he joined the staff of The New York Sun newspaper, working as a journalist until 1892 under editor Charles Dana.