Simon Newcomb: America's Unofficial Astronomer Royal

Review "...the Carters' book fills an important gap in astronomical history. I recommend it to libraries and individuals interested in the history of American astronomy. But maybe the best recommendation is that I had a lot of fun reading the book-and I could not put it down until finished." -- Physics Today - Bradley E. Schaefer, Louisiana State University "I thoroughly enjoyed this book . . . The Carters bring much to the table. I was fascinated by their account of how Newcomb and other luminaries, such as Alexander Graham Bell, became involved in comforting and caring for President James Garfield after he was shot in 1881 . . . Equally appealing is the Carters' description of Newcomb's work with Albert Michelson to measure the velocity of light to unprecedented accuracy for the time . . . " and "their account of the discovery by Seth Chandler that terrestrial latitude changes due to a 14 month wobble of the Earth's rotation axis relative to the crust, and Newcomb's interpretation that the effect is due to our planet's elasticity . . . here's a pleasant opportunity to get acquainted with a man whose influence on American astronomy persists to this day." -- Sky and Telescope - Lief J. Robinson, editor emeritus Product Description Recounts Simon Newcomb's climb from a penniless immigrant to the most renowned American astronomer of the 19th century, with never before published details of his family and professional lives, including his friendship with Congressman, and later President, James A. Garfield.