Practical Talks by an Astronomer

"Practical Talks by an Astronomer" by Harold Jacoby is a compilation of captivating writings on space science from the end of the 1800s. Instead of being all about astronomy, it focuses on specific, interesting parts and uses simple language so anyone can understand. Perfect for those who are curious about the sky but don't want to get lost in complicated stuff, the book starts with the idea of using stars to guide ships, telling stories of old-school ways and tools used by captains before GPS. Jacoby shares tales from a sea captain about ships that depended on compasses and looking at the sky, like using a sextant to figure out the sun's location at lunchtime to find how far north or south they were. This shows how important astronomy was and makes you wonder about how science and sailing are linked.