Celestial Motions: a Handy Book of Astronomy. By William Thynne
Lynn, B.A., F.R.A.S., formerly of the Royal Observatory, Greenwich. Third edition. (Edward Stanford.)—The purpose of this little book is to give "a concise digest of the most important facts which have been discovered regarding the motions of the celestial bodies, and the dimensions of those belonging to our own system," "the information being brought up to date," any descrip- tion of the physical condition of these bodies being intentionally excluded. The account is comprised in the small space of eighty pages, 18mo. The fact that it has reached a third edition in a year is evidence of the successful treatment. The terms and chief laws of the science are clearly explained, and, beyond the specific object of the book, any student will find very interesting reading in such accounts as those of the discovery of Neptune, the comet recorded by Aristotle (p. 46), and the ascertainment of the distance of the fixed stars. It is a pity that such elements of astronomy are still not more commonly put in the hands of the young.
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