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CHOICE Review

This well-qualified author has written a splendid summary of how astronomers determine distances. Rowan-Robinson begins by explaining first how distances are measured within the solar system, and then how distances are measured to stars close to the sun. He shows how distance scales can be derived through the study of variable stars, stellar motions spectra and photometry, and gas concentrations. He explains how those scales are transferred and intercompared to find the distances to open star clusters, globular clusters, individual galaxies, and, finally, to clusters of galaxies. Rowan-Robinson also discusses how our ideas of distance have evolved since the early Greeks, while not neglecting different models of the universe that are being studied today. The book is written for the advanced undergraduate and it helps to have a grounding in calculus and intermediate astronomy. Excellent bibliography and appendixes; good name and subject indexes; clear tables, figures, and photographs. The book fills an important gap for professional astronomers. Highly recommended for college and university science collections.-W.E. Howard III, Naval Space Command